Search

Introducción: La fractura diafisaria de húmero es frecuente y, en la actualidad, se privilegia el tratamiento quirúrgico. La consolidación en mala rotación puede causar un deterioro de la función y artrosis a largo plazo. Con las técnicas mínimamente invasivas, es difícil manejar la rotación intraoperatoria al no tener una visión directa de la reducción fracturaria. Objetivo: Describir criterios radiográficos para la reducción rotatoria en las fracturas diafisarias de húmero. Materiales y Métodos: Estudio retrospectivo de radiografías de húmero comparando criterios radiográficos del húmero distal entre radiografías con rotación interna (sin retroversión proximal) y rotación externa (con retroversión fisiológica). Criterios estudiados: sobreproyección del epicóndilo lateral por sobre el capitellum >50%, esclerosis del borde inferior de la fosa olecraneana, esclerosis del borde lateral de la fosa olecraneana y asimetría de la fosa olecraneana. Resultados: El 97% de las 200 radiografías estudiadas cumplió con los criterios de inclusión y exclusión. Sobreproyección del epicóndilo por sobre el capitellum: 83,3% de los casos; esclerosis del borde inferior de la fosa olecraneana: 30%, esclerosis del borde lateral de la fosa olecraneana: 86,6% y asimetría: 80% de ellas. Todos los criterios con significancia estadística (p

Tidal energy represents a clean and sustainable source of energy generation that can address renewable energy challenges, especially the global challenge of optimizing alternatives for stable supply. Although tidal stream energy extraction technology is in the early stages of development, it shows great potential compared to other renewable energy sources. The main objective of this research is to provide a digital tool for the optimization of the installation of turbines through fuzzy logic. The methodology in this study includes the design and development of a fuzzy-logic-based tool for this purpose. Design criteria included parameters such as salinity, temperature, currents, depth, and water viscosity, which affect the performance of tidal turbines. These parameters are obtained from the geographic location of the installation. A decision-making system is provided to support the tool. The designed fuzzy logic system evaluates the suitability of different turbine locations and presents the results through graphics and probability of success percentages. The results indicate that currents and temperatures are the most limiting factors in terms of potential turbine locations. The program provides a practical and efficient tool for optimizing the selection of tidal turbines and generating energy from ocean currents. This tool is evaluated and validated through different cases. With this approach, the aim is to encourage the development of tidal energy and its adoption worldwide.

Introduction: Distal clavicle fractures represent 12%-26% of all clavicle fractures. For unstable cases, surgical fixation is the preferred method of treatment. To date, there is still controversy regarding the best fixation method with a high reoperation and complication rate reported. The purpose of this article is to describe a minimally invasive method for reduction and stabilization of displaced distal clavicle fractures, using cortical buttons. Surgical technique: After standard preoperative preparation, a 3-cm incision is made at the coracoclavicular area. Using both coracoid and clavicle tunnels, fracture reduction and fixation is obtained using a cortical fixation button. Standard postoperative care is given. Results: A total of 21 patients (19 men) with a mean age of 34.7 years were treated using this technique. The follow-up was between 6 and 41 months, with an average of 23.4 months. The mean simple shoulder test score was 79.4 (range 66-91.7), and the QuickDASH score was 11 (range 6.8-15.9). Consolidation of the fracture was confirmed at the 12-week follow-up radiography, with no cases of nonunion or malunion identified. No patients presented infection or complications at the surgical site. Implant removal was not needed in this series. All the patients returned to work. Conclusion: Minimally invasive button fixation of unstable distal clavicle fractures is a safe and reliable alternative treatment. The initial outcome report is promising with excellent clinical and radiological results and no complications or implant removals.

Presentamos el primer listado taxonómico de los mamíferos silvestres del departamento del Atlántico, en la costa Caribe de Colombia. Registramos 92 especies, distribuidas en 11 órdenes, 37 familias y 74 géneros, lo cual representa el 16.5 % de la mastofauna documentada para Colombia. Encontramos tres especies endémicas de Colombia, Cebus versicolor, Saguinus oedipus y Pattonomys semivillosus, 10 especies en alguna categoría nacional de amenaza, 13 especies en alguna catrgoría global y cuatro categorizadas como Datos Insuficientes. La riqueza de mamíferos es baja, comparada con la de otros departamentos del país, pero podría estar subestimada, debido al bajo esfuerzo de muestreo y la falta de exploración en diversas áreas del departamento.

Se presenta la lista de los mamíferos del departamento de Sucre, basada en la revisión de especímenes depositados en colecciones biológicas, registros novedosos y disponibles en la literatura científica y observaciones de los autores. Encontramos 143 especies, que representan el 26.3 % de los mamíferos registrados en Colombia. Cinco especies son endémicas de Colombia: Cebus versicolor, Pattonomys semivillosus, Proechimys chrysaeolus, Saguinus oedipus y Sylvilagus sanctaemartae; cinco han sido categorizadas como Datos Insuficientes, y 13 y 17 se encuentran en alguna categoría de amenaza a nivel nacional y global, respectivamente. Se registra por primera vez para Colombia el murciélago Ametrida centurio, con base en una fotografía tomada en el municipio de Santiago de Tolú. Registramos mayor riqueza de especies al norte del departamento, en las subregiones Golfo Morrosquillo y Montes de María, probablemente producto del mayor esfuerzo de recolección. Es necesario incrementar los esfuerzos locales, debido a la insuficiente o nula exploración en algunas áreas del departamento.

The benefits of physical exercise on health are diminished when it is non-planned, strenuous, or vigorous, which causes an increase in oxygen consumption and production of free radicals, particularly serious at the muscular level. Ubiquinol could help achieve an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and ergogenic effect. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether a supplementation of ubiquinol during a short period could have a positive effect on muscle aggression, physical performance, and fatigue perception in non-elite athletes after high intensity circuit weight training. One hundred healthy and well-trained men, (firemen of the Fire Department of Granada) were enrolled in a placebo-controlled, double-blinded, and randomized study, and separated into two groups: the placebo group (PG, n = 50); and the ubiquinol group (UG, n = 50), supplemented with an oral dose. Before and after the intervention, data related to the number of repetitions, muscle strength, and perceived exertion, as well as blood samples were collected. An increase was observed in the UG regarding average load and repetitions, revealing an improvement in muscle performance. Ubiquinol supplementation also reduced muscle damage markers, showing a protective effect on muscle fibers. Therefore, this study provides evidence that ubiquinol supplementation improves muscle performance and prevents muscle damage after strenuous exercise in a population of well-trained individuals who are not elite athletes.

Since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic appeared, both governments and the scientific community have focused their efforts on the search for prophylactic and therapeutic alternatives in order to reduce its effects. Vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 have been approved and administered, playing a key role in the overcoming of this situation. However, they have not reached the whole world population, and several doses will be needed in the future in order to successfully protect individuals. The disease is still here, so other strategies should be explored with the aim of supporting the immune system before and during the infection. An adequate diet is certainly associated with an optimal inflammatory and oxidative stress status, as poor levels of different nutrients could be related to altered immune responses and, consequently, an augmented susceptibility to infections and severe outcomes derived from them. Minerals exert a wide range of immune-modulatory, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activities, which may be useful for fighting this illness. Although they cannot be considered as a definitive therapeutic solution, the available evidence to date, obtained from studies on similar respiratory diseases, might reflect the rationality of deeper investigations of the use of minerals during this pandemic.

This study presents the application of the finite element method integrated with Terzaghi’s principle. The definition of a model in oedometric or confinement conditions for settlement estimation of a building after the construction of a tunnel, including the effect of Terzaghi’s principle, is an unresolved problem. The objectives of this work include the demonstration of the need for a minimum of three methodological states to estimate said settlement. For this, a specific methodology is applied to a case study, with eight load steps and four types of coarse-grained soils. In the studied case, two layers of 50 m and 5 m with different degrees of saturation are overlaying an assumed impermeable rock layer. The excavation of a tunnel of 15 m in diameter at a depth of 30 m with drainage lining inside the tunnel is assumed. The minimum distance from the tunnel’s outline to the mat foundation is 15.8 m. It is determined that the settlement, according to Terzaghi’s principle, is around 11% of the total settlement for the most compacted soil types, reaching 35% for the loose soil type, from the tunnel’s outline. In the mat foundation, it implies an increase in the differential settlement of up to 12%. It shows a nonlinear relationship between some of the variables in the analysis. To detect the collapse due to uplifting the tunnel invert, it was determined that it was not appropriate to model in oedometric conditions. The novelty of the investigation relies on identifying and determining the need for a minimum of three states for methodological purposes for a proper quantification of the total settlement: (i) before the construction of the tunnel, (ii) immediately after the excavation of the tunnel, but without groundwater inflow into the tunnel, and (iii) after the tunnelling, with stabilised groundwater inflow into the tunnel.

Background: Obesity and being overweight have become one of the world’s most severe health issues, not only because of the pathology but also because of the development of related comorbidities. Even when children reach adulthood, the mother’s environment during pregnancy has been found to have a significant impact on obesity prevention in children. Thus, both maternal dietary habits and other factors such as gestational diabetes mellitus, excessive weight gain during pregnancy, smoking, or endocrine factors, among others, could influence newborn growth, adiposity, and body composition at birth, in childhood and adolescence, hence programming health in adulthood. Methods: The aim of this review is to analyze the most recent human studies on the programming of fetal adipose tissue to determine which modifiable factors may influence adiposity and thus prevent specific disorders later in life by means of a bibliographic review of articles related to the subject over the last ten years. Conclusions: The importance of a healthy diet and lifestyle not only during pregnancy and the first months of life but also throughout childhood, especially during the first two years of life as this is a period of great plasticity, where the foundations for optimal health in later life will be laid, preventing the emergence of noncommunicable diseases including obesity, diabetes mellitus type 2, hypertension, being overweight, and any other pathology linked to metabolic syndrome, which is so prevalent today, through health programs beginning at a young age.

This study investigates the impact of fragmentation on Ecuador’s coastal mangrove forests. Fragmentation is identified as a primary cause of aquatic ecosystem degradation. We analyzed the relationship between habitat loss, fragmentation, and mangrove connectivity through a multitemporal approach using Global Mangrove Watch and fragmentation and connectivity metrics. The terrain was divided into 10 km2 hexagons, and six fragmentation metrics were calculated. A Getis–Ord Gi* statistical analysis was used to identified areas with the best and worst conservation status, while connectivity analyses were performed for a generic species with a 5 km dispersion. Findings revealed widespread mangrove fragmentation in Ecuador, with geographical differences between the insular region (Galapagos) and the mainland coast. Minimal loss or even expansion of mangrove forests in areas like the Galapagos Islands contrasted with severe fragmentation along the mainland coast. Transformation of forests into fisheries, mainly prawn factories, was the primary driver of change, while only a weak correlation was observed between mangrove fragmentation and conversion to agriculture, which accounts for less than 15% of all deforestation in Ecuador. Fragmentation may increase or decrease depending on the management of different deforestation drivers and should be considered in large-scale mangrove monitoring. Focusing only on mangrove deforestation rates in defining regional conservation priorities may overlook the loss of ecosystem functions and fragmentation.

Background/Objectives: Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes), formerly known as Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes), is an anaerobic, low-virulent bacterium that has been associated with postoperative infections of the shoulder, knee, and cervical spine. Recent studies have highlighted an association between C. acnes and the development of degenerative disc disease (DDD). The aim of this study is to ascertain whether C. acnes increases the risk of subsidence following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). Methods: After IRB approval, consecutive patients undergoing elective ACDF for DDD from 2017 to 2018 were enrolled in this prospective cohort study. Intervertebral disc samples were taken at each affected level and cultured. A total of 66 patients with radiographic follow-ups were included in the final analysis. The extent of subsidence and cervical lordosis was determined immediately postoperatively and at the 3- and 6-month follow-ups. Results: No significant difference in subsidence was observed at 3 months (p = 0.07) or 6 months (p = 0.11) between culture-positive and -negative cohorts. Additionally, there was no significant difference detected in the change in cervical lordosis observed at 3 months (p = 0.16) or 6 months (p = 0.27) between culture-positive and -negative cohorts. For the most inferiorly fused segment, there was a significant difference in subsidence observed at 3 months (1.5 mm, 95% CI: 0.2–2.7 mm, p = 0.02) but not at 6 months (p = 0.17). Conclusions: Intervertebral discs with a positive C. acnes culture were not associated with greater levels of subsidence at 3 or 6 months following ACDF for DDD. Further research is necessary to endorse these results and to gauge the clinical significance of C. acnes infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addresses the need for sustainable and energy-efficient agricultural practices by integrating turbine systems into greenhouse irrigation setups that utilize water from storage basins or ponds. The purpose is to harness excess pressure to generate electricity, enhancing overall system efficiency. This study involves designing a scalable turbine system that adapts to different greenhouse sizes and water pressure conditions. Key methods include a novel 3D design and implementation of a turbine outlet, using CAD modeling and high-precision 3D printing, and the experimental characterization of the system's power–pressure relationship and pressure losses. Results demonstrate that a single Banki-type turbine generates nearly 12 W at a maximum pressure of 1.4 bar, 0.98 m3/h of flow, pressure 92% loss performance, and 32% efficiency. Scalability tests in the study case reveal that up to eight turbines can be installed in series without dropping below the critical pressure threshold, that is, above 0.6–0.7 bar, the minimum pressure expected for adequate irrigation, and the turbines collectively produce around 60 W, considering the pressure losses with respect to production. These findings confirm the system's potential to enhance sustainability and energy efficiency in greenhouse operations. This study lays a foundation for future research to optimize 3D-printed components, integrate renewable energy sources, and conduct long-term performance studies, aiming to further improve the system's applicability and performance in agricultural settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted testing inequities in developing countries. Lack of lateral flow test (LFT) manufacturing capacity was a major COVID-19 response bottleneck in low- and middle-income regions. Here we report the development of an open-access LFT for SARS-CoV-2 detection comparable to commercial tests that requires only locally available supplies. The main critical resource is a locally developed horse polyclonal antibody (pAb) whose sensitivity and selectivity are greatly enhanced by affinity purification. We demonstrate that these Abs can perform similarly to commercial monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), as well as mAbs and other pAbs developed against the same antigen. We report a workflow for test optimization using nasopharyngeal swabs collected for RT-qPCR, spiked with the inactivated virus to determine analytical performance characteristics as the limit of detection, among others. Our final prototype showed a performance similar to available tests (sensitivity of 83.3% compared to RT-qPCR, and 90.9% compared to commercial antigen tests). Finally, we discuss the possibility and the challenges of utilizing affinity-purified pAbs as an alternative for the local development of antigen tests in an outbreak context and as a tool to address inequalities in access to rapid tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wind turbine components' failure prognosis allows wind farm owners to apply predictive maintenance techniques to their fleets. Determining the health status of a turbine's component typically requires verifying many variables that should be monitored simultaneously. The scope of this study is the selection of the more relevant variables and the generation of a health status indicator (Failure Index) to be considered as a decision criterion in Operation and Maintenance activities. The proposed methodology is based on Gaussian Mixture Copula Models (GMCMs) combined with a smoothing method (Cubic spline smoothing) to define a component's health index based on the previous behavior and relationships between the considered variables. The GMCM allows for determining the component's status in a multivariate environment, providing the selected variables' joint probability and obtaining an easy-to-track univariate health status indicator. When the health of a component is degrading, anomalous behavior becomes apparent in certain Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) signals. By monitoring these SCADA signals using this indicator, the proposed anomaly detection method could capture the deviations from the healthy working state. The resulting indicator shows whether any failure is likely to occur in a wind turbine component and would aid in a preventive intervention scheduling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pregnancy is a complex and challenging process associated with physiological changes whose objective is to adapt the maternal organism to the increasing energetic requirements due to embryo and fetal development. A failed adaptation to these demands may lead to pregnancy complications that threaten the health of both mothers and their offspring. Since mitochondria are the main organelle responsible for energy generation in the form of ATP, the adequate state of these organelles seems crucial for proper pregnancy development and healthy pregnancy outcomes. The homeostasis of these organelles depends on several aspects, including their content, biogenesis, energy production, oxidative stress, dynamics, and signaling functions, such as apoptosis, which can be modified in relation to diseases during pregnancy. The etiology of pregnancy disorders like preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, and gestational diabetes mellitus is not yet well understood. Nevertheless, insufficient placental perfusion and oxygen transfer are characteristic of many of them, being associated with alterations in the previously cited different aspects of mitochondrial homeostasis. Therefore, and due to the capacity of these multifactorial organelles to respond to physiological and pathophysiological stimuli, it is of great importance to gather the currently available scientific information regarding the relationship between main pregnancy complications and mitochondrial alterations. According to this, the present review is intended to show clear insight into the possible implications of mitochondria in these disorders, thus providing relevant information for further investigation in relation to the investigation and management of pregnancy diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resumen: Introducción: Las prótesis aorticas de rápido despliegue aparecieron hace 10 años para tratar la estenosis aórtica. El sistema de válvula Edwards Intuity es una prótesis biológica basada en la válvula Edwards Magna con un marco infraanular. Presentamos los resultados clínicos y hemodinámicos a corto y largo plazo obtenidos con esta prótesis biológica. Métodos: Ciento diecisiete pacientes (65% varones, 75 ± 4,5 años) con estenosis aórtica (gradiente medio preoperatorio de 49,6 ± 12 mm Hg) recibieron una prótesis Edwards Intuity entre septiembre de 2012 y diciembre de 2019. Se incluyeron en una base de datos prospectiva que recogía diferentes variables. La media de seguimiento fue de 36 ± 21 meses. Resultados: Mortalidad hospitalaria del 3,4%, supervivencia al año, a los 3 y 6 años del 95%, 90% y 81%, respectivamente. Se utilizó hemiesternotomía media superior en 78 pacientes (67%). La mediana de tiempos de isquemia miocárdica y de circulación extracorpórea de toda la serie fueron 40 (33-50) minutos y 59 (48-73) minutos. Gradientes medios al alta, al año y a los 2 años fueron 10 ± 4 mm, 9 ± 3,5 mm y 8,4 ± 3,4 mm Hg. Ocho pacientes (7%) necesitaron marcapasos en el postoperatorio. Dos pacientes (0,6%) se reintervinieron en seguimiento por endocarditis y otro (0,3%) se reintervino por fuga periprotésica. Conclusión: El sistema de válvula Edwards Intuity presenta buenos resultados clínicos y hemodinámicos a corto y largo plazo. Estas prótesis aórticas se pueden considerar una alternativa a las prótesis convencionales, sobre todo en cirugía de mínimo acceso y en intervenciones complejas. Abstract: Introduction: Rapid deployment aortic valves appeared ten years ago to treat aortic stenosis. The Edwards Intuity Valve System is a biological prosthesis based on the Edwards Magna valve with an infra-annular framework. We present the short and long-term clinical and hemodynamic results obtained with this biological prosthesis. Methods: One hundred seventeen patients (65% male, 75 ± 4.5 years) with aortic stenosis (mean preoperative gradient of 49.6 ± 12 mm Hg) received an Edwards Intutiy prosthesis between September 2012 and December 2019. They were included in a prospective data base that collected different variables. The mean follow-up was 36 ± 21 months. Results: Hospital mortality of 3.4%. Survival at one, three and six years of 95%, 90% and 81%, respectively. Upper hemisternotomy was used in 78 patients (67%). The median times of myocardial ischemia and extracorporeal circulation for the entire series were 40 (33-50) minutes and 59 (48-73) minutes. Average gradients at discharge, one year and two years were 10 ± 4 mm, 9 ± 3.5 mm and 8.4 ± 3.4 mm Hg. Eight patients (7%) required pacemakers in the postoperative period. Two patients (0.6%) underwent surgery for endocarditis and another (0.3%) underwent surgery for periprosthetic leak. Conclusion: The Edwards Intutiy valve system presents good short and long term clinical and hemodynamic results. These aortic prostheses can be considered an alternative to conventional prostheses, especially in minimal access surgery and in complex interventions.