Título del artículo:

Educational alternation: A challenge to protect the health and life of the school community

Acerca de la revista donde se publicó este artículo:

Revista Cuidarte

Título del artículo:

Disagreement between PCR and serological diagnosis of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in blood donors from a Colombian endemic region

Introduction: Chagas\' disease is the leading cause of infectious myocarditis worldwide. This infection caused by Trypanosoma cruzi is usually life-long and asymptomatic; however, the third part of infected people can develop severe or even fatal cardiomyopathy. As the parasitemia in the chronic phase is both low-grade and intermittent, T. cruzi infection is principally detected by serology, although this method has sensitivity and specificity limitations. Objective: To determine the level of agreement between serologic and molecular tests in 658 voluntary blood donors from six provinces in the Colombian department of Santander. Materials and methods: We evaluated an array of diagnostic technologies by cross-section sampling performing a serological double diagnostic test for T. cruzi antibody detection (Chagas III ELISA™, BiosChile Group, and ARCHITECT Chagas CMIA™, Abbott), and DNA detection by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We collected the demographic, clinical, and epidemiological information of participants. The sample size was calculated using Epidat™ and the statistical analysis was done with Stata 12.1™. Results: PCR was six times more sensitive in detecting T. cruzi infection than ELISA/CMIA with prevalence values of 1.8% (12/658) and 0.3% (2/658), respectively, and kappa=0.28 (95%CI: -0.03 - 0.59). In contrast, serology showed a sensitivity of 16.7% (95%CI: 2.09 -48.4) and a specificity of 100% (95%CI: 99.4 - 100). All seropositive samples were found to be positive by PCR. Conclusions: The implementation of PCR as a complementary method for screening donors could reduce the probability of false negative and the consequent risk of transfusional-transmission of Chagas\' disease, especially in endemic regions.

Acerca de la revista donde se publicó este artículo:

Biomedica

Título del artículo:

In vitro antimicrobial effect of chloroaluminum phthalocyanine nanoemulsion on periodontal bacteria

Context: Nowadays, complementary therapies are necessary for a major removal of microbial subgingival biofilm in the conventional treatment of periodontitis. Research has suggested the use of photodynamic therapy (PDT) as a promising therapy to manage oral cavity infections. This project proposes a new combination of photosensitizer chloroaluminum phthalocyanine and nanoemulsion as a strategy for improving bioactivity. The main purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of nanoemulsion ClAlPc (ClAlPc-NE) on relevant periodontal bacteria before and after PDT. Materials and Methods: The phototoxic and antibacterial effect of ClAlPc-NE was evaluated against epithelial cells derived from an African green monkey kidney using the colorimetric method with salt tetrazolium 3-(4.5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2.5-Diphenyltetrazolium bromide (Merck) and periodontopathogen bacteria (Porphyromonas gingivalis (ATCC 33277), Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (ATCC 33384), and Prevotella intermedia (ATCC 25611) using the plate microdilution method according to Tavares et al., 2018, respectively. The light source used for the PDT was a LED laser (400-700 nm); the cells were irradiated for 2 min using 4.83 joules/cm2. Results: Antibacterial effect of NE-PcAlCl against P. intermedia with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) 0.63 μM after TFD was determined. In the case of P. gingivalis and A. actinomycetemcomitans, no biological activity was found after PDT (MIC > 20 μM) under-evaluated experimental conditions. On the other hand, the ClAlPc-free and ClAlPc-NE cells were phototoxic on epithelial cells. Conclusion: The results helped to identify the potential use of ClAlPc-NE to inhibit the periodontal bacterial and additional studies are being developed.

Acerca de la revista donde se publicó este artículo:

Journal of Indian Society of Periodontology

Título del artículo:

A Commentary on “COVID-19 impact on Surgical Training and Recovery Planning (COVID-STAR) - A cross-sectional observational study”

Acerca de la revista donde se publicó este artículo:

International Journal of Surgery

Título del artículo:

Generalized anxiety disorder scale (GAD-7) has adequate psychometric properties in Colombian general practitioners during COVID-19 pandemic

Acerca de la revista donde se publicó este artículo:

General Hospital Psychiatry

Título del artículo:

Associations of Fish Consumption with Risk of Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality among Individuals with or without Vascular Disease from 58 Countries

Importance: Cohort studies report inconsistent associations between fish consumption, a major source of long-chain ω-3 fatty acids, and risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality. Whether the associations vary between those with and those without vascular disease is unknown. Objective: To examine whether the associations of fish consumption with risk of CVD or of mortality differ between individuals with and individuals without vascular disease. Design, Setting, and Participants: This pooled analysis of individual participant data involved 191558 individuals from 4 cohort studies - 147645 individuals (139827 without CVD and 7818 with CVD) from 21 countries in the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study and 43413 patients with vascular disease in 3 prospective studies from 40 countries. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated by multilevel Cox regression separately within each study and then pooled using random-effects meta-analysis. This analysis was conducted from January to June 2020. Exposures: Fish consumption was recorded using validated food frequency questionnaires. In 1 of the cohorts with vascular disease, a separate qualitative food frequency questionnaire was used to assess intake of individual types of fish. Main Outcomes and Measures: Mortality and major CVD events (including myocardial infarction, stroke, congestive heart failure, or sudden death). Results: Overall, 191558 participants with a mean (SD) age of 54.1 (8.0) years (91666 [47.9%] male) were included in the present analysis. During 9.1 years of follow-up in PURE, compared with little or no fish intake (≤50 g/mo), an intake of 350 g/wk or more was not associated with risk of major CVD (HR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.86-1.04) or total mortality (HR, 0.96; 0.88-1.05). By contrast, in the 3 cohorts of patients with vascular disease, the HR for risk of major CVD (HR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.73-0.96) and total mortality (HR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.74-0.91) was lowest with intakes of at least 175 g/wk (or approximately 2 servings/wk) compared with 50 g/mo or lower, with no further apparent decrease in HR with consumption of 350 g/wk or higher. Fish with higher amounts of ω-3 fatty acids were strongly associated with a lower risk of CVD (HR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.92-0.97 per 5-g increment of intake), whereas other fish were neutral (collected in 1 cohort of patients with vascular disease). The association between fish intake and each outcome varied by CVD status, with a lower risk found among patients with vascular disease but not in general populations (for major CVD, I2= 82.6 [P =.02]; for death, I2= 90.8 [P =.001]). Conclusions and Relevance: Findings of this pooled analysis of 4 cohort studies indicated that a minimal fish intake of 175 g (approximately 2 servings) weekly is associated with lower risk of major CVD and mortality among patients with prior CVD but not in general populations. The consumption of fish (especially oily fish) should be evaluated in randomized trials of clinical outcomes among people with vascular disease.

Acerca de la revista donde se publicó este artículo:

JAMA Internal Medicine

Título del artículo:

Prospective evaluation of the association between varicocele and benign prostatic hyperplasia in men over 40 years of age

We investigated the association between varicocele and benign prostatic hyperplasia in men over the age of 40 years. A total of 296 outpatients were evaluated. Prostate volume was measured with transrectal ultrasound. Varicocele was diagnosed by physical examination and ultrasound. Prostatic hyperplasia was defined as prostate volume greater than or equal to 40 ml. Two groups were compared: patients with prostate volume less than 40 ml and patients with prostate volume greater than or equal to 40 ml. There was a statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of mean age, post-void residual, International Prostate Symptom Score and PSA. The percentage of patients with clinical varicocele in the group with a volume less than 40 ml and the group with a volume equal to or greater than 40 ml was 38.2% and 47.7% respectively (p =.12). There were no differences between the two groups in the percentage of patients with clinical or subclinical varicocele (43.2% vs. 52.2%, respectively, p =.12). No differences were found in the percentage of patients with varicocele when comparing men with prostates smaller than 40 ml and greater than or equal to 40 ml.

Acerca de la revista donde se publicó este artículo:

Andrologia

Título del artículo:

Enhancement of Phycobiliprotein Accumulation in Thermotolerant Oscillatoria sp. Through Media Optimization

Phycobiliproteins (PBPs) are a group of brilliant pigment proteins found in cyanobacteria and red algae; their synthesis and accumulation depend on several factors such as the type of strain employed, nutrient concentration, light intensity, light regimes, and others. This study evaluates the effect of macronutrients (citrate buffer, NaNO3, K2HPO4, MgSO4, CaCl2, Na2CO3, and EDTA) and the concentration of trace metals in BG-11 media on the accumulation of PBPs in a thermotolerant strain of Oscillatoria sp. The strain was grown in BG-11 media at 28 °C with a light:dark cycle of 12:12 h at 100 μmol m-2 s-1 for 15 days, and the effect of nutrients was evaluated using a Plackett-Burman Design followed by optimization using a response surface methodology. Results from the concentration of trace metals show that it can be reduced up to half-strength in its initial concentration without affecting both biomass and PBPs. Results from the Plackett-Burman Design revealed that only NaNO3, Na2CO3, and K2HPO4 show a significant increase in PBP production. Optimization employed a central Non-Factorial Response Surface Design with three levels and four factors (34) using NaNO3, Na2CO3, K2HPO4, and trace metals as variables, while the other components of BG-11 media (citrate buffer, MgSO4, CaCl2, and EDTA) were used in half of their initial concentration. Results from the optimization show that interaction between Na2CO3 and K2HPO4 highly increased PBPs\' concentration, with values of 15.21, 3.95, and 1.89 (% w/w), respectively. These results demonstrate that identifying and adjusting the concentration of critical nutrients can increase the concentration of PBPs up to two times for phycocyanin and allophycocyanin while four times for phycoerythrin. Finally, the reduction in non-key nutrients\' concentration will reduce the production costs of colorants at an industrial scale and increase the sustainability of the process.

Acerca de la revista donde se publicó este artículo:

ACS Omega

Título del artículo:

Resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and quinolones in Escherichia coli isolated from broilers

The aim of this study was to determine the antimicrobial resistance of 176 Escherichia coli strains isolated from broiler chicken organs. The strains were challenged with beta-lactam, quinolones and fluoroquinolones, observing resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics (97.7%) and quinolones (86.7%). The results showed that 71.6% of the isolates phenotypically expressed the production of extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESLB). By PCR, resistance genes for beta-lactams blaTEM, blaSHV, blaCTX-M1 and Amp-C and resistance genes for quinolones qnrA, qnrB, qnrS were determined. The genes AmpC (74%), blaCTX-M (65%), blaSHV (65%), blaTEM (50%), qnrB (86.4%) and qnrS (11.9%) were found. The qnrA gene was not evident in the samples analysed. The results obtained revealed a large percentage of resistance to the studied antibiotics and the presence of resistance genes in isolates from poultry for human consumption, which constitutes a risk for Public Health.

Acerca de la revista donde se publicó este artículo:

Revista de Investigaciones Veterinarias del Peru

Título del artículo:

Effect of ibuprofen on the establishment of the gestation of in vitro produced bovine embryos

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the administration of ibuprofen in the establishment of the gestation of bovine embryos produced in vitro. In total, 85 Bos taurus x B. indicus heifers were used as embryo recipients, which were subjected to a protocol of synchronization of oestrus and ovulation with the insertion of an intravaginal progesterone implant (Sincrogest®) for eight days, plus the application of 2 mg of oestradiol benzoate (Sincrodiol®). To the removal of the implant, 500 µg sodium cloprostenol (Sincrocio®), 300 IU of equine chorionic gonadotropin (Sincro eCG®), plus the administration of 1 mg of oestradiol cypionate (SincroCP®,) were applied. One hour before embryo transfer, 5 mg/kg of ibuprofen IM was applied. No significant difference was observed in the gestation rate of the control group (47.5%) and the ibuprofen group (35.5%). It is concluded that the administration of ibuprofen in B. taurus x B. indicus heifers one hour before the transfer of the embryos in vitro had no effect on the establishment of gestation.

Acerca de la revista donde se publicó este artículo:

Revista de Investigaciones Veterinarias del Peru

Título del artículo:

Glycemic index, glycemic load, and cardiovascular disease and mortality

BACKGROUND Most data regarding the association between the glycemic index and cardiovascular disease come from high-income Western populations, with little information from non-Western countries with low or middle incomes. To fill this gap, data are needed from a large, geographically diverse population. METHODS This analysis includes 137,851 participants between the ages of 35 and 70 years living on five continents, with a median follow-up of 9.5 years. We used country-specific food-frequency questionnaires to determine dietary intake and estimated the glycemic index and glycemic load on the basis of the consumption of seven categories of carbohydrate foods. We calculated hazard ratios using multivariable Cox frailty models. The primary outcome was a composite of a major cardiovascular event (cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, stroke, and heart failure) or death from any cause. RESULTS In the study population, 8780 deaths and 8252 major cardiovascular events occurred during the follow-up period. After performing extensive adjustments comparing the lowest and highest glycemic-index quintiles, we found that a diet with a high glycemic index was associated with an increased risk of a major cardiovascular event or death, both among participants with preexisting cardiovascular disease (hazard ratio, 1.51; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.25 to 1.82) and among those without such disease (hazard ratio, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.11 to 1.34). Among the components of the primary outcome, a high glycemic index was also associated with an increased risk of death from cardiovascular causes. The results with respect to glycemic load were similar to the findings regarding the glycemic index among the participants with cardiovascular disease at baseline, but the association was not significant among those without preexisting cardiovascular disease. CONCLUSIONS In this study, a diet with a high glycemic index was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and death.

Acerca de la revista donde se publicó este artículo:

New England Journal of Medicine

Título del artículo:

Tuberculosis and the heart

Acquired tuberculosis continues to be a challenge worldwide. Although tuberculosis has been considered a global public health emergency, it remains poorly controlled in many countries. Despite being primarily a pulmonary disease, tuberculosis could involve the heart. This systematic review is part of the \"Neglected Tropical Diseases and Other Infectious Diseases Involving the Heart\" (the NET-Heart Project) initiative from the Interamerican Society of Cardiology. This project aims to review the cardiovascular involvement of these heterogeneous diseases, advancing original algorithms to help healthcare providers diagnose and manage cardiovascular complications. In tuberculosis, pericardium involvement is relatively common, especially in AIDS, and tuberculosis is the most common cause of constrictive pericarditis in endemic countries. Myocarditis and aortitis by tuberculosis are rare. Clinical manifestations of cardiovascular involvement by tuberculosis differ from those typically found for bacteria or viruses. Prevailing systemic symptoms and the pericarditis diagnostic index should be taken into account. An echocardiogram is the first step for diagnosing cardiovascular involvement; however, several image modalities can be used, depending on the suspected site of infection. Adenosine deaminase levels, gamma interferon, or polymerase chain reaction testing could be used to confirm tuberculosis infection; each has a high diagnostic performance. Antituberculosis chemotherapy and corticosteroids are treatment mainstays that significantly reduce mortality, constriction, and hospitaliza-tions, especially in patients with HIV. In conclusion, tuberculosis cardiac involvement is frequent and could lead to heart failure, constrictive pericarditis, or death. Early detection of complications should be a cornerstone of overall management.

Acerca de la revista donde se publicó este artículo:

Journal of the American Heart Association

Título del artículo:

Reliability of the scale of barriers for cardiac rehabilitation in the colombian population

Cardiac rehabilitation is supported by the highest level of scientific evidence. However, less than 25% of those eligible to participate in a cardiac rehabilitation program initiate it; and of these, 50% drop out prematurely. A modified Spanish Cardiac Rehabilitation Barriers Scale (CRBS) has been translated, culturally adapted and validated in Colombia, however, the reliability remains to be evaluated. This study aimed to determine the internal consistency and test–retest reliability of the CRBS in a Colombian population. In total, 193 patients (67% men, average age = 65 ± 12 years) completed the scale twice, with an average of eight days between applications. Cronbach’s Alpha and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated. The internal consistency of the Colombian version of the CRBS was acceptable (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.84). The ICC of the CRBS was 0.69 (95% CI 0.61–0.76); 0.78 (95% CI 0.71–0.84) when the CRBS was completed by interview; and 0.47 (95% CI 0.21–0.67) when the CRBS was self-reported. The reliability of the interview version of the CRBS was substantial in the Colombian population; however, the reliability of the self-report version was lower. The use of this scale will allow developing strategies to increase participation and adherence to cardiac rehabilitation programs.

Acerca de la revista donde se publicó este artículo:

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Título del artículo:

High flow arteriovenous malformation in a young adult: Case report

Introduction. Arteriovenous malformations are relative rare and infrequent injuries. Their main characteristic is an abnormal increase in the number of blood vessels as a result of defective vascular development. They represent a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for the treating physician. Their incidence in the general population is around 1.5%. Some therapeutic options include selective embolization, surgical resection, or both. The purpose of this article is to report a case of an infrequent pathology and to perform a literature review on the topic to shed light on its diagnosis. Case report. The case involves a young adult patient who inquired about the presence of a mass in the right buttock with six years of evolution. It was erroneously diagnosed as a lipoma, as a result of which the patient was taken to surgery without performing preliminary diagnostic images. During surgery, the patient went into hypovolemic shock. Afterwards, the mass was documented as a profound arteriovenous malformation. Discussion. Such malformations are rarely found in the lower limbs, as in this case. These injuries may be clinically diagnosed, but knowledge or suspicion on the existence of this entity is required, because such injuries might not be clinically visible, which implies that they may go unnoticed or be erroneously diagnosed. Conclusion. Even though it is an infrequent pathology, it may have substantial clinical, physical, psychological and aesthetic implications, which implies that it is indispensable to perform adequate imaging-based procedures to enable its adequate diagnosis and management.

Acerca de la revista donde se publicó este artículo:

MedUNAB

Título del artículo:

Genotypic and functional characterization of mutations in the reverse transcriptase domain of the hepatitis B virus P gene in patients coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus receiving antiretrovirals

Acerca de la revista donde se publicó este artículo:

Iatreia

Título del artículo:

Determination of molecular markers for hepatitis B through deep sequencing of the viral genome and the miRNA expression in samples obtained from blood banks in Colombia

Acerca de la revista donde se publicó este artículo:

Iatreia

Título del artículo:

Development of an aptamer-based electrochemical biosensor for the detection of PSA and its isoform p2PSA

Acerca de la revista donde se publicó este artículo:

Iatreia

Título del artículo:

Clinical characteristics and findings on computed tomography of the thorax in patients with COVID-19

The pandemic generated by COVID-19 has generated an enormous medical and socioeconomic cost, which has led the scientific field and the different medical associations to make all their resources available to find a prompt solution to face this pathology. The objective of this review is to describe the most relevant clinical characteristics and chest computed tomography findings in patients with COVID-19; By identifying scientific articles in databases. Fifteen studies were included that met the inclusion criteria defined by the authors. The most relevant findings show us that SARS-CoV-2 has a rapid and generalized transmission, with the involvement of multiple systems, but with a predominance of the respiratory tract. Most patients have mild symptoms; the main manifestations are fever, cough, shortness of breath, muscle pain, headache, etc. Patients with more severe diseases and requiring admission to the ICU are older and have more comorbidity compared to the general population. The current recommendations of the American College of Radiology for the use of chest CT, we propose to reserve it for hospitalized patients when it is necessary to determine their treatment. In conclusion, due to the great variety of clinical manifestations and the involvement of multiple organs, there are no specific clinical characteristics that allow distinguishing COVID-19 from other respiratory infections of viral etiology.

Acerca de la revista donde se publicó este artículo:

Gaceta Medica de Caracas

Título del artículo:

Urinary Sodium and Potassium, and Risk of Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Stroke (INTERSTROKE): A Case-Control Study

Although low sodium intake (<2 g/day) and high potassium intake (>3.5 g/day) are proposed as public health interventions to reduce stroke risk, there is uncertainty about the benefit and feasibility of this combined recommendation on prevention of stroke. METHODS: We obtained random urine samples from 9,275 cases of acute first stroke and 9,726 matched controls from 27 countries and estimated the 24-hour sodium and potassium excretion, a surrogate for intake, using the Tanaka formula. Using multivariable conditional logistic regression, we determined the associations of estimated 24-hour urinary sodium and potassium excretion with stroke and its subtypes. RESULTS: Compared with an estimated urinary sodium excretion of 2.8-3.5 g/day (reference), higher (>4.26 g/day) (odds ratio [OR] 1.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.65-2.00) and lower (<2.8 g/day) sodium excretion (OR 1.39; 95% CI, 1.26-1.53) were significantly associated with increased risk of stroke. The stroke risk associated with the highest quartile of sodium intake (sodium excretion >4.26 g/day) was significantly greater (P < 0.001) for intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) (OR 2.38; 95% CI, 1.93-2.92) than for ischemic stroke (OR 1.67; 95% CI, 1.50-1.87). Urinary potassium was inversely and linearly associated with risk of stroke, and stronger for ischemic stroke than ICH (P = 0.026). In an analysis of combined sodium and potassium excretion, the combination of high potassium intake (>1.58 g/day) and moderate sodium intake (2.8-3.5 g/day) was associated with the lowest risk of stroke. CONCLUSIONS: The association of sodium intake and stroke is J-shaped, with high sodium intake a stronger risk factor for ICH than ischemic stroke. Our data suggest that moderate sodium intake - rather than low sodium intake - combined with high potassium intake may be associated with the lowest risk of stroke and expected to be a more feasible combined dietary target.

Acerca de la revista donde se publicó este artículo:

American Journal of Hypertension

Título del artículo:

Comparison between five coprological methods for the diagnosis of Balantidium coli cysts in fecal samples from pigs

Background and Aim: Balantidium coli is a protozoan that can infect humans and non-human primates, being the domestic pigs the animals most affected by this parasite. This study aimed to compare the performance of five coprological methods for diagnosis of Balantidium coli cysts in fecal samples from pigs. Materials and Methods: From September to December 2019, 558 fecal samples were collected from the rectum of backyard pigs in the Bucaramanga metropolitan area, Colombia. The average age of the sampled animals was 3-4 months. Fecal samples collected were tested using the following coprological techniques: Direct examination with Lugol\'s iodine solution, buffered saline, centrifugation/flotation and McMaster techniques, and Ziehl-Neelsen method. Results: The results indicate that B. coli cysts were diagnosed most frequently through direct examination with Lugol\'s iodine solution (52.7% of the samples) followed by direct examination with a buffered saline solution (37.6%). Moderate concordance (k=0.41; p<0.05) was determined between direct method with Lugol\'s iodine and buffered saline solution, McMaster and buffered saline (k=0.35; p<0.05), and centrifugation/flotation and buffered saline (k=0.28; p<0.05) showed a fair degree of concordance. The rest of the comparisons were classified as poor. The flotation techniques (centrifugation/ flotation and McMaster) did not show good recovery of cysts. Conclusion: It is concluded that the most efficient method for diagnosing this parasitosis was to an association between direct examination with Lugol\'s iodine solution and buffered saline.

Acerca de la revista donde se publicó este artículo:

Veterinary World

Título del artículo:

Rabies and the Heart

As one of the neglected diseases, rabies is as a highly fatal viral infection, most prevalent in low-and middle-income regions, which produces a substantial health and economic burden. It mainly affects the central nervous system causing encephalitis, however extraneuronal involvement has been documented. Cardiac structures may be involved and can play a role in the severity of the disease. Most of the existing literature comes from case reports and case series where cardiac involvement results in myocarditis and cardiac arrhythmias. As part of the “Neglected Tropical Diseases and Other Infectious Diseases Involving the Heart” (NET-HEART Project), the objective of this article is to review all the information available on the cardiac involvement of this disease.

Acerca de la revista donde se publicó este artículo:

Cardiology Research

Título del artículo:

The SIMAC study: A randomized controlled trial to compare the effects of resistance training and aerobic training on the fitness and body composition of Colombian adolescents

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact on muscle strength, aerobic fitness and body composition, of replacing the physical education (PE) class of Colombian adolescents with resistance or aerobic training. 120 tanner stage 3 adolescents attending a state school were randomized to resistance training, aerobic training, or a control group who continued to attend a weekly 2- hour PE class for 16 weeks. The resistance training and aerobic training groups participated in twice weekly supervised after-school exercise sessions of 1 hour instead of their PE class. Sum of skinfolds, lean body mass (bioelectrical impedance analysis), muscular strength (6 repetition maximum (RM)) bench press, lateral pulldown and leg press) and estimated cardiorespiratory fitness (multistage 20 meter shuttle run) were ssessed at pre and post intervention. Complete data were available for n = 40 of the resistance training group, n = 40 of the aerobic training group and n = 30 PE (controls). Resistance raining attenuated increases in sum of skinfolds compared with controls (d = 0.27, [0.09–0.36]). We found no significant effect on lean body mass. Resistance training produced a positive effect on muscle strength compared with both controls (d = 0.66 [.49-.86]) and aerobic training (d = 0.55[0.28–0.67]). There was a positive effect of resistance training on cardiorespiratory fitness compared with controls (d = 0.04 [-0.10–0.12]) but not compared with aerobic training (d = 0.24 [0.10–0.36]). Replacing a 2-hour PE class with two 1 hour resistance training sessions attenuated gains in subcutaneous adiposity, and enhanced muscle strength and aerobic fitness development in Colombian youth, based on a median attendance of approximately 1 session a week. Further research to assess whether adequate stimuli for the development of muscular fitness exists within current physical education provision is warranted.

Acerca de la revista donde se publicó este artículo:

PLoS ONE

Título del artículo:

Environmental risk factors associated with respiratory diseases in children with socioeconomic disadvantage

Children are more vulnerable to environmental exposures determinant of respiratory diseases due to their dynamic developmental physiology. Whereas social determinants of health are also associated with a higher risk of these diseases in children exposed to environmental risk factors, most studies incorporate them as covariates in the statistical analysis rather than focusing on specific vulnerable populations. In this study a systematic review searched and selected studies of respiratory diseases in children with socioeconomic disadvantage to identify the environmental risk factors associated with these diseases. The review followed the PRISMA protocol to identify eleven eligible studies of children with socioeconomic conditions that included low income and low socioeconomic status, overcrowding, adults with low education level and Indigenous status. Infectious respiratory diseases, asthma, rhinitis and mortality due to respiratory diseases were associated with risk factors such as biomass fuel use, tobacco smoking, particulate matter, coal dust and other pollutants including ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide. The most common associations were between respiratory infections and household air pollution and asthma with indoor and outdoor air pollution. The findings support previous reports on these associations and suggest that specific vulnerabilities such as indigenous children and living with adults with low socioeconomic status and education level increase the risk of respiratory diseases. These populations can be given special attention to prioritize public health interventions to lower the burden of disease of respiratory diseases in children.

Acerca de la revista donde se publicó este artículo:

Heliyon

Título del artículo:

Fungal Endophytes of Tahiti Lime (Citrus citrus × latifolia) and Their Potential for Control of Colletotrichum acutatum J. H. Simmonds Causing Anthracnose

Colletotrichum acutatum is one of the causal agents of anthracnose in several crops, and of post-flowering fruit drop (PFD) in citrus and key lime anthracnose (KLA). The pathogen normally attacks flowers, causing lesions only in open flowers. Under very favorable conditions, however, it can also affect flower buds and small fruits, causing complete rotting of the fruit and a premature fall, resulting in major economic crop losses. We isolated endophytic fungi from Tahiti lime to evaluate its diversity, verify its antagonistic capacity against the phytopathogen Colletotrichum acutatum C-100 in dual tests, and evaluate the ability of various endophytic agents to control flowers with induced anthracnose. 138 fungal isolates were obtained from 486 fragments of branches, leaves, and fruit; from which 15 species were identified morphologically. A higher isolation frequency was found in branches and leaves, with a normal level of diversity compared to other citrus species. Of the 15 morphospecies, 5 were trialed against C. acutatum in antagonism tests, resulting in a finding of positive inhibition. 2 endophytic fungi from the antagonism tests demonstrated high inhibition of the phytopathogen, and were thus used in in vivo tests with Tahiti lime flowers, applied in a spore solution. Spore solutions of two molecularly identified species, Xylaria adscendens, and Trichoderma atroviride, reduced the lesions caused by the phytopathogen in these in vivo tests. The finding that these endophytes react antagonistically against C. acutatum may make them good candidates for further biological control research in an agroindustry that requires environmental sustainability.

Acerca de la revista donde se publicó este artículo:

Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology

Título del artículo:

Mapping stages, barriers and facilitators to the implementation of HEARTS in the Americas initiative in 12 countries: A qualitative study

The World Health Organization (WHO) Global Hearts Initiative offers technical packages to reduce the burden of cardiovascular diseases through population-wide and targeted health services interventions. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has led implementation of the HEARTS in the Americas Initiative since 2016. The authors mapped the developmental stages, barriers, and facilitators to implementation among the 371 primary health care centers in the participating 12 countries. The authors used the qualitative method of document review to examine cumulative country reports, technical meeting notes, and reports to regional stakeholders. Common implementation barriers include segmentation of health systems, overcoming health care professionals\' scope of practice legal restrictions, and lack of health information systems limiting operational evaluation and quality improvement mechanisms. Main implementation facilitators include political support from ministries of health and leading scientific societies, PAHO\'s role as a regional catalyst to implementation, stakeholder endorsement demonstrated by incorporating HEARTS into official documents, and having a health system oriented to primary health care. Key lessons include the need for political commitment and cultivating on-the-ground leadership to initiate a shift in hypertension care delivery, accompanied by specific progress in the development of standardized treatment protocols and a set of high-quality medicines. By systematizing an implementation strategy to ease integration of interventions into delivery processes, the program strengthened technical leadership and ensured sustainability. These study findings will aid the regional approach by providing a staged planning model that incorporates lessons learned. A systematic approach to implementation will enhance equity, efficiency, scale-up, and sustainability, and ultimately improve population hypertension control.

Acerca de la revista donde se publicó este artículo:

Journal of Clinical Hypertension