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Alpine grassland vegetation supports globally important biodiversity and ecosystems that are increasingly threatened by climate warming and other environmental changes. Trait-based approaches can support understanding of vegetation responses to global change drivers and consequences for ecosystem functioning. In six sites along a 1314 m elevational gradient in Puna grasslands in the Peruvian Andes, we collected datasets on vascular plant composition, plant functional traits, biomass, ecosystem fluxes, and climate data over three years. The data were collected in the wet and dry season and from plots with different fire histories. We selected traits associated with plant resource use, growth, and life history strategies (leaf area, leaf dry/wet mass, leaf thickness, specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content, leaf C, N, P content, C and N isotopes). The trait dataset contains 3,665 plant records from 145 taxa, 54,036 trait measurements (increasing the trait data coverage of the regional flora by 420%) covering 14 traits and 121 plant taxa (ca. 40% of which have no previous publicly available trait data) across 33 families.

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Anticancer peptides are increasingly being considered as alternative treatments for cancer due to their potency, selectivity, and low toxicity. Previously, the peptide LfcinB (21-25)Pal showed in vitro anticancer effects against the Caco-2 colon cancer cell line (half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50): 86 µM). In this study, we developed modifications to the peptide sequence to increase its anticancer activity. Sequence modifications were made such as the inclusion of amino hexanoic acid (Ahx), N-terminal biotinylation, acetylation, and substitutions of Orn for Arg and/or d-Arg by l-Arg. The molecules were synthesized using manual solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS), and their synthetic feasibility (SAScore) ranged from 6.2 to 7.6. The chromatographic purities of the synthesized peptides were greater than 89%. We found that Ahx-RWQWRWQWR and RWQWRWQW-Orn showed activity against both Caco-2 and HT-29 cell lines and decreased IC50 values by approx. 50% in Caco-2 cells (IC50: 40 µM) when compared to the parent peptide RWQWRWQWR. Moreover, the modified peptides demonstrated lower hemolytic effects, with values <10% at 200 µg/mL. Toxicity was assessed using the Galleria mellonella model and the half-maximal lethal dose (LD50) for the best peptides was >100 mg/kg, indicating that their toxicity is classified as moderately toxic or lower. In contrast, cisplatin showed an LD50 of 13 mg/Kg. The designed anticancer peptides presented good in vitro activity and low toxicity, making them promising molecules for future drug development studies.

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Matrix effect and sample pretreatment significantly affect the percentage recovery of peptides in biological matrices, affecting the method robustness and accuracy. To counteract this effect, an internal standard (IS) is used; however, in most cases this is not available, which limits the analytical method. It is important to identify short peptides that can be used as ISs in the quantification of peptides in biological matrices. In this study, doping peptides GHRP-4, GHRP-5, GHRP-6, Sermorelin (1-11), Sermorelin (13-20) and Sermorelin (22-29) were synthesized using solid-phase peptide synthesis. Treatment with human blood, trypsin and chymotrypsin was used to determine the stability of the peptides. Products were evaluated using the high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) method. The analytical methodology and sample pretreatment were effective for the analysis of these molecules. A unique profile related to protein binding and enzymatic stability of each peptide was established. GHRP-4, GHRP-6 and Sermorelin (22-29) can be considered as in-house ISs as they were stable to enzyme and blood treatment and can be used for the quantification of peptides in biological samples. Peptides GHRP-6 and Sermorelin (22-29) were used to analyse a dimeric peptide (26 [F] LfcinB (20-30)2 ) in four different matrices to test these peptides as in-house IS.

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The dimeric peptide 26[F]: (RRWQWRFKKLG)2-K-Ahx has exhibited a potent cytotoxic effect against breast cancer cell lines, with position 26 (F) being the most relevant for anti-cancer activity. In this investigation, six analogues of the 26[F] peptide were synthesized in which the 26th position was replaced by non-natural hydrophobic amino acids, finding that some modifications increased the resistance to proteolytic degradation exerted by trypsin or pepsin. Additionally, these modifications increased the cytotoxic effect against breast cancer cells and generated cell death mediated by apoptosis pathways, activating caspases 8 and 9, and did not compromise the integrity of the cytoplasmic membrane. Finally, it was found that the modified peptides have a broad spectrum of action, since they also have a cytotoxic effect against the HeLa human cervical cancer cell line. Peptide 26[F] was inoculated in mice by ip administration and the lethal dose 50 (LD50) was between 70 and 140 mg kg-1. While for the 26[1-Nal]: (RRWQWR-1-Nal-KKLG)2-K-Ahx peptide, a dose-response test was performed, and the survival rate was 100%. These results suggested that these peptides are safe in this animal model and could be considered as promissory to develop a treatment against breast cancer.

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Se describe una especie nueva del género Charinus Simon, 1892, procedente del distrito Santa Teresa (1436 -1511 m de altitud), en La Convención, Cusco, Perú, la cual es la tercera para dicha región y la quinta para este país sudamericano. Su aspecto general y los gonópodos de la hembra son muy parecidos a los de Charinus longitarsus Armas & Palomino-Cardenas, 2016 y C. yanatile Palomino-Cardenas & Armas, 2022, también del Cusco; pero se diferencia de ambas por presentar en la distitibia del cuarto par de patas 16 tricobotrios, en lugar de 14; además, C. longitarsus posee 30 tarsómeros en las patas I (43 en la especie nueva); mientras que en C. yanatile, el tubérculo ocular es más grande y el tarsómero 1 del primer par de patas es más largo que los dos siguientes juntos (en la especie nueva es más corto). También se enmienda la descripción de los gonópodos femeninos de C. longitarsus y se incluye una clave taxonómica para la identificación de las especies peruanas de Charinus.

A new species of the genus Charinus Simon, 1892 is described from Santa Teresa District (1436 -1511 m of altitude), La Convención, Cusco, Peru, being this the third Charinus species from this region and the fifth one for this South American country. Its general feature and female gonopods greatly resembles Charinus longitarsus Armas & Palomino-Cardenas, 2016, and C. yanatile Palomino-Cardenas & Armas, 2022, from Cusco, too; but it differs from them by having 16 instead of 14 trichobothria in the distitibia of leg IV; on the other hand, in C. longitarsus the leg I has 30 tarsomeres (43 in the new species); whereas C. yanatiles has larger median ocular tubercle and the first tarsomere of leg I is longer than tarsomeres 1+2 joined. Also, the description of the female gonopods of C. longitarsus is emended and a taxonomic key for the identification of the Peruvian species of Charinus is given.

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Breast cancer is one of the main causes of premature death in women; current treatments have low selectivity, generating strong physical and psychological sequelae. The palindromic peptide R-1-R (RWQWRWQWR) has cytotoxic activity against different cell lines derived from cancer and selectivity against noncancerous cells. To determine if changes in the charge/length of this peptide increase its activity, six peptides were obtained by SPPS, three of them with addition of Arg at the N, C-terminal or both and three with deletion of Arg at the N, C-terminal or both. The cytotoxic and selective activities were evaluated against MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, and MCF-12 cell lines and fibroblast primary cell culture, evidencing that the RR-1-R peptide with the inclusion of Arg in the N-terminal end maintained selectivity and increased cytotoxicity against lines derived from breast cancer. The effect of this addition regarding the type of induced cell death was evaluated by flow cytometry, showing very low rates of necrosis and a significant majority of apoptotic events with activation of both Caspase 8 and Caspase 9. This work allowed us to find a modification that generates a peptide with greater cytotoxic effects and can be considered a promising molecule for other approaches to improve anticancer peptides.

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The tribe Otteiini is a group of cave crickets, that were believed only to inhabit the Greater Antilles (Cuba, Cayman Islands, and Hispaniola). However, when reviewing and studying similar cave crickets in Mexico, their relationship was proven with island taxa, expanding their distribution to the continental area, from the Yucatan Peninsula to the Gulf and Northeast of Mexico. Herein, the genus Paracophus is divided, and three additional genera are described: Hubbellcophus n. gen., Venegascophus n. gen. and Hortacophus n. gen. Also, two additional species for Paracophus are described (P. victoriensis n. sp. and P. velazquezi n. sp.). Diagnoses for all genera and dichotomous keys for genera and species are provided. Finally, the taxonomic relationships between the insular and continental taxa of the tribe are discussed, and the different taxonomic placements they had over time, with some genera located in Phalangopsinae and Luzarinae (Phalangopsidae) and Pentacentrinae (Gryllidae).

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In this contribution to the American Field and Short-tail crickets, two new species from the continental and insular area of Colombia are described. Anurogryllus (Urogryllus) edithsantosum n. sp. from the Meta department, is more related to some Caribbean species, and its genital structure fits the morphological current definition of the subgenus Urogryllus, although it has pseudepiphallic median lophi covered with hairs, as it happens in the species of the subgenus Pilosogryllus. The same way, Gryllus (Gryllus) providiensis n. sp. from Providencia Island, San Andres Archipelago is described, this new species has thick hairs on the pronotum as Gryllus (Gryllus) assimilis (widely distributed in America), as well as the color pattern of the cephalic capsule; but the new species is smaller in size, and has a particular organization in the harp veins of the tegmina, which only resembles Gryllus (Gryllus) marchena from the Galapagos Archipelago (Ecuador), from which it differs markedly in its morphology. Finally, the status of the Gryllus species, distributed in Latin America and the Caribbean, is reviewed, and it is recorded which species have acoustic records, and from here we start with the review of this peculiar genus in Latin America.

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RESUMEN: Introducción: Las restauraciones de caries proximales en dientes primarios son complejas de realizar, siendo fundamental la correcta realización de la técnica para la restitución de la dentición funcional. La resina compuesta y vidrio ionómero modificado con resina son de los materiales más utilizados en la actualidad, debido a sus propiedades estéticas y de adhesión, pero aún no está clara la efectividad de un material por sobre otro. Métodos: Para responder la pregunta se realizó una búsqueda en Epistemonikos, la mayor base de datos de revisiones sistemáticas en salud, la cual es mantenida mediante el cribado de múltiples fuentes de información, incluyendo MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, entre otras. Extrajimos los datos desde las revisiones identificadas, analizamos los datos de los estudios primarios, realizamos un metanálisis y preparamos una tabla de resumen de los resultados utilizando el método GRADE. Resultados y conclusiones: Identificamos nueve revisiones sistemáticas que en conjunto incluyeron siete estudios primarios, de los cuales, cinco corresponden a ensayos aleatorizados. Concluimos que el uso de resina compuesta en caries proximales cavitadas de dientes primarios podría resultar en poca o nula diferencia en el fracaso de la restauración, pero la certeza de la evidencia es baja. Además el uso de resina compuestas probablemente aumente el riesgo de caries secundaria. Además, no se encontraron estudios que evaluaran la retención de la restauración.

ABSTRACT: Introduction: Ensure an adequate interproximal caries restorations in primary teeth are essential for the restoration of functional dentition, but the technique is sensitive. Composite resin and resin-modified glass ionomer are among the most widely used materials today, due to their aesthetic and adhesion properties, but the effectiveness of one material over another is not yet clear. Methods: We searched in Epistemonikos, the largest database of systematic reviews in health, which is maintained by screening multiple information sources, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, among others. We extracted data from the systematic reviews, reanalyzed data of primary studies, conducted a meta-analysis and generated a summary of findings table using the GRADE approach. Results and conclusions: We identified nine systematic reviews including seven studies overall, of which five were randomized trials. The use of composite resin may improve the failure of the restorations but the evidence is low. The use of composite resin probably improves the risk of secondary caries. No studies were found evaluating retention of the restoration.

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RESUMEN: Introducción: La pulpotomía parcial se utiliza para el tratamiento de caries con exposición pulpar en dientes permanentes inmaduros. El agregado de trióxido mineral (MTA) ha sido propuesto como uno de los biomateriales de elección para el tratamiento, pero existe incertidumbre en relación a su efectividad comparado con la del hidróxido de calcio. Métodos: Realizamos una búsqueda en Epistemonikos, la mayor base de datos de revisiones sistemáticas en salud, la cual es mantenida mediante el cribado de múltiples fuentes de información, incluyendo MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, entre otras. Extrajimos los datos desde las revisiones identificadas, analizamos los datos de los estudios primarios, realizamos un metanálisis y preparamos una tabla de resumen de los resultados utilizando el método GRADE. Resultados y conclusiones: Encontramos cinco revisiones sistemáticas, que incluyeron tres estudios primarios, de los cuales todos corresponden a ensayos aleatorizados. Concluimos que la pulpotomía parcial con agregado de trióxido mineral (MTA) podría resultar en poca o nula diferencia en la tasa de éxito comparado a la pulpotomía parcial con hidróxido de calcio, pero la certeza de la evidencia es baja.

ABSTRACT: Introduction: Partial pulpotomy is the treatment of choice following carious pulp exposure in immature permanent teeth. Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) has been suggested as the biomaterial first option for treatment, but there is still uncertainty regarding its effectiveness compared to calcium hydroxide. Methods: We searched in Epistemonikos, the largest database of systematic reviews in health, which is maintained by screening multiple information sources, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, among others. We extracted data from the systematic reviews, reanalyzed data of primary studies, conducted a meta-analysis and generated a summary of findings table using the GRADE approach. Results and conclusions: We identified five systematic reviews including three studies overall, of which all were randomized trials. We conclude that partial pulpotomy with mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) may make little or no difference to success rate compared to partial pulpotomy with calcium hydroxide, however, the certainty of the evidence has been assessed as low.

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RESUMEN: Introducción: En dentición primaria, la pulpotomía con formocresol ha sido convencionalmente utilizada para el tratamiento de caries cercanas a la pulpa. Sin embargo, la seguridad de este material ha sido cuestionada. Por otro lado, el biodentine ha sido propuesto como un biomaterial sustituto bioactivo de la dentina, pero no está clara su efectividad. Métodos: Realizamos una búsqueda en Epistemonikos, la mayor base de datos de revisiones sistemáticas en salud, la cual es mantenida mediante el cribado de múltiples fuentes de información, incluyendo MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, entre otras. Extrajimos los datos desde las revisiones identificadas, analizamos los datos de los estudios primarios, realizamos un metanálisis y una tabla GRADE para el resumen de los resultados. Resultados y conclusiones: Identificamos tres revisiones sistemáticas que en conjunto incluyeron dos estudios primarios, ambos correspondientes a ensayos aleatorizados. Concluimos que no se puede establecer con claridad si biodentine comparado con formocresol aumenta el éxito clínico y el éxito radiográfico en pulpotomía en pacientes con dentición primaria, debido a que la certeza de la evidencia existente ha sido evaluada como muy baja.

ABSTRACT: Introduction: Pulpotomy with formocresol is the main treatment protocol following carious pulp exposure in primary teeth, but many concerns have been raised regarding its safety. Biodentine has been proposed as a bioactive dentine substitute, but there is still uncertainty regarding its effectiveness. Methods: We searched in Epistemonikos, the largest database of systematic reviews in health, which is maintained by screening multiple information sources, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, among others. We extracted data from the systematic reviews, reanalyzed data of primary studies, conducted a meta-analysis and generated a summary of findings table using the GRADE approach. Results and conclusions: We identified three systematic reviews including two studies overall, of which both were randomized trials. We are uncertain whether biodentine compared to formocresol for pulpotomy improves clinical and radiographic success, as the certainty of the evidence has been assessed as very low.

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The effect on the cytotoxicity against breast cancer cell lines of the substitution of 26Met residue in the sequence of the Bovine Lactoferricin-derived dimeric peptide LfcinB (20-30)2: (20RRWQWRMKKLG30)2-K-Ahx with amino acids of different polarity was evaluated. The process of the synthesis of the LfcinB (20-30)2 analog peptides was similar to the original peptide. The cytotoxic assays showed that some analog peptides exhibited a significant cytotoxic effect against breast cancer cell lines HTB-132 and MCF-7, suggesting that the substitution of the Met with amino acids of a hydrophobic nature drastically enhances its cytotoxicity against HTB-132 and MCF-7 cells, reaching IC50 values up to 6 µM. In addition, these peptides have a selective effect, since they exhibit a lower cytotoxic effect on the non-tumorigenic cell line MCF-12. Interestingly, the cytotoxic effect is fast (90 min) and is maintained for up to 48 h. Additionally, through flow cytometry, it was found that the obtained dimeric peptides generate cell death through the apoptosis pathway and do not compromise the integrity of the cytoplasmic membrane, and there are intrinsic apoptotic events involved. These results show that the obtained peptides are extremely promising molecules for the future development of drugs for use against breast cancer.

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INTRODUCTION: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the leading causes of acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI) in infants and young children. Although ALRI is a major public health problem in developing countries located in tropical areas, studies about RSV epidemiology in these regions are scarce. METHODS: In a retrospective cohort study, we investigated the epidemiology and predictive variables that reflect disease severity and mortality in young children hospitalized with ALRI due to RSV in Colombia, South-America, during a 2-year period (2009-2011). RESULTS: Of a total of 6,344 children with a diagnosis of ALRI, we selected 2,147 (33.8%) that were positive for RSV. After controlling for pre-existing conditions, we found that independent predictors of severe disease in our population included age <6 months (RR 2.01; CI 95% 1.70-2.38; P < 0.001), prematurity (RR 1.61; CI 95% 1.20-2.17; P = 0.001), congenital heart disease (RR 2.03; CI 95% 1.16-3.54; P = 0.013), and mixed RSV-adenovirus infection (RR 2.09; CI 95% 1.60-2.73; P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis identified that cancer (RR 31.60; CI 95% 5.97-167.13; P < 0.001) is a predictor of mortality in our RSV-infected pediatric population independently of age and other co-morbidities. CONCLUSIONS: RSV is an important cause of ALRI in infants and young children living in tropical regions, especially during the rainy season. The identified predictors of severe disease and mortality should be taken into account when planning interventions to reduce the burden of ALRI in young children living in these regions.

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Introducción: El síndrome de Burnout es un cuadro sintomático debido al estrés laboral crónico, tiene repercusiones en la salud, así como en el ámbito familiar y laboral. Puede presentarse en cualquier profesión; sin embargo, el personal de salud y dentro de ellos el personal médico es quien está más propenso a padecerlo. Objetivos: Determinar la frecuencia del síndrome de Burnout en los médicos residentes del primer al tercer año del Hospital Nacional Arzobispo Loayza durante los meses de julio a diciembre del año 2013. Diseño: Estudio descriptivo. Lugar: Hospital Nacional Arzobispo Loayza. Participantes: Médicos residentes del primer al tercer año que se encuentran laborando en el Hospital. Intervención: Aplicación de una encuesta conteniendo el cuestionario Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) y características de los participantes: sexo, edad, estado civil, año de residencia y especialidad (área médica o quirúrgica). Resultados: Se analizaron 142 encuestas, 68.31 por ciento fueron varones. El 41.55 por ciento cursaba el primer año de residencia, 27.46 por ciento el segundo y 30.99 por ciento el tercero. La edad promedio fue de 33±5.56 años. El 32.39 por ciento presentó agotamiento emocional alto, 32.39 por ciento despersonalización alta y 30.99 por ciento baja realización personal. La frecuencia del síndrome de Burnout según los criterios definidos por Maslach fue de 9.86 por ciento y según los criterios de Grunfeld, 57.75 por ciento. Conclusiones: Debido a la diferente metodología que se usa en los estudios, no se puede comparar los resultados; a pesar de ello, las frecuencias encontradas están dentro de los rangos mostrados en dichos estudios.

Introduction: Burnout syndrome is a symptomatic picture due to chronic work stress, it has an impact on health as well as family and workplace. It can occur in any profession but is health personnel and medical personnel who are more likely to suffer it. Objective: To determine the frequency of Burnout syndrome in medical residents from first to third year of the Hospital Nacional Arzobispo Loayza during the months of July to December of 2013. Design: Descriptive study. Place: Hospital Nacional Arzobispo Loayza. Participants: Medical residents from the first to third year who are working in the hospital. Intervention: Application of a survey containing the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and participant characteristics: sex, age, marital status, year of residency and specialty (medical or surgical area). Results: 142 responses were analyzed, 68.31 per cent were male. 41.55 per cent were on the first year of residency; 27.46 per cent, the second and 30.99 per cent, the third. The mean age was 33±5.56 years. The 32.39 per cent had high emotional exhaustion, 32.39 per cent high depersonalization and 30.99 per cent reduce personal accomplishment. The frequency of the Burnout syndrome according to the criteria defined by Maslach was 9.86 per cent, and by Grunfeld, 57.75 per cent. Conclusions: Due to the different methodology used in the studies, you cannot compare the results, nevertheless, the frequencies found are within the ranges shown in those studies.

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La histerectomía es valorada por las pacientes como una situación altamente estresante, que genera fuertes reacciones emocionales con reconocido efecto negativo sobre la recuperación posquirúrgica. Para contrarrestar dichos efectos psicológicos adversos se han desarrollado diferentes programas para cirugía, los cuales buscan hacer más controlable y predecible el proceso pre y posoperatorio, facilitando la recuperación. El presente estudio buscó comparar dos tipos de preparación para cirugía en mujeres programadas para histerectomía abdominal en la Clínica Carlos Lleras Restrepo de Bogotá. El primer grupo de 30 mujeres, recibió una preparación basada en la consideración particular de las estrategias de afrontamiento. El segundo grupo, también de 30 mujeres, recibió preparación mediante información escrita. Como variables de resultado se estudiaron los niveles de ansiedad pre y posoperatoria, la magnitud del dolor postoperatorio percibido y la presencia de complicaciones posquirúrgicas inmediatas. Los resultados revelaron que las participantes del grupo que recibió el primer tipo de programa presentaron mayor disminución en la ansiedad (p<0,01), menor nivel de dolor percibido (p<0,05) y una baja frecuencia de complicaciones, que aquellas que recibieron la preparación a través de información escrita.

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