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As especificidades do subsistema de saúde indígena, em particular na Amazônia Legal, trazem desafios para o planejamento do provimento de profissionais de saúde para atuar nos territórios indígenas, pois ainda não existem normas e parâmetros que indiquem qual a proporção é adequada para áreas indígenas. O presente artigo traz um inédito panorama da situação atual dos recursos humanos que atuam junto aos Distritos Sanitários Especiais Indígena (DSEIs) da Amazônia Legal. Os dados foram obtidos por meio do banco de dados registrados no Sistema de Gerenciamento de Recursos Humanos da Secretaria Especial de Saúde Indígena (SESAI). Foi realizada uma análise descritiva dos recursos humanos e infraestrutura dos serviços de atenção primária à saúde indígena. Verificou-se que não há uma padronização no dimensionamento da força de trabalho que atua na saúde indígena. Não foi possível identificar se tais variações estão relacionadas à falta de um padrão no dimensionamento de profissionais, ou se refletem a dificuldade de fixação de profissionais na saúde indígena, ou até mesmo se são adequações locais ao perfil do território. A dificuldade de fixação de profissionais na saúde indígena é multifatorial, se associada à falta de dimensionamento da força de trabalho pode gerar vazios assistenciais.

The specificities of the indigenous health subsystem, particularly in the Legal Amazon, bring challenges to planning the provision of health professionals to work in indigenous territories, as there are still no standards and parameters that indicate what proportion is appropriate for indigenous areas. This article provides an unprecedented overview of the current situation of human resources working with Special Indigenous Health Districts (DSEIs) in the Legal Amazon. The data were obtained through the database registered in the Human Resources Management System of the Special Secretariat for Indigenous Health (SESAI). A descriptive analysis of human resources and infrastructure of primary care services for indigenous health was carried out. It was found that there is no standardization in the size of the workforce that works in indigenous health. It was not possible to identify whether such variations are related to the lack of a standard in the sizing of professionals, or whether they reflect the difficulty of retaining professionals in indigenous health, or even whether they are local adjustments to the profile of the territory. The difficulty in retaining professionals in indigenous health is multifactorial, and if associated with the lack of dimensioning of the workforce, it can generate care gaps.

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Individual cells exhibit substantial heterogeneity in protein abundance and activity, which is frequently reflected in broad distributions of fluorescently labeled reporters. Since all cellular components are intrinsically fluorescent to some extent, the observed distributions contain background noise that masks the natural heterogeneity of cellular populations. This limits our ability to characterize cell-fate decision processes that are key for development, immune response, tissue homeostasis, and many other biological functions. It is therefore important to separate the contributions from signal and noise in single-cell measurements. Addressing this issue rigorously requires deconvolving the noise distribution from the signal, but approaches in that direction are still limited. Here, we present a non-parametric Bayesian formalism that performs such a deconvolution efficiently on multidimensional measurements, providing unbiased estimates of the resulting confidence intervals. We use this approach to study the expression of the mesodermal transcription factor Brachyury in mouse embryonic stem cells undergoing differentiation.

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Background: The SARS-CoV-2 virus has caused unprecedented mortality since its emergence in late 2019. The continuous evolution of the viral genome through the concerted action of mutational forces has produced distinct variants that became dominant, challenging human immunity and vaccine development. Aim and methods: In this work, through an integrative genomic approach, we describe the molecular transition of SARS-CoV-2 by analyzing the viral whole genome sequences from 50 critical COVID-19 patients recruited during the first year of the pandemic in Mexico City. Results: Our results revealed differential levels of the evolutionary forces across the genome and specific mutational processes that have shaped the first two epidemiological waves of the pandemic in Mexico. Through phylogenetic analyses, we observed a genomic transition in the circulating SARS-CoV-2 genomes from several lineages prevalent in the first wave to a dominance of the B.1.1.519 variant (defined by T478K, P681H, and T732A mutations in the spike protein) in the second wave. Conclusion: This work contributes to a better understanding of the evolutionary dynamics and selective pressures that act at the genomic level, the prediction of more accurate variants of clinical significance, and a better comprehension of the molecular mechanisms driving the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 to improve vaccine and drug development.

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OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the VE and the mutations of the viruses present in the Mexican population at the beginning of 2018. METHODS: We diagnosed influenza in outpatients with a high-performance Rapid Influenza Diagnostic Test (RIDT) qRT-PCR. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the study population, while the chi-square test was used to determine clinical variables. VE was analyzed through a negative test design. We sequenced the hemagglutinin (HA) gene, performed a phylogenetic analysis, and analyzed the nonsynonymous substitutions both in and outside antigenic sites. RESULTS: Of the 240 patients analyzed, 42.5% received the trivalent vaccine, and 37.5% were positive for influenza. The VE for the general population for any influenza virus type or subtype was 37.0%, while the VE for the predominant influenza A(H3N2) subtype was the lowest (19.7%). The phylogenetic analysis of HA showed the co-circulation of clades and subclades 3C.2a1, 3C.2a1b, 3C.2a2, 3C.2a2re, 3C.2a3, and 3C.3a with identities approximately 97-98% similar to the vaccine composition. CONCLUSION: Low VE was related to the co-circulation of multiple clades and subclades of influenza A(H3N2), with sufficient genetic and phenotypic distance to allow for the infection of vaccinated individuals.

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This paper presents an easy-to-use MATLAB© program to characterize slug flow, one of the most observed gas-liquid flow patterns in pipes. "BSignalProcessing2020.m" based on the study reported in [1] is a flexible, expandable, and adaptable statistical algorithm used to calculate the film and slug cut threshold values, the disregard cut value to group slug pulses, and the disregard cut value to remove slug pulses, which are required to determine the slug characteristics. The code is provided for unlimited and unrestricted use. • The statistical algorithm does not depend on any subjective criteria. • The methodology is illustrated using voltage time-series, but it is applicable without changes to instantaneous liquid holdup time-series.

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In Brazil, governmental and non-governmental organisations develop practice guidelines (PGs) in order to optimise patient care. Although important improvements have been made over the past years, many of these documents still lack transparency and methodological rigour. In order to conduct a critical analysis and define future steps in PG development in Brazil, we carried out a structured assessment of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT analysis) for the development of a national guideline programme. Participants consisted of academia, methodologists, medical societies and healthcare system representatives. In summary, the PG development process has improved in Brazil and current investments in methodological research and capacity-building are ongoing. Despite the centralised processes for public PGs, standardised procedures for their development are not well established and human resources are insufficient in number and capacity to develop the amount of trustworthy documents needed. Brazil's capacity could be strengthened and initial efforts have been made such as the adoption of standards proposed by world-renowned institutions in PG development and enhancement of the involvement of key stakeholders. Further steps involve the alignment between health technology assessment and PG processes for synergy and the development of a national network to promote the interaction between groups involved in the development of PGs. The lessons learned from this paper could be used to foster debate on guideline development, especially for countries facing similar threats on this topic.

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BACKGROUND: Coccidioides spp. is the ethiological agent of coccidioidomycosis, an infection that can be fatal. Its diagnosis is complicated, due to that it shares clinical and histopathological characteristics with other pulmonary mycoses. Coccidioides spp. is a dimorphic fungus and, in its saprobic phase, grows as a mycelium, forming a large amount of arthroconidia. In susceptible persons, arthroconidia induce dimorphic changes into spherules/endospores, a typical parasitic form of Coccidioides spp. In addition, the diversity of mycelial parasitic forms has been observed in clinical specimens; they are scarcely known and produce errors in diagnosis. METHODS: We presented a retrospective study of images from specimens of smears with 15% potassium hydroxide, cytology, and tissue biopsies of a histopathologic collection from patients with coccidioidomycosis seen at a tertiary-care hospital in Mexico City. RESULTS: The parasitic polymorphism of Coccidioides spp. observed in the clinical specimens was as follows: i) spherules/endospores in different maturation stages; ii) pleomorphic cells (septate hyphae, hyphae composed of ovoid and spherical cells, and arthroconidia), and iii) fungal ball formation (mycelia with septate hyphae and arthroconidia). CONCLUSIONS: The parasitic polymorphism of Coccidioides spp. includes the following: spherules/endospores, arthroconidia, and different forms of mycelia. This knowledge is important for the accurate diagnosis of coccidioidomycosis. In earlier studies, we proposed the integration of this diversity of forms in the Coccidioides spp. parasitic cycle. The microhabitat surrounding the fungus into the host would favor the parasitic polymorphism of this fungus, and this environment may assist in the evolution toward parasitism of Coccidioides spp.

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OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of coffee and red wine staining on tooth color during and after bleaching. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blocks obtained from human molars were divided into 11 groups (n = 5) in accordance with the bleaching treatment-peroxide carbamide 10%, 15% or 20%-and in accordance with the stain therapy-coffee, wine or without staining (control). Color change analysis was performed by photo-reflectance using a spectrophotometer, during (3-times/week) and after (7, 15 and 30 days) the bleaching treatment. During the experiment, the samples were stored in artificial saliva. The results were submitted to statistical analysis with the Dunnet and Tukey tests (p < 0.05). RESULTS: The concentrations of carbamide peroxide (10%, 15% and 20%) did not differ significantly from the control group during bleaching (up to the 22nd day), with (Tukey, p > 0.05) or without storage in pigment solution. After the bleaching, there were statistically significant differences between the groups treated with coffee (30th day) and wine (7th and 30th days) relative to the control, which was treated with whitening agents. CONCLUSION: During bleaching, remineralization of the enamel with artificial saliva and the subsequent bleaching session were effective in preventing enamel staining. After the whitening procedures, both stain therapies-coffee and wine-caused enamel color changes; however, the wine led to greater staining than did coffee.

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Leukemia is the most common malignancy in children younger than 15 years old. Acute myeloid leukemia frequently presents with early oral manifestations. The purpose of this study was to report the case of a 6-year-old male patient who showed persistent and severe hemorrhage after a tooth extraction and generalized gingival enlargement over a short period of time. Referral to the Oncohematology Service confirmed the diagnosis of an acute myeloid leukemia. This emphasizes the need for a dentist who can provide an opportunity for timely diagnosis, early referral, and proper treatment of an underlying leukemia to be aware of early oral signs and symptoms.

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OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to establish whether there was a histoplasmosis outbreak among a group of residents of Naucalpan (State of Mexico, a non-endemic area for histoplasmosis) and to ascertain the source through which they were infected. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Anyone associated with the Index Case in the same period with a flu-like infection was considered as a suspected case. Diagnosis was confirmed by clinical examination positive, cultures and positive immunological tests. Date and form of potential exposure were obtained through interviews. Material potentially contaminated with bird or bat droppings was sought and analyzed by PCR. RESULTS: The outbreak was associated with a trip to El Tamarindo (Veracruz, near the Gulf of Mexico). Patients got sick after digging a hole in the floor inside a house where a treasure had been supposedly buried by a death relative. The pathogen was detected in soil samples at 10 cm below the surface. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that patients contracted histoplasmosis in El Tamarindo, a community where there had been no prior cases of this disease.

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Actinomycetomas represent 97.8% of mycetomas in Mexico, where 86.6% are produced by Nocardia brasiliensis. We report a case of actinomycetoma in the arm by Nocardia brasiliensis disseminated to lung. Uncommon grains were observed which present outside peripheral filaments and also numerous filaments loosing the grains. These characteristics of the grains are due probably because for the long treatment with antibiotics of the patient. In situ antibiotic action against the microcolonies is discussed.

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BACKGROUND: In developing countries, intravenous liquids are mixed and administered by nurses, sometimes under suboptimal infection control conditions. We hypothesized that outbreaks of infusate-associated neonatal bacteremias are common, and we evaluated whether they can be detected by vigilant microbiologic surveillance of infusates. METHODS: We studied intravenous infusates administered to neonates in a Mexican hospital where mixtures of infusates were prepared in hospital wards. The study was performed in 3 stages: stage 1, initial culturing of in-use infusates under basal conditions; stage 2, prospective culturing during a cluster of clinical sepsis; and stage 3, final culturing once the outbreak was controlled. RESULTS: In stage 1, 68 infusates were sterile, and 1 was contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus (1.45%), from 23 patients. In stage 2, of 182 infusates from 39 patients, 51 infusates (28%) were contaminated with Gram-negative rods. On the first day of stage 2, 11 of 15 infusates were contaminated with the same strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae, which continued to appear for 26 days. Another 4 strains of Gram-negative rods were also isolated during stage 2. The association between contaminated infusate and death was significant (odds ratio, 9.4; 95% confidence interval, 2-44.3; P < 0.001). Mixtures made by nurses were more likely contaminated than commercial preparations (odds ratio, 3.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-8.5; P = 0.037). In stage 3, there were 42 sterile infusates from 22 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that poor standards of care common in hospitals from developing countries sometimes result in outbreaks of sepsis and death for newborn patients.

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Los accesos y la terapia intravascular conllevan un riesgo significativo de complicaciones infecciosas. El riesgo es aún mayor en países en desarrollo, pues existen prácticas erróneas en el manejo de los líquidos y medicamentos parenterales (como la preparación de mezclas "caseras" de soluciones parenterales en áreas inadecuadas); y el personal no está consciente sobre del riesgo que estas prácticas provocan; además es común que no se cuente o no se soliciten oportunamente los estudios de laboratorio para detectar dichas infecciones.Las bacteriemias asociadas con la contaminación del catéter suelen ser ocasionadas por estafilococos, pero pueden evitarse si se utilizan catéteres de alta calidad, se limita al máximo la venodisección, se utilizan las precauciones de barrera durante la inserción y se manipula el catéter con técnica aséptica. Las bacteriemias nosocomiales en las áreas de pediatría, en países en vías de desarrollo, son frecuentemente causadas por Klebsiella, Enterobacter o Serratia, y pueden estar asociadas a la contaminación de soluciones parenterales. Estudios mexicanos han mostrado que la tasa de contaminación extrínseca de dichas soluciones es del 5 por ciento; siendo Klebsiella y Enterobacter los agentes causales en más del 60 por ciento de los casos. Es de destacar que las tasas más altas de contaminación ocurren en neonatos (hasta 30 por ciento); puede presentarse en forma de brotes y llegar a tener una mortalidad hasta del 33 por ciento. Las escuelas de pediatría promueven las mezclas caseras de soluciones por un afán académico desmedido, sin considerar que no siempre se llevan a cabo bajo estrictas normas de asepsia. Este trabajo propone un abordaje sencillo para evitar la contaminación, basado en una simplificación del cálculo de líquidos y electrolitos, usando sólo soluciones premezcladas para reducir la manipulación.

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