Título del artículo:

Cardiovascular risk assessment using three scales in a cohort of South American patients with COPD

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is expected to be the third cause of death worldwide by 2030, and the cardiovascular risk in these patients is considered high. Objective: The aim was to evaluate cardiovascular risk in a cohort of South American patients with COPD. Methods: A retrospective study was carried out by reviewing medical records from January 2015 to December 2018. The defined variables of metabolic syndrome were included. Quantitative variables are presented as mean ± standard deviation or median (interquartile range) according to their distribution, and qualitative variables are presented as percentages. Student\'s t-test was performed to evaluate differences between the two variables. It was used the statistical package SPSS for Windows v.20.1, Chicago, IL. Results: The male gender was 77 % compared to the female gender 23 %. The prevalence of smoking was 61 % distributed by gender (male 42 %, female 19 %). The Framingham equation classified a higher percentage of male COPD patients as having low cardiovascular risk compared to the PROCAM and SCORE equations. It was found that there was a greater cardiovascular risk in those patients with FEV1, less than 30 %, showing a statistical correlation of this alteration for the three stratification systems used. Conclusions: We encourage research groups in Latin America and other latitudes to estimate cardiovascular risk in populations diagnosed with COPD.

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Gaceta Medica de Caracas

Título del artículo:

Learning environments and school success in Latin America

This article finds the relationship that learning environments have on school success, in the Latin American countries participating in the International Program for Student Assessment (PISA), of the year 2018, estimating the Educational Production Function. Subsequently, the Shorrocks-Shapley decomposition is applied to determine which of the dimensions associated with learning has a greater weight in the heterogeneity of school success. It was found that the best school environments favor school success, while when the school climate in the classroom is “not the best”, performance drops. It was calculated, for the group of Latin American countries, that, on average, learning environments explain the variability of school success in 29.09 % for mathematics, 28.01 % for reading and 28.71 % for science, being the dimension that to a greater extent explains this heterogeneity.

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Lecturas de Economia

Título del artículo:

Didactic strategy for teaching Engineering Algebra - first iteration

The investigations related to Educational Technology are characterized by an acceleration in the emerging research themes and follow the current trends. This will lead to a lack of attention to the methodological rigor and the complete potential of the Technology in learning processes. The present work addresses the issues of the deficiencies in the specific competencies presented by the students in the engineering assignments related to Algebra by means of the DBR methodology as a general basis for the development of one of its stages, starting with the situation - diagnostic of the problem, taking into account the opinion of experts, the application of an evaluation tool with the main competencies related to Algebra required by the Engineering students and a technology appropriation survey. Then presents the first iteration of design and development of the didactic strategy, which is based on the didactic suitability of the Ontosemiotic Approach (EOS) and uses the NOOC as digital technology that conveys letter with the level Algebra area required by engineering students.

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Aibi, Revista de Investigacion Administracion e Ingenierias

Título del artículo:

Efficacy of a Hospital Discharge Transition Plan in the care competence of patients with chronic conditions and their family caregivers: a clinical trial

Objective: to assess the efficacy of a Hospital Discharge Transition Plan in the care competence and in adherence to the therapy of dyads comprised by patients with non-communicable chronic diseases and their caregivers. Method: a controlled and randomized clinical trial; the sample was comprised by 80 dyads of patients with chronic conditions and their caregivers, randomly allocated as follows: 40 to the control group and another 40 to the intervention group. The instruments to characterize the patient-caregiver dyad, the patients’ and caregivers’ care competence and the patients’ adherence to the treatment scale were applied. The “CUIDEMOS educational intervention” was applied to the intervention group; in turn, the control group was provided usual care with the aid of a booklet, with phone follow-up via at month 1. Results: 52.5% of the patients and 81.3% of the caregivers were women. The patients’ and caregivers’ mean ages were 69.5±12.6 and 47.5±13.1 years old, respectively. The Hospital Discharge Transition Plan increased the scores in the “knowledge”, “uniqueness”, “instrumental”, “enjoying”, “anticipation” and “social relations” dimensions, as well as the global care competence of the patients and family caregivers; in addition to the following factors: medications, diet, stimulants control, weight control, stress management, and global adherence to the therapy by the patient. There were no statistically significant differences between the control and intervention groups. Conclusion: the Hospital Discharge Transition Plan increased the patients’ and family caregivers’ care competence after the intervention, as well as the patients’ adherence to the treatment. However, there were no differences between the control and intervention groups, possibly due to the similarity of the activities.

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Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem

Título del artículo:

Pedagogical model for virtually mediated distance education with a transactional distance perspective

The starting point of the model was the recognition of dropout in distance education as a problematic situation. Analysing their possible causes, it was found that these were explained by the transactional distance theory. The study was carried out using design-based research, whose main characteristic is the introduction of a new element to transform a problematic situation. Initially, the literature was reviewed to identify possible causes of dropout in distance education. Subsequently, a pedagogical model was designed and validated based on the review of distance and virtual education models of a Mexican and Colombian universities. From this review, the main components of the pedagogical models were extracted and based on these elements, the pedagogical model was designed, like a system. It was then validated with a group of experts and tested with a group of students through a webinar. The results show that, by taking a course based on the fundamental ideas of the proposed pedagogical model, the perception of transactional distance decreases and, on the other hand, it is demonstrated that the intention to drop out shows a significant decrease.

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Revista de Educación a Distancia

Título del artículo:

Sex Differences in Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factor Prevalence, Morbidity, and Mortality in Colombia: Findings from the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) Study

Background: Controversies exist on whether the presence of cardiovascular risk factors and their association with major cardiovascular events (MACE) is different between men and women. Most of the evidence comes from high-income countries, hindering extrapolation of sociocultural and demographic factors of other regions. Objective: To evaluate sex differences in the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and the incidence of MACE and diabetes in Colombian adults. Methods: We performed a survival analysis from women and men aged 35–70 belonging to the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology-Colombia prospective study. Incidence rates for MACE composite (myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, death) and each outcome and diabetes were calculated. Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests were performed. The association between demographic, behavioral, and metabolic variables with MACE and diabetes were evaluated with Cox proportional hazards models. Results: 7,552 participants (50±9.7 years) were included; 64% were women. Women had higher hypertension prevalence, body mass index, levels of total cholesterol, LDL-c, and HDL-c but lower triglycerides levels. Women were more sedentary but fewer smokers or active alcohol consumers and had higher educational levels. After 12-year mean follow-up (SD 2.3), the incidence rate of MACE composite was higher in men [4.2 (3.6–4.9) vs. 3.2 (2.8–3.7) cases per 1000 person-years]. Diabetes had the greatest association with MACE (HR = 2.63 95%CI:1.85;3.76), followed by hypertension (HR = 1.75 95%CI:1.30;2.35), low relative grip strength (HR = 1.53 95%CI:1.15;2.02), smoking (HR = 1.47 95%CI: 1.11;1.93), low physical activity (HR = 1.42 95%CI: 1.03;1.96). When evaluating risk factors by sex, only an increased waist-to-hip ratio was more strongly associated with MACE in men (p-interaction <0.05). Conclusions: The composite MACE outcome was higher in men despite having a lower overall burden of risk factors. The risk factors contribution was similar, leading us to reconsider the need to carrying out differentiated cardiovascular risk prevention and management campaigns, at least in our region.

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Global Heart

Título del artículo:

Tombstone cost and longevity: The San Pedro Cemetery Museum in Medellín in Colombia

Background Studies in the West suggest that tombstone cost is associated with longevity. The objective of this observational study was to investigate the association between tombstone cost and longevity in a large cemetery in Latin America. Methods Age at death was obtained from 2,273 consecutive death certificates held at the San Pedro Cemetery Museum in Medellín in Colombia. Subjects died in 2022, 2021, or 2020. Tombs are arranged in galleries in the cemetery and tombstone cost was based on the material from which the tombstone was made, its position in the gallery, and its ornamentation. Analysis of variance was used and the assumption of equal variance was not violated. Results Approximately 77% of tombstones were of low cost, 21% of medium cost, and 2% of high cost. Data from 1,751 subjects were used to investigate differences in longevity according to tombstone cost while adjusting for sex, civil status, violent death, and year of death. Longevity was similar in the low-cost group and medium-cost group: 64.3 years (63.2, 65.3) versus 63.3 years (61.3, 65.3) [estimated mean (95% confidence interval)]. Longevity was lower in the high-cost group: 47.0 years (40.1, 53.9). Conclusions The inverse association between tombstone cost and longevity would suggest that people in Medellín are inclined to spend more on tombstones when commemorating the tragic death of a young person.

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PLoS ONE

Título del artículo:

Rutting performance of asphalt mixtures containing treated RCA and reinforced with carbon fibers

This study examined the rutting performance of hot asphalt mixtures containing treated RCA and reinforced by carbon fibers. The methodology involved substituting RCA instead of coarse virgin aggregates in the several percentages (20, 40, 60, 80, and 100%) that were treated by being submerged for 24 hours in an acetic acid solution with a concentration of 0.1M. Carbon fibers were added in several percentages of 0.15, 0.25, and 0.35% by the entire weight of the mix to produce cylindrical specimens (4×2.5 inches) for evaluating the Marshall and volumetric properties, and rectangular slabs (30×40×5 cm) for evaluating rutting resistance. The study finds, that incorporating RCA and carbon fibers did not substantially affect the volumetric characteristics of asphalt mixtures, but Marshall\'s stability increased. The combination containing 60% RCA and 0.35% carbon fibers showed the greatest increase in Marshall stability, which was 35.81% over the control mixture. The addition of RCA led to a reduction in the rutting performance, whereas the addition of carbon fibers increased it, as seen by a decrease in rutting depth. The combination incorporating 40% RCA and 0.35% carbon fibers exhibited a minimum rutting depth of 40.64% lower than the control mixture. The combination incorporating 20% RCA and 0.35% carbon fibers exhibited the maximum level of dynamic stability, which was 1.64 times greater than the control mixture.

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Aibi, Revista de Investigacion Administracion e Ingenierias

Título del artículo:

Internal and external competitiveness of small industrial companies in COVID-19.

The industrial sector represents a priority activity for the economic development of the country. Sustaining its permanence in the market in the face of the difficult situation it has faced as a result of the Covid 19 pandemic is a challenge for businessmen and for the Mexican government. Given this complicated scenario, the objective of this research was to evaluate the internal and external competitiveness of small companies in the industrial sector in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the relationship between both types of competitiveness in Tabasco, Mexico. The study had a quantitative approach, non-experimental transactional, descriptive, and correlational design. Internal competitiveness was analyzed with the dimensions of strategic planning, production, quality assurance, marketing, accounting and finance, and human resources. External competitiveness was measured with the profitability dimension through a one-dimensional scale. The findings indicate less internal competitiveness in the areas of marketing and human resources and greater in strategic planning. In external competitiveness, the results of profitability after the pandemic are located at an unfavorable level. Pearson\'s correlation analysis indicated a positive and significant relationship between the two types of competitiveness. This research provides relevant information on the conditions in which the competitiveness of small companies in the industrial sector is found in the context of the pandemic, it is useful to identify areas of opportunity and make the right decisions to improve this economic sector, essential for the economic growth of the country.

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Aibi, Revista de Investigacion Administracion e Ingenierias

Título del artículo:

Service quality: a study in hotels with the SERQVUAL model.

The study aimed to analyze the quality of service hotels in Cúcuta offer tourists. The study is quantitative and has an exploratory and descriptive cross-sectional design. We worked with a non-probabilistic purposive sample of four three-star hotels in Cúcuta, Norte de Santander, Colombia. In this sense, the SERVQUAL model was applied to find the differences between the perceptions and expectations of customers in the dimensions of tangibility, reliability, responsibility, security, and empathy. The results revealed that service quality is of utmost importance nowadays as products and services offered by hotels with reliable characteristics are highly valued in the market and help to attract new customers. The changing economic, political, and social conditions make hotel companies create a service-oriented organizational culture; therefore, having a vision of quality is crucial for organizational prosperity. It was found that there is a small gap between the expectations and perceptions of customers in terms of service quality; however, it is evident that hotel companies are meeting customers\' needs in the different services offered to strengthen their loyalty.

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Aibi, Revista de Investigacion Administracion e Ingenierias

Título del artículo:

Innovating in physical rehabilitation models: properties of mobile applications as self-management tools in the execution of active kinesitherapy protocols in lower limb amputee patients

Active kinesitherapy rehabilitation protocols are a set of exercise routines that use strength, voluntarily or self-reflexively, controlled and corrected by a physiotherapist. Mobile ICT to support the execution of these protocols, mitigate difficulties of displacement in the rehabilitation process, favor personalization and adaptability to user needs. Objective: To present the results of the validity of a mobile application, proposed within the framework of a support model for the rehabilitation of lower limb amputee patients, based on the concept of self-management and the socio-medical model. Methods: Cross-sectional, descriptive and observational study of the properties exhibited by the mobile application applied to lower limb amputee patients and expert physiotherapists, by means of concordance evaluation - Kappa-Fleis on four usability criteria evaluated in 23 tasks performed with the mobile application in the execution of the protocol. Results: An acceptable concordance strength was found for each criterion. Comprehension\" and \"efficiency\" were those with the highest concordance in the patient; 0.269 and 0.290 respectively. Conclusions: Content Validity Index - CVI of 0.88 and 0.9 rated by patients and physiotherapists respectively. The mobile application exhibits acceptable properties to be used as a support tool for self-management and execution of active kinesitherapy protocols.

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Retos

Título del artículo:

The effect of El Niño and La Niña episodes on the existing niche and potential distribution of vector and host species of American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis

Leishmaniasis is a zoonotic disease transmitted to humans by a protozoan parasite through sandfly vectors and multiple vertebrate hosts. The Pan American Health Organization reported a declining trend in cases, with Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Nicaragua, and Bolivia having the most cases in 2020. There are still knowledge gaps in transmission and the parasite-host relationship. Ecological niche modeling has been used to study host-vector relationships, disease dynamics, and the impact of climate change. Understanding these aspects can aid in early surveillance and vector control strategies. The potential distribution of five host species associated with the transmission of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) was modeled. Occurrence data were collected for each host species, and environmental variables were used to build the models. Climatic data from El Niño, La Niña, and Neutral episodes were used to compare the predicted distributions. Additionally, the potential distributions of four vector species were compared to identify overlaps with host species. Niche analysis was conducted to evaluate changes in vector niches across episodes and to identify host-vector pairs based on niche overlap in geographic and environmental spaces. After spatial thinning, 467 records were obtained, and 1,190 candidate models were evaluated for each species. Results showed the distribution of occurrences in the environmental space, highlighting a high risk of extrapolation beyond the calibration areas. Movement-Oriented Parity analysis revealed distinct distribution patterns under different climate conditions, with areas of environmental similarity identified. Bradypus variegatus exhibited a broad potential distribution, while Dasypus novemcinctus and Didelphis marsupialis had more restricted ranges. Sylvilagus braziliensis covered most of the Neotropics. Our study provides valuable insights into ecological niches and geographic ranges of these species, contributing to the understanding of cutaneous leishmaniasis transmission dynamics.

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Acta Tropica

Título del artículo:

Letter to Our Colleagues Family Practitioners, Geriatricians, and Radiologists to Increase Awareness Regarding Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus

Objective: Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) affects elderly individuals and is characterized by a progressive deterioration of gait, urinary continence, and cognition. In most cases, it is reversible with treatment. INPH is not uncommonly an unrecognized cause of dementia. We wish to raise awareness of iNPH among primary care providers who are seeing these patients first. Methods: We reviewed the current epidemiological data regarding iNPH as well as epidemiological data regarding Alzheimer disease. We searched for the most sensitive radiological screening test for iNPH. Results: Alzheimer disease comprises 60%–70% of all dementia cases, in 2023 is affecting 6.7 million Americans, about 10.7% of people 65 and older. Epidemiological data from the Scandinavian countries confirmed that 3.7% of people older than 65 have iNPH. Surgical studies confirmed the presence of early Alzheimer\'s pathology in about 25% of operated patients with iNPH. Useful radiological findings of iNPH include an Evans Index greater than 0.30, and a disproportionally enlarged subarachnoid space hydrocephalus (DESH). However, the callosal angle is thought to represent the best tool to discriminate iNPH from its mimics. Conclusions: According to the available epidemiological data iNPH is underdiagnosed. We strongly encourage the primary care physicians and geriatricians to ask the radiologist to measure the callosal angle on the initial brain computed tomography (or magnetic resonance) image. If the callosal angle is ≤71°, it is appropriate to refer the patient to neurosurgery for further diagnostic work-up.

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World Neurosurgery

Título del artículo:

How has the municipal availability of the GeneXpert®MTB/RIF system affected the detection of drug-resistant tuberculosis in Brazil?

Objective: To evaluate the association between the availability of GeneXpert®MTB/RIF in municipalities and the proportion of people who have access to this diagnostic technology for tuberculosis (TB), as well as the resistance detected by the surveillance system in Brazil. Methods: We analysed 4998 Brazilian municipalities that reported 432,937 new TB cases between 2015 and 2020. We compared municipalities with and without the availability of GeneXpert®MTB/RIF regarding the effective access to GeneXpert®MTB/RIF diagnosis and the prevalence of detected resistance. Results: Municipalities with at least one GeneXpert®MTB/RIF system had three times (95% CI 2.9–3.0) the access to diagnostic tests and 80.4% (95% CI 70.6%–90.2%) higher detection of resistance, compared with municipalities without this technology. We estimated that there have been 1890 cases of undetected resistance during this period in the country. Conclusions: The availability of GeneXpert®MTB/RIF system in the municipality increased the sensitivity of the surveillance for detecting TB resistance. Public Health Implications: It is a priority to strengthen laboratory networks and narrow the gap in access to rapid diagnosis in remote areas to improve the detection and control of drug-resistant tuberculosis.

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Tropical Medicine and International Health

Título del artículo:

COVID-19: Factors associated with symptoms of anxiety and depression in the ICU

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic led to a high prevalence of anxiety and depression among healthcare personnel. Objective: To assess the prevalence and independent risk factors associated with anxiety and depression symptoms among healthcare staff working in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bucaramanga and its metropolitan area. Materials and Methods: This was an analytical cross-sectional study. Anxiety and depression were measured using the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 (HSCL-25). Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted using linear regressions to investigate associated factors. Results: A total of 288 people were included in the study. The prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms was 8.34% (95% CI: 5.41-12.14%). In the bivariate analysis, six factors were associated with depression and anxiety symptoms; however, only three remained in the multivariate analysis: female sex (β=0.085, 95% CI: 0.019 - 0.151), experiencing COVID-19 symptoms in the past 14 days (β= 0.115, 95% CI: 0.024 - 0.205), and having worked in general ICUs and COVID-19 ICUs (β =0.009, 95% CI: 0.025 - 0.173). Discussion: The prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms was considerably lower than reported in the scientific literature. Conclusions: In the studied population, although the prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms was low, three independent factors were found to be statistically associated with the presence of these mental symptoms.

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Revista Cuidarte

Título del artículo:

Acute fatigue in endurance athletes: The association between countermovement jump variables and creatine kinase response.

The purpose of this study was to determine the variables of acute neuromuscular fatigue (NMF) and its correlation with the serum concentration of creatine kinase (CK) pre-and post-training through performance analysis counter movement jump (CMJ). Methods: Eight male endurance performance athletes performed 3 trials CMJ in force platform before and after fatigue protocol high intensity intermittent running (PFAI) (fatiguing to the maximum possible rate of work for each repetition Protocol). A total of 8 variables were analyzed through CMJ and the biomarker CK before and after fatigue protocol. Results: No significant differences for the variables of mean force MF (P = 0,62. d = 0,03), time to peak force TTPF (P = 0,46. d = 0,43), jump height JH (P = 0,19. d = 0,65), flight time FT (P = 0,26. d = 0,58), relation flight time: contraction time FT: CT (P = 0,74. d = 0,59) and CK (P = 0,79. d = 0,31). Significant differences in variables of peak power (p = 0.008. d = 1,37) and contraction time (p = 0.01. d = 0,76) were found. Finally, Spearman’s correlation (Spearman’s Rho) for non-parametric tests was performed between peak power (PP) (p = 0.002) (r = 0.92) and contraction time (CT) (p = 0.001) (r = 0.97). Conclusions: There is a neuromuscular fatigue state in the acute phase determined of CMJ variables, independent of lineal relation CK production. Likewise, it is highlighted a major parameter the reduction of peak power and increment of contraction time in the neuromuscular performance.

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European Journal of Human Movement

Título del artículo:

Social perceptions about credit and access to higher education in Colombia: A polyphonic approach

This article is the result of national research led by the Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia (2022), which explored the social impact of the ICETEX in the country. The results presented were obtained qualitatively, through the study of the conceptions and perceptions that different key actors - students, teachers, codebtors - had regarding their interaction with the entity and its financial support for access to higher education. In the analysis of the data, triangulated with the interviews and conducted workshops, two pre-established categories of analysis were considered: ICETEX as a credit entity and as a support to life projects. These, in addition, were complemented with two emerging categories: ICETEX as a support to families and as development of local/regional capacities. The main results indicate that the different participants have constructed antagonistic perceptions regarding the educational credit that this entity represents: on the one hand, under a positive and hopeful vision, the credit is seen as a facilitator of life projects, but, on the other hand, is conceived as part of an entity that, instead of helping, hinders and complicates access to higher education.

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Revista Pedagogia Universitaria y Didactica del Derecho

Título del artículo:

Identification and production of novel potential pathogen-specific biomarkers for diagnosis of histoplasmosis

Immunological assays based on the detection of circulating fungal biomarkers are helpful in clinical practice for diagnosing invasive fungal infections. Some of these targeting antigenic components are common to several different fungi. Histoplasmosis is a mycosis caused by the dimorphic fungus Histoplasma capsulatum, which in recent years has gained significant relevance due to the increase in the population susceptible to developing severe clinical forms, including those living with HIV/AIDS. Immunological tests that detect cell wall polysaccharide antigens are among the most used laboratory techniques for diagnosing this mycosis. However, none have shown adequate performance, and cross-reactivity with other fungal pathogens may be observed. Considering that there is a real need to improve the sensitivity and specificity of current diagnostic methods, we explored a novel strategy for the identification of H. capsulatum-specific antigens (Hc_Ags) that could be detected in clinical samples during infection based on a computational analysis model that included the application of bioinformatics tools and the analysis of experimental data from transcriptomics and proteomics. The Hc_Ags identified were expressed and purified by eukaryotic and prokaryotic systems. First, the Hc_Ags were used in an in-house immunization model in mice (BALB/c) to obtain Hc_Ag-specific polyclonal antibodies (Hc_Ag_PAb). Then, the presence of these antigens in H. capsulatum-yeast culture extracts and the specificity of Hc_Ag_PAb against culture extracts of Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus, Cryptococcus neoformans, Fusarium spp., and Paracoccidioides brasiliensis were confirmed. Finally, we demonstrated the immunoreactivity of these Hc_Ag-specific polyclonal antibodies with urine samples from patients previously diagnosed with histoplasmosis. IMPORTANCE Histoplasmosis is considered one of the most important mycoses due to the increasing number of individuals susceptible to develop severe clinical forms, particularly those with HIV/AIDS or receiving immunosuppressive biological therapies, the high mortality rates reported when antifungal treatment is not initiated in a timely manner, and the limitations of conventional diagnostic methods. In this context, there is a clear need to improve the capacity of diagnostic tools to specifically detect the fungal pathogen, regardless of the patient’s clinical condition or the presence of other co-infections. The proposed novel pathogen-specific biomarkers have the potential to be used in immunodiagnostic platforms and antifungal treatment monitoring in histoplasmosis. In addition, the bioinformatics strategy used in this study could be applied to identify potential diagnostic biomarkers in other models of fungal infection of public health importance.

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Microbiology Spectrum

Título del artículo:

EFFECT OF LACTATION ON OOCYTE QUALITY AND IN VITRO EMBRYO PRODUCTION OF BOS INDICUS COWS

The objective of the current study was to evaluate the effect of lactation on oocyte quality and in vitro embryo production in Gyr (Bos indicus) cows. A total of 187 multiparous cows (92 lactating and 95 non-lactating) were subjected to a single session of follicular aspiration. Follicle puncture was per-formed on a random day of the estrous cycle, without prior application of hormonal drugs. The recovered oocytes were subjected to maturation, fertilisation, and in vitro culture. The results indicated that in lactating Gyr cows had the following values of studied variables: number of follicles visualised (22.1±11.38), number of recovered oocytes (17.4±10.21), number of grade III oocytes (7.0±5.86), rate of viable oocytes (72.1±13.11%), number of blastocysts D7 (2.5±2.26) and blastocyst rate (18.3±15.61%), in relation to non-lactating cows (27.7±11.53; 21.1±10.06; 9.8±6.08, 77.4±10.08%; 4.9±3.34; 30.2±15.41%, respectively). In conclusion, the lactation period in Gyr cows affects the performance of in vitro embryo production programmes.

Acerca de la revista donde se publicó este artículo:

Bulgarian Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Título del artículo:

Effect of Zr3Fe addition on hydrogen storage behaviour of Ti2CrV alloys

In this work, the hydrogen storage behavior of Ti2CrV + X wt.% Zr3Fe, where X = 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 was investigated. The synthesis of all samples was carried out through arc-melting, followed by comprehensive characterization using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive spectroscopy. The pure-Ti2CrV as-cast sample presented a single-phase microstructure. However, the addition of the Zr3Fe led to a remarkable transformation, resulting in the appearance of a Zr-rich secondary phase. It was found that the first hydrogenation is improved with the addition of at least 6 wt% of Zr3Fe, avoiding any preheating of the sample. These samples achieved their maximum capacity in approximately 10 min at room temperature. The maximum capacity recorded was 4.2 wt% H for the sample with X = 6 wt% Zr3Fe, while for X = 8 and 10 wt% Zr3Fe, the capacity recorded was 4.1 wt% and 4.0 wt%, respectively.

Acerca de la revista donde se publicó este artículo:

Heliyon

Título del artículo:

Prenatal exposition to haloperidol: A preclinical narrative review

Pre-existing maternal mental disorders may affect the early interactions between mother and baby, impacting the child\'s psychoemotional development. The typical antipsychotic haloperidol can be used during pregnancy, even with some restrictions. Its prescription is not limited to psychotic disorders, but also to other psychiatric conditions of high incidence and prevalence in the woman\'s fertile period. The present review focused on the preclinical available data regarding the biological and behavioral implications of embryonic exposure to haloperidol. The understanding of the effects of psychotropic drugs during neurodevelopment is important for its clinical aspect since there is limited evidence regarding the risks of antipsychotic drug treatment in pregnant women and their children. Moreover, a better comprehension of the mechanistic events that can be affected by antipsychotic treatment during the critical period of neurodevelopment may offer insights into the pathophysiology of neurodevelopmental disorders. The findings presented in this review converge to the existence of several risks associated with prenatal exposure to such medication and emphasize the need for further studies regarding its dimensions.

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Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews

Título del artículo:

Computational study of a microwave plasma reactor based on the TM 112 mode for diamond deposition

One of the main features of microwave plasma reactors is the electric field structure in the resonant cavity, which must be both intense and uniform in front of the substrate. For this reason, transverse magnetic modes are often used, especially axisymmetric modes because they produce an axisymmetric plasma. Microwave plasma reactors can be differentiated according to the chosen mode, because this has a direct influence on the diamond film growth process, among other features such as the coupling technique and the used quartz window. Another attractive characteristic of said reactors is obtaining large activation areas of the plasma. In this paper, we propose a microwave plasma reactor based on the TM 112 cylindrical mode, which is subject to a computational study. Unlike axisymmetric modes, which activate the plasma on the cavity axis, the TM 112 cylindrical mode presents two activation plasma areas. The reactor was designed following the methodology described by Silva et al., and using the Plasma, Radiofrequency (RF), and Heat transfer modules of the software COMSOL Multiphysics. The obtained results are presented in two stages. The first one is related to the initial electric field distribution of the TM 112 mode. Next, the generation of the hydrogen plasma was simulated from the interaction of H 2 gas with the TM 112 microwave field. The plasma activation process is described in detail from graphics of the time evolution of the electron density, hydrogen density, and their respective temperatures until a steady state is reached. Additionally, the influence of the pressure on the concentration and the temperature of both electrons and gas in a steady state is analyzed. The presented results can be useful for the design of plasma reactors for diamond deposition.

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Applied Physics A: Materials Science and Processing

Título del artículo:

Familial chylomicronemia in a two-month-old infant

Introduction: familial chylomicronemia (FCM) is a genetic metabolic disorder, characterized by elevated lipid levels. Objective: we present a patient with FCM, without a family history of this condition. Clinical case: 2-months-old infant seen for diarrheal stools, but during blood sampling for laboratory studies, the serum was identified as milky in appearance. Lipid analysis showed extreme hypertriglyceridemia (>14,000 mg/dL). Genetic testing confirmed familial lipoprotein lipase deficiency, secondary to two heterozygous pathogenic variants (LPL (NM_000237.3): c.127dup; p. Leu43ProfsTer5 and LPL (NM_000237.3): c.1136del; p. Thr379IlefsTer14). The patient was managed with plasmapheresis and a special diet, obtaining a good therapeutic response. Conclusions: FCM is a rare condition that impairs the ability to metabolize triglycerides and can cause potentially life-threatening complications. Its early recognition and treatment is important to prevent complications.

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Revista Mexicana de Pediatria

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Colombian Cholesterol Roadmap. National roundtable on cholesterol in Colombia. Call to action

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (including myocardial infarction, stroke, and peripheral arterial disease) continue to be a leading cause of premature death, disability, and healthcare expenditures worldwide. Therefore, preventing the vascular accumulation of atherogenic cholesterol-containing lipoproteins is crucial in averting major cardiovascular events. The Colombian Cholesterol Roadmap update is the outcome of a meeting held during the 2023 National Cardiology Congress, with the support of the World Heart Federation and a panel of clinical and thematic experts, along with representatives from various institutions involved in the management of dyslipidaemias in Colombia. The present update of this Cholesterol Roadmap provides a conceptual framework to describe the findings and achievements derived from working groups focused on identi-fying barriers that hinder the appropriate treatment of hypercholesterolemia in Colombia. It also outlines proposed actions adjusted to the local context, aiming to develop national policies and approaches within our healthcare systems. Furthermore, it reaffirms the commitment to intersectoral collaboration to achieve the cardiovascular health goals set for the year 2030.

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Revista Colombiana de Cardiologia

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Global variation in diabetes diagnosis and prevalence based on fasting glucose and hemoglobin A1c

Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) are both used to diagnose diabetes, but these measurements can identify different people as having diabetes. We used data from 117 population-based studies and quantified, in different world regions, the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes, and whether those who were previously undiagnosed and detected as having diabetes in survey screening, had elevated FPG, HbA1c or both. We developed prediction equations for estimating the probability that a person without previously diagnosed diabetes, and at a specific level of FPG, had elevated HbA1c, and vice versa. The age-standardized proportion of diabetes that was previously undiagnosed and detected in survey screening ranged from 30% in the high-income western region to 66% in south Asia. Among those with screen-detected diabetes with either test, the age-standardized proportion who had elevated levels of both FPG and HbA1c was 29–39% across regions; the remainder had discordant elevation of FPG or HbA1c. In most low- and middle-income regions, isolated elevated HbA1c was more common than isolated elevated FPG. In these regions, the use of FPG alone may delay diabetes diagnosis and underestimate diabetes prevalence. Our prediction equations help allocate finite resources for measuring HbA1c to reduce the global shortfall in diabetes diagnosis and surveillance.

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Nature Medicine