Search

La inocuidad de la carne comercializada debe estar garantizada en la cadena de producción, para evitar enfermedades transmitidas por alimentos (ETA). Escherichia coli productor de toxina Shiga (STEC) y Salmonella spp. pueden encontrarse en el tracto gastrointestinal de los bovinos y contaminar la carne de consumo humano, pudiendo causar enfermedades en el hombre. Este trabajo tuvo como objetivo evaluar las condiciones higiénico-sanitarias de 52 carnicerías localizadas en Asunción y detectar la frecuencia de STEC y Salmonella spp. en muestras de carne molida. Las condiciones higiénico-sanitarias se evaluaron mediante la estimación del riesgo, utilizando una escala de clasificación por categorías. La detección de STEC y Salmonella spp. se realizó por PCR en tiempo real. En la evaluación inicial, se clasificaron a 33% de las carnicerías como de alto y moderado riesgo. Se detectó STEC no-O157 en un 50% (130/258) de las muestras y Salmonella spp. en un 11% (29/258). Se realizaron acciones de mejora. En la etapa post-intervención, no se detectaron carnicerías de alto riesgo. En el muestreo de seguimiento se detectó un 29% (66/237) de muestras positivas para STEC no-O157 y 7% (16 /237) para Salmonella spp. Este estudio permitió realizar recomendaciones específicas y detalladas a cada carnicería, lo que tuvo un efecto significativo en la mejora de sus condiciones. Esta situación resalta la importancia de continuar fortaleciendo la vigilancia multisectorial y multidisciplinaria. Es imperativo que los establecimientos que se dedican al rubro, implementen las Buenas Prácticas de Manufactura (BPM) como una medida para reducir los riesgos asociados.

Las bacterias son capaces de desarrollar mecanismos de resistencia a los antimicrobianos, aquellos adquiridos y transmisibles son los más significativos debido al potencial de diseminación. La aparición de Salmonella enterica con resistencia a C3aG, quinolonas y a colistina representa una amenaza progresiva. El objetivo fue determinar la resistencia a los antimicrobianos y la presencia de los mecanismos de resistencia plasmídicos a quinolonas, β-lactámicos y colistina en aislados de Salmonella provenientes de la vigilancia integrada de enteropatógenos. Fueron estudiadas 501 cepas de Salmonella spp. colectadas entre los años 2020 y 2021, por la red de enteropatógenos del Laboratorio Central de Salud Pública. Se investigó la resistencia a las C3aG, quinolonas y colistina, en aislamientos de humanos, alimentos, animales de consumo y ambiente. Las cepas estudiadas exhibieron resistencia a tetraciclina (32,5%), ácido nalidíxico (29%), ampicilina (13,2%), nitrofurantoína (11,6%), C3aG (7,2%), cotrimoxazol (5,8%), ciprofloxacina (2,2%). El 18% (90/501) presentaron resistencia trasferible por plásmidos, fueron detectados 111 genes (71 cepas con un gen, 17 cepas dos genes y 2 cepas tres genes diferentes). Qnr B: 41,1% (37/90), mcr-1: 38,9% (35/90), CMY: 23,3% (21/90), CTX-M: 16,7% (15/90) y Qnr S: 3,3% (3/90). Heidelberg fue el serovar predominante en muestras de pollo y el mayor portador de genes de resistencia de tipo CMY y mcr-1. La detección de genes en alimentos y animales de consumo, que pueden transmitirse fácilmente al ser humano es motivo de alerta y resalta la importancia de continuar fortaleciendo la vigilancia multisectorial y multidisciplinaria.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae (N. gonorrhoeae) es el agente causal de la gonorrea, infección de transmisión sexual (ITS) que corresponde a la segunda causa más frecuente de ITS a nivel mundial, provocando una alta morbilidad y costo en atención de salud. En las últimas décadas han aumentado los reportes a nivel mundial de cepas resistentes a penicilina, sulfonamidas, tetraciclina, macrólidos y fluoroquinolonas, y más recientemente a azitromicina y cefalosporinas de espectro extendido como ceftriaxona y cefixima. El objetivo principal de este estudio fue determinar la sensibilidad a los antimicrobianos en cepas de N. gonorrhoeae que fueron enviadas al Laboratorio Central de Salud Pública (LCSP), por los centros colaboradores de la Red de Vigilancia Laboratorial de la Resistencia a los Antimicrobianos (RAM). Para ello, se realizó un estudio prospectivo de corte transversal de enero a diciembre de 2021. Se caracterizaron 128 cepas como N. gonorrhoeae a las cuales se le realizaron pruebas de susceptibilidad obteniéndose 48% de resistencia y 52% de sensibilidad intermedia a penicilina. El 70% presentó resistencia a ciprofloxacina y el 19% a tetraciclina. Se obtuvo 100% de sensibilidad a ceftriaxona y cefixima. El fenotipo de resistencia de mayor prevalencia fue QRNG, asociado con resistencia a ciprofloxacina, seguido del fenotipo PPNG-QRNG, asociado con resistencia a penicilina y ciprofloxacina. Ante estos hallazgos y frente a la emergencia mundial de la resistencia a los antimicrobianos, especialmente de cefalosporinas de espectro extendido, se recomienda que los laboratorios de bacteriología fortalezcan la vigilancia para apoyar la detección de casos y proporcionar el tratamiento adecuado.

ABSTRACT Introduction and objectives: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become the treatment of choice for the management of symptomatic severe aortic stenosis. As it happens with all procedures, the safety and effectiveness of TAVI must be monitored. To this end, we assessed the data available from the Spanish National Health Service from 2014 through 2017. Methods: The study included patients aged > 50 years treated with TAVI and registered in the Activity Registry of Specialized Health Care from 2014 through 2017 from public and private hospitals in compliance with the National Health System. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with mortality and complications, and negative binomial models for the mean hospital length of stay (LoS). Standardized rates were used to discriminate both the effectiveness and safety among regions with higher and lower levels of implementation of the technique using the national median as the threshold, (37 implants x 105 habitants) in the 4-year period. Results: A total of 5454 TAVIs were analyzed. The in-hospital mortality rate dropped from 4.89% in 2014 to 2.7% in 2017. The LoS decreased from 13.1 days in 2014 to 11.3 days in 2017. No differences in mortality were observed among the regions. However, the LoS of regions with a high volume of implants was significantly lower (OR, 0.88; 95%CI, 0.86-0.91; P < .01), as well as the risk of infections (OR, 0.54; 95%CI, 0.32-0.9; P = .02), and pacemaker implantation (OR, 0.77; 95%CI, 0.65-0.91; P < .01). Conclusions: The use of TAVI in Spain is safe and has grown progressively with improved outcomes regarding morbidity and mortality. Differences among regions have been highlighted regarding patient access to TAVI. This heterogeneity was not associated with mortality but with differences in the morbidity rates.

RESUMEN Introducción y objetivos: El implante percutáneo de válvula aórtica (TAVI) se ha consolidado como tratamiento de la estenosis aórtica grave. Como toda intervención, su seguridad y su efectividad deben monitorizarse en condiciones de práctica real. Para ello, se han analizado los datos del Sistema Nacional de Salud disponibles entre los años 2014 y 2017. Métodos: Se evaluaron todos los pacientes mayores de 50 años con TAVI por vía transfemoral incluidos en el Registro de Actividad de Atención Especializada entre 2014 y 2017 procedentes de centros públicos o concertados. Se hicieron análisis de regresión logísticos para evaluar los factores asociados con la mortalidad y las complicaciones, y modelos binomiales negativos para la estancia media hospitalaria. Se usaron tasas estandarizadas para ajustar diferencias en las variables de efectividad y seguridad entre las diferentes comunidades autónomas, de acuerdo con el alto y bajo volumen de implantación de la técnica, considerando como referencia la mediana nacional (37 implantes por 105 habitantes) durante el periodo de tiempo analizado. Resultados: En total se analizaron 5.454 casos de TAVI. La mortalidad intrahospitalaria pasó del 4,89% en 2014 al 2,7% en 2017. La estancia media hospitalaria descendió de 13,1 días en 2014 a 11,3 en 2017. A pesar de no observar diferencias en la mortalidad entre comunidades autónomas, aquellas con mayor volumen de implantes tuvieron una menor estancia media hospitalaria (OR = 0,88; IC95%, 0,86-0,91; p < 0,01), menor riesgo de infecciones (OR = 0,54; IC95%, 0,32-0,9; p = 0,02) y menor necesidad de marcapasos permanente (OR = 0,77; IC95%, 0,65-0,91; p < 0,01). Conclusiones: El uso de TAVI crece progresivamente en España con resultados cada vez mejores respecto al éxito del implante y la morbimortalidad perioperatoria. La variabilidad interregional en las tasas de implante no se relaciona con la mortalidad observada, pero sí con la morbilidad y la estancia hospitalaria.

BackgroundCarpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is the most common compressive neuropathy, accounting for 90% of all neuropathies. Its prevalence ranges from 3.8%-7.8% in the population. The gold standard for its diagnosis is the neurophysiological study (85% sensitivity and 95% specificity), with the disadvantage of being invasive, complex and expensive, which means an increase in cost and time for the diagnosis of the disease. The main objective of this diagnostic test evaluation study is to investigate the value of ultrasound in the diagnosis of CTS, and among the secondary objectives, to establish the ultrasound parameters that are predictors of CTS in comparison with neurophysiological studies, attempting to standardize a protocol and reference values that determine the presence or absence of CTS.MethodsProspective, cross-sectional study. The reference test with which we compared the ultrasound is the neurophysiological test (NPT). Patients will come consecutively from the Neurophysiology Department of the Virgen Macarena Hospital, with clinical suspicion of CTS and fulfilling the inclusion/exclusion criteria. To calculate the sample size (EPIDAT program) we proposed a sensitivity of 78% and specificity of 87% with a confidence level of 95%, requiring 438 patients (264 NPT positive, 174 NPT negative). We followed an ultrasound study protocol that included the ultrasound variables: cross-sectional area at the entrance and exit of the tunnel, range of nerve thinning, wrist-forearm index, flexor retinaculum bulging, power Doppler uptake and the existence of adjacent wrists or masses. We propose a timeline for the study to be performed between 2020 and 2023. Finally, we propose a cost-effectiveness analysis.DiscussionUltrasound not only allows to objectify the alterations of the median nerve but also the underlying pathological mechanisms in CTS. A multitude of ultrasound parameters have been described that should be regarded in syndrome's study, among which we included the cross-sectional area, the range of nerve thinning, the wrist-forearm index, flexor retinaculum bulging, power Doppler uptake and assessment of anatomical alterations. The use of ultrasound as a diagnostic tool in CTS has many advantages for both doctors and the patients, as it is a non-invasive, convenient, and fast tool increasingly accessible to professionals.Trial registrationTrials registry number: NCT05556278.

Here, we report on the determination of the supramolecular adsorption of hydroxybenzoate derivates (GC toxins) of saxitoxin to a pristine graphene surface using the computational method, MMFF94 Force Field implemented in the Chem Office package. We use a simple model with the GC molecule centred on the graphene surface, to simulate the interaction of GC molecule stacking on the graphene system, avoiding edge interactions. We find that the formation of the GC–graphene complex is favourable for all GC molecules. The results of our model are in good agreement with chromatographic elution results on the graphite surface, specifically the Hypercarb column. We predict that these aromatic saxitoxin derivatives possess a higher adsorption energy than non-aromatic ones. π-π stacking can be regarded as being a prevalent contribution compared to non-aromatic analogues. Furthermore, MMFF94 adsorption results yield qualitative agreement with experiments within N-OH and N-H sub-families: in the computational model, the interaction energy value’s order is GC6-GC5-GC4-GC3-GC2-GC1 (the highest adsorption energy). In the experimental Hypercarb model, the elution order is GC3-GC6-GC2-GC5-GC4-GC1 (the highest retention time). The proposed MMFF94 research framework works well in the assessment of chromatographic selectivity. This simple model has the potential for use in predicting the qualitative interactions of small polar molecules and graphene, which sheds light on the application of computational techniques to help in analytical method development.

In the Spanish film industry, only three women have directed animated feature films. Their work, concentrated in the last three decades, represents seven percent of the total production in over one hundred years of the medium’s history. This article analyzes the oeuvre of Maite Ruiz de Austri —a pioneer in the area—, Virginia Curiá, and Agurtzane Intxaurraga, in order to identify the points of convergence in the eight feature films which constitute the corpus. Firstly, there is a tendency towards a young audience, with a clear educational aspect. Likewise, it has been possible to observe the emergence of common characteristics around topics such as maternity, professional life, co-responsibility or the condition of women. This article aims to make the work of Spanish female filmmakers visible and to explore the influence of gender on content.

Introduction:Acute diarrheal diseases (ADD) constitute a public health problem and are one of the most important causes of mortality and morbidity in children worldwide. Objective:To determine the prevalence of enteropathogens causing ADD in the metropolitan area of ​​Asunción and Central. Materials and methods:An observational, descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted. 743 samples of diarrheic feces were analyzed, in which the presence of Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Campylobacter spp., Escherichia coli diarreigenic and Rotavirus was investigated, using reference techniques. Results: In 31.2% (232/743) of the samples it was possible to identify at least one of the enteric pathogens investigated, being the diarrhenetic E. coli were the most frequently identified bacteria, followed by Rotavirus, Campylobacter spp., Shigella spp. and lastly, Salmonella spp. Conclusion: The most affected population corresponds to children under 5 years of age. The main pathogen identified as the causative agent of diarrhea was diarrigenic E. coli, followed by Rotavirus, Campylobacter spp., Shigella spp. and Salmonella spp. In some samples more than one enteric pathogen was detected, even finding cases of coinfection with up to four different pathogens.

En el artículo de Núñez París se menciona la teoría curricular como base para dar respuesta a preguntas tales como: ¿qué enseñar?, ¿cuándo enseñar?, ¿cómo enseñar? y ¿qué, cuándo y cómo evaluar?

To deal with gender violence in formal and informal educational facilities, strategies are required to identify violences and their symbols, to be close to a more anthropological view agreeing with cultural and social convergences. A unique characterization of the violence that makes visible different behaviors and gives conexion with an independent public recognition of private and public, household and community integrity is rejected. The complexity of the symbols that exist in many companies is accentuated, in this case experiences that have worked from a reflexive ethnography in multicultural and intercultural spaces confirm a need to incorporate a decolonization understanding of gender violence.

Thiopeptides, or thiazolyl peptides, are a relatively new family of antibiotics that already counts with more than one hundred different entities. Although they are mainly isolated from soil bacteria, during the last decade, new members have been isolated from marine samples. Far from being limited to their innate antibacterial activity, thiopeptides have been found to possess a wide range of biological properties, including anticancer, antiplasmodial, immunosuppressive, etc. In spite of their ribosomal origin, these highly posttranslationally processed peptides have posed a fascinating synthetic challenge, prompting the development of various methodologies and strategies. Regardless of their limited solubility, intensive investigations are bringing thiopeptide derivatives closer to the clinic, where they are likely to show their veritable therapeutic potential.

Testicular function is particularly susceptible to vascular insult, resulting in a negative impact on sperm production and quality of the ejaculate. A prompt diagnosis of testicular dysfunction enables implementation of appropriate treatment, hence improving fertility forecasts for stallions. The present research aims to: (1) assess if Doppler ultrasonography is a good tool to diagnose stallions with testicular dysfunction; (2) to study the relationship between Doppler parameters of the testicular artery and those of sperm quality assessed by flow cytometry and (3) to establish cut off values to differentiate fertile stallions from those with pathologies causing testicular dysfunction. A total of 10 stallions (n: 7 healthy stallions and n: 3 sub-fertile stallions) were used in this study. Two ejaculates per stallion were collected and preserved at 5°C in a commercial extender. The semen was evaluated at T0, T24 and T48h by flow cytometry. Integrity and viability of sperm (YoPro®-1/EthD-1), mitochondrial activity (MitoTracker® Deep Red FM) and the DNA fragmentation index (Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay) were assessed. Doppler parameters were measured at three different locations on the testicular artery (Supratesticular artery (SA); Capsular artery (CA) and Intratesticular artery (IA)). The Doppler parameters calculated were: Resistive Index (RI), Pulsatility Index (PI), Peak Systolic Velocity (PSV), End Diastolic Velocity (EDV), Time Average Maximum Velocity (TAMV), Total Arterial Blood Flow (TABF) and TABF rate. The capsular artery was the most reliable location to carry out spectral Doppler assessment, since blood flow parameters of this artery were most closely correlated with sperm quality parameters. Significant differences in all the Doppler parameters studied were observed between fertile and subfertile stallions (p ≤ 0.05). The principal components analysis assay determined that fertile stallions are characterized by high EDV, TAMV, TABF and TABF rate values (high vascular perfusion). In contrast, subfertile stallions tend to present high values of PI and RI (high vascular resistance). The ROC curves revealed that the best Doppler parameters to predict sperm quality in stallions were: Doppler velocities (PSV, EDV and TAMV), the diameter of the capsular artery and TABF parameters (tissue perfusion parameters). Cut off values were established using a Youden´s Index to identify fertile stallions from stallions with testicular dysfunction. Spectral Doppler ultrasound is a good predictive tool for sperm quality since correlations were determined among Doppler parameters and markers of sperm quality. Doppler ultrasonography could be a valuable diagnostic tool for use by clinical practitioners for the diagnosis of stallions with testicular dysfunction and could be a viable alternative to invasive procedures traditionally used for diagnosis of sub-fertility disorders.

Reseña

Gambierdiscus species are the producers of the marine toxins ciguatoxins and maitotoxins which cause worldwide human intoxications recognized as Ciguatera Fish Poisoning. A deep chemical investigation of a cultured strain of G. belizeanus, collected in the Caribbean Sea, led to the identification of a structural homologue of the recently described gambierone isolated from the same strain. The structure was elucidated mainly by comparison of NMR and MS data with those of gambierone and ascertained by 2D NMR data analyses. Gratifyingly, a close inspection of the MS data of the new 44-methylgambierone suggests that this toxin would actually correspond to the structure of maitotoxin-3 (MTX3, m/z 1039.4957 for the protonated adduct) detected in 1994 in a Pacific strain of Gambierdiscus and recently shown in routine monitoring programs. Therefore, this work provides for the first time the chemical identification of the MTX3 molecule by NMR. Furthermore, biological data confirmed the similar activities of both gambierone and 44-methylgambierone. Both gambierone and MTX3 induced a small increase in the cytosolic calcium concentration but only MTX3 caused cell cytotoxicity at micromolar concentrations. Moreover, chronic exposure of human cortical neurons to either gambierone or MTX3 altered the expression of ionotropic glutamate receptors, an effect already described before for the synthetic ciguatoxin CTX3C. However, even when gambierone and MTX3 affected glutamate receptor expression in a similar manner their effect on receptor expression differed from that of CTX3C, since both toxins decreased AMPA receptor levels while increasing N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor protein. Thus, further studies should be pursued to clarify the similarities and differences in the biological activity between the known ciguatoxins and the new identified molecule as well as its contribution to the neurological symptoms of ciguatera.

In this article, I analyze how cinema can contribute to the naturalization of the relationships between women and men. In order to identify how the symbolic violence is exercised, I will focus on the Spanish successful movie from the 90s, Barrio (1998), directed by Fernando León de Aranoa. This feature film was produced and released during a turning point in the perception of gender violence, when the society assumed that it was a public problem and not an individual issue. For that reason, I will study the different ways of imposing power as seen through this movie, from one of the subtlest, such as the diffusion of stereotypes, to the most extreme, like violence against women.

À travers une série de fragments d’entretiens au sujet de son film El cielo gira (2005) et du cinéma documentaire d’une manière plus générale, la réalisatrice espagnole Mercedes Álvarez nous livre ses réflexions sur ce qu’est pour elle le documentaire de création.

Abstract This study aimed to investigate if washing ram sperm from seminal plasma (SP) could be an effective tool to extend sperm lifespan in medium-term preservation in liquid form to optimize ovine artificial insemination protocols. To this end, in Experiment 1 SP was added to a sperm model without previous contact with this substance (ram epididymal sperm) at the beginning or the end of a 48-hour preservation protocol at 5 °C (n = 13). Sperm motility and kinetic parameters and sperm functionality in terms of sperm viability, apoptosis, mitochondrial activity and reacted acrosomes were assessed after 6 h of storage at 15 °C (standard liquid preservation method) and 24 and 48 h at 5 °C. Extended sperm showed better results after 48 h when stored in the absence than in the presence of SP in most sperm quality parameters. Moreover, the final SP supplementation of this experimental group resulted in the highest sperm motility and kinetic parameters, viability and mitochondrial activity. These results suggested that initial SP deprivation could be beneficial in a medium-term ram sperm preservation protocol in liquid form, as well as a final supplementation. Therefore, we conducted Experiment 2 to evaluate the effect of SP removal from freshly ejaculated ram semen under the same storage conditions as in Experiment 1 (n = 12). Surprisingly, SP withdrawal impaired sperm functionality, leading to increased apoptosis and decreased mitochondrial activity after 24 and 48 h at 5 °C. Conversely, SP supplementation at the end of the preservation protocol of the ejaculate processed as usual had a positive effect on sperm quality and fertility. To summarize, SP absence was beneficial for a medium-term preservation protocol (up to 48 h at 5 °C) of ram epididymal sperm, but the same preservation protocol for ram ejaculated sperm revealed a possible failure of the SP removal method in avoiding the sperm-SP interaction effect. Meanwhile, SP supplementation of ram semen at the end of the preservation protocol increased in vitro sperm quality and fertility after artificial insemination.