RESUMEN
Introduction: Physical and non-physical processes that occur in nature may influence biological processes, such as dissemination of infectious diseases. However, such processes may be hard to detect when they are complex systems. Because complexity is a dynamic and non-linear interaction among numerous elements and structural levels in which specific effects are not necessarily linked to any one specific element, cause-effect connections are rarely or poorly observed. Methods: To test this hypothesis, the complex and dynamic properties of geo-biological data were explored with high-resolution epidemiological data collected in the 2001 Uruguayan foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) epizootic that mainly affected cattle. County-level data on cases, farm density, road density, river density, and the ratio of road (or river) length/county perimeter were analyzed with an open-ended procedure that identified geographical clustering in the first 11 epidemic weeks. Two questions were asked: (i) do geo-referenced epidemiologic data display complex properties? and (ii) can such properties facilitate or prevent disease dissemination? Results: Emergent patterns were detected when complex data structures were analyzed, which were not observed when variables were assessed individually. Complex properties-including data circularity-were demonstrated. The emergent patterns helped identify 11 counties as 'disseminators' or 'facilitators' (F) and 264 counties as 'barriers' (B) of epidemic spread. In the early epidemic phase, F and B counties differed in terms of road density and FMD case density. Focusing on non-biological, geographical data, a second analysis indicated that complex relationships may identify B-like counties even before epidemics occur. Discussion: Geographical barriers and/or promoters of disease dispersal may precede the introduction of emerging pathogens. If corroborated, the analysis of geo-referenced complexity may support anticipatory epidemiological policies.
RESUMEN
Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is a musculoskeletal condition characterized by pain and reduced function in the temporomandibular joint and/or associated masticatory musculature. Prevalence in the United States is 5% and twice as high among women as men. We conducted a discovery genome-wide association study (GWAS) of TMD in 10,153 participants (769 cases, 9,384 controls) of the US Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL). The most promising single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were tested in meta-analysis of 4 independent cohorts. One replication cohort was from the United States, and the others were from Germany, Finland, and Brazil, totaling 1,911 TMD cases and 6,903 controls. A locus near the sarcoglycan alpha ( SGCA), rs4794106, was suggestive in the discovery analysis ( P = 2.6 × 106) and replicated (i.e., 1-tailed P = 0.016) in the Brazilian cohort. In the discovery cohort, sex-stratified analysis identified 2 additional genome-wide significant loci in females. One lying upstream of the relaxin/insulin-like family peptide receptor 2 ( RXP2) (chromosome 13, rs60249166, odds ratio [OR] = 0.65, P = 3.6 × 10-8) was replicated among females in the meta-analysis (1-tailed P = 0.052). The other (chromosome 17, rs1531554, OR = 0.68, P = 2.9 × 10-8) was replicated among females (1-tailed P = 0.002), as well as replicated in meta-analysis of both sexes (1-tailed P = 0.021). A novel locus at genome-wide level of significance (rs73460075, OR = 0.56, P = 3.8 × 10-8) in the intron of the dystrophin gene DMD (X chromosome), and a suggestive locus on chromosome 7 (rs73271865, P = 2.9 × 10-7) upstream of the Sp4 Transcription Factor ( SP4) gene were identified in the discovery cohort, but neither of these was replicated. The SGCA gene encodes SGCA, which is involved in the cellular structure of muscle fibers and, along with DMD, forms part of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex. Functional annotation suggested that several of these variants reside in loci that regulate processes relevant to TMD pathobiologic processes.
Asunto(s)
Estudio de Asociación del Genoma Completo , Polimorfismo de Nucleótido Simple , Trastornos de la Articulación Temporomandibular/genética , Brasil/epidemiología , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Distrofina , Femenino , Finlandia/epidemiología , Sitios Genéticos , Predisposición Genética a la Enfermedad , Genotipo , Alemania/epidemiología , Hispánicos o Latinos , Humanos , Masculino , Fenotipo , Prevalencia , Receptores Acoplados a Proteínas G , Sarcoglicanos , Factor de Transcripción Sp4 , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Trastornos de la Articulación Temporomandibular/epidemiología , Trastornos de la Articulación Temporomandibular/etnología , Estados Unidos/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To assess whether the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) was easily administered in a Guyanese clinic setting and how the findings in Guyana compared to international studies. DESIGN AND METHODS: The M-CHAT was used to screen for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) at 9 Health Centres in Guyana over 1 month. An information session aimed at raising Autism awareness in the community and to inform the parents/guardians attending well child clinic of the purpose of the study was conducted every morning at each clinic. A questionnaire was administered for demographic data and the familys socioeconomic status was determined using the parents education level, occupations and household income. The M-CHAT results were compared to child sex, parental age, parental ethnicity, socioeconomic status, birth order of the child and the childs age on the date of administration of the test. RESULTS: Data from 415 respondents (parents/guardians) was used for analysis of the children under study (M 210, F 205). 10.6% of the children failed the M-CHAT (M 10.5%, F 10.7% p = 0.93) with 2.3% of these being high risk and 97.7% medium risk for ASD. Of the parameters tested, maternal ethnicity (Afro-Guyanese, p = 0.03) and paternal education (low, p = 0.001) were found to be significant. CONCLUSION: While we were unable to re-test the population to confirm ASD, the trends observed for the M-CHAT were similar to those found in international studies.
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Cribado de Líquidos , Trastorno Autístico , GuyanaRESUMEN
Countries in the Caribbean region have expressed concern at the rising incidence of chronic non-communicable diseases. Cancer is one of these and the cost of treating patients with this has escalated in the recent past. In this paper, the author examines colon cancer and the cost of caring for patients with this. A viewpoint with regard to the reasons for the increased cost of care of patients with cancer is advanced. The factors contributing to the increasing costs are explored. Research epistemology and the role of the pharmaceutical industry are also explored. The need for consensus decision-making with regard to choice of agent/regime is emphasized, as is the need for a deliberate cost-benefit approach.
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Enfermedad de Crohn/complicaciones , Enterocolitis Seudomembranosa/terapia , Heces/microbiología , Intestinos/microbiología , Enfermedad de Addison/complicaciones , Adulto , Antiinfecciosos/uso terapéutico , Clostridioides difficile/patogenicidad , Enfermedad de Crohn/inmunología , Enfermedad de Crohn/terapia , Enterocolitis Seudomembranosa/complicaciones , Enterocolitis Seudomembranosa/inmunología , Resultado Fatal , Femenino , Humanos , Metagenoma , Metronidazol/uso terapéutico , Microbiota , Sobreinfección , Vancomicina/uso terapéuticoRESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: This study was carried out to screen the use of Helicobacter pylori stool antigen (HpSA) tests for diagnosis and monitoring of H pylori in Nigeria. METHODS: Seven hundred and forty participants were enrolled after informed consent was obtained, while 83 came back for a post-eradication test. The stool samples were taken from the patients at endoscopy and tested for HpSA. RESULTS: The proportion of patients that were positive at the pretest, 520 (70.3%) was significantly higher (Fisher's exact p = 0.001) than those positive at the post-test, 44 (53%). There was a significant difference (F = 4.106, p = 0.043) between the mean age of those that came for the pretest (40.0 +/- 14.5 years) and those that came for the post-test, 43.6 +/- 11.6 years. More males than females had the tendency to come back for a post-eradication test. CONCLUSION: Although potential bias was introduced during this study, HpSA using monoclonal antibody could still be used for diagnosis and monitoring of H pylori in Nigeria.
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Antígenos Bacterianos , Heces/microbiología , Infecciones por Helicobacter/diagnóstico , Helicobacter pylori , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Antígenos Bacterianos/inmunología , Distribución de Chi-Cuadrado , Niño , Endoscopía , Femenino , Infecciones por Helicobacter/epidemiología , Infecciones por Helicobacter/inmunología , Helicobacter pylori/inmunología , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Nigeria/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
Lipid oxidation is known to occur rather rapidly in cooked chicken meat containing relatively high amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids. To assess the lipid oxidation stability of sous vide chicken meat enriched with n-3 and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) fatty acids, 624 Cobb × Ross broilers were raised during a 6-wk feeding period. The birds were fed diets containing CLA (50% cis-9, trans-11 and 50% trans-10, cis-12 isomers), flaxseed oil (FSO), or menhaden fish oil (MFO), each supplemented with 42 or 200 mg/kg of vitamin E (dl-α-tocopheryl acetate). Breast or thigh meat was vacuum-packed, cooked (74°C), cooled in ice water, and stored at 4.4°C for 0, 5, 10, 15, and 30 d. The lipid oxidation development of the meat was estimated by quantification of malonaldehyde (MDA) values, using the 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances analysis. Fatty acid, nonheme iron, moisture, and fat analyses were performed as well. Results showed that dietary CLA induced deposition of cis-9, trans-11 and trans-10, cis-12 CLA isomers, increased the proportion of saturated fatty acids, and decreased the proportions of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Flaxseed oil induced higher deposition of C18:1, C18:2, C18:3, and C20:4 fatty acids, whereas MFO induced higher deposition of n-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5), and docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6; P < 0.05). Meat lipid oxidation stability was affected by the interaction of either dietary oil or vitamin E with storage day. Lower (P < 0.05) MDA values were found in the CLA treatment than in the MFO and FSO treatments. Lower (P < 0.05) MDA values were detected in meat samples from the 200 mg/kg of vitamin E than in meat samples from the 42 mg/kg of vitamin E. Nonheme iron values did not affect (P > 0.05) lipid oxidation development. In conclusion, dietary CLA, FSO, and MFO influenced the fatty acid composition of chicken muscle and the lipid oxidation stability of meat over the storage time. Supranutritional supplementation of vitamin E enhanced the lipid oxidation stability of sous vide chicken meat.
Asunto(s)
Ácidos Grasos Omega-3/química , Ácidos Linoleicos Conjugados/química , Peroxidación de Lípido , Carne/análisis , Alimentación Animal/análisis , Animales , Pollos , Culinaria , Dieta/veterinaria , Suplementos Dietéticos , Ácidos Grasos Omega-3/metabolismo , Aceites de Pescado/química , Ácidos Linoleicos Conjugados/metabolismo , Aceite de Linaza/química , Carne/normasRESUMEN
The fatty acid composition of chicken muscle may affect the lipid oxidation stability of the meat, particularly when subjecting the meat to thermal processing and storage. The objective of this study was to evaluate the diet effect on lipid oxidation stability of fresh and cooked chicken meat. Six hundred broilers were raised for a 6-wk feeding period and were assigned to 8 treatments with 3 repetitions. Broilers were fed a basal corn-soybean meal diet, including 5% of either animal-vegetable, lard, palm kernel, or soybean (SB) oil, each supplemented with a low (33 mg/kg) or high (200 to 400 mg/kg) level of vitamin E. Fresh breast and thigh meat and skin were packaged and refrigerated (4°C) for 15 d. Breast and thigh meat were frozen (-20°C) and stored for ~6 mo and then thawed, deboned, ground, and formed into patties of 150 g each. Patties were cooked (74°C), cooled, packaged, and stored in refrigeration for 6 d. The lipid oxidation development of the products was determined using the TBA reactive substances analysis. The results showed that the lipid oxidation development, in both fresh chicken parts and cooked meat patties, was influenced by the interaction of either dietary lipid source or vitamin E level with storage time. Fresh breast meat showed no susceptibility to lipid oxidation, but thigh meat and skin presented higher (P < 0.05) malonaldehyde values in the SB oil treatment, starting at d 10 of storage. In cooked patties, during the entire storage time, the SB oil showed the highest (P < 0.05) lipid oxidation development compared with the other treatments. Regarding vitamin E, in both fresh parts and cooked meat patties, in most sampling days the high supplemented level showed lower (P < 0.05) malonaldehyde values than the control treatment. In conclusion, the lipid oxidation stability of chicken meat is influenced by the lipid source and vitamin E level included in the diet upon storage time and processing of the meat.
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Alimentación Animal/clasificación , Pollos/fisiología , Grasas de la Dieta/farmacología , Peroxidación de Lípido/efectos de los fármacos , Carne/normas , Vitamina E/farmacología , Animales , Culinaria , Ácidos Grasos/análisis , Carne/análisis , Músculo Esquelético/efectos de los fármacos , Músculo Esquelético/fisiología , Vitamina E/sangreRESUMEN
There is an increasing demand in precooked chicken meat products for restaurants and catering services. Because cooked chicken meat develops lipid oxidation relatively fast, sous vide chicken meat was studied to assess its shelf-life. Six hundred Cobb x Ross broilers were fed for 6 wk with a basal corn-soybean meal diet including soybean, palm kernel, or animal-vegetable oil, each supplemented with 33 or 200 mg/kg of dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate. Broilers were randomly assigned into 6 treatments and 4 repetitions with 25 birds each. Boneless breast or thigh muscle pieces were dissected into 5 x 5 x 5 cm cubes, vacuum-packed, cooked in water bath (until 74 degrees C internal temperature), chilled, and stored at 4 degrees C for 1, 5, 10, 25, and 40 d. For each storage day, each pouch contained 3 pieces of meat, either breast or thigh. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances analysis, to quantify malonaldehyde (MDA) values, was conducted to estimate the lipid oxidation development. Nonheme iron values of cooked meat were analyzed. Fatty acid methyl esters analysis was performed in chicken muscle to determine its fatty acid composition. There was no interaction between dietary fat and vitamin E level in all of the variables studied except in nonheme iron. Dietary fat significantly influenced the fatty acid composition of the muscle (P < 0.01), but it did not affect the MDA values, regardless of differences in the muscle fatty acid composition between treatments. Supplementation of the high level of vitamin E significantly reduced the MDA values in both breast and thigh meat (P < 0.01). The maximum MDA values were observed at d 40 of storage in thigh and breast meat in animal-vegetable and soybean oil treatments with the low levels of vitamin E, 0.91 and 0.70 mg/kg, respectively. Nonheme iron values in thigh meat differed between treatments at 1 or 25 d of storage but not in breast meat. In conclusion, refrigerated sous vide chicken meat has a prolonged shelf-life, which is enhanced by dietary supranutritional supplementation of vitamin E.
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Pollos , Glycine max , Peroxidación de Lípido/efectos de los fármacos , Carne/análisis , Tocoferoles/farmacología , Vitamina E/farmacología , Animales , Culinaria , Suplementos Dietéticos , Ácidos Grasos/análisis , Aceites de Pescado/farmacología , Hierro/análisis , Lípidos/análisis , Músculo Esquelético/química , Aceites de Plantas/farmacología , alfa-Tocoferol/análisisRESUMEN
3Beta,11beta-dihydroxy-9alpha-fluor-5alpha-androstane-17-one (2), 3beta-acetoxy-9alpha-fluor-11beta-hydroxy-5alpha-androstane-17-one (3), 3beta-acetoxy-9alpha-fluor-11beta,17beta-dihydroxy-5alpha-androstane (4), 3beta,17beta-diacetoxy-9alpha-fluor-11beta-hydroxy-5alpha-androstane (5), 3beta-acetoxy-9alpha-fluor-11beta-hydroxy-5alpha-androstane 17beta-propionate (6), 3beta-acetoxy-9alpha-fluor-11beta-hydroxy-5alpha-androstane 17beta-enanthate (7), 3beta-acetoxy-9alpha-fluor-11beta-hydroxy-5alpha-androstane 17beta-isobutyrate (8) were synthesized in the present study. Compounds 2 and 8 exhibited higher anabolic activity than the rest of the synthesized compounds. The structure of all these newly synthesized compounds was confirmed by analytic spectral data (mass, (1)H NMR and (13)C NMR).
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Anabolizantes/química , Anabolizantes/farmacología , Andrógenos/química , Andrógenos/farmacología , Androstanos/química , Androstanos/farmacología , Anabolizantes/síntesis química , Andrógenos/síntesis química , Androstanos/síntesis química , Animales , Flúor/química , Flúor/farmacología , Masculino , Músculos/efectos de los fármacos , Tamaño de los Órganos/efectos de los fármacos , Próstata/efectos de los fármacos , Ratas , Ratas Wistar , Vesículas Seminales/efectos de los fármacosRESUMEN
The ability of Boophilus microplus strains to be susceptible (-) or resistant (+) to amidines (Am), synthetic pyrethroids (SP), and/or organo-phosphates (OP) (or acaricide profiles) was investigated in 217 southeastern Mexican cattle ranches (located in the states of Yucatán, Quintana Roo, and Tabasco). Three questions were asked: (1) whether acaricide profiles varied at random and, if not, which one(s) explained more (or less) cases than expected, (2) whether the spatial distribution of acaricide profiles was randomly or non-randomly distributed, and (3) whether acaricide profiles were associated with farm-related covariates (frequency of annual treatments, herd size, and farm size). Three acaricide profiles explained 73.6% of the data, representing at least twice as many cases as expected (P<0.001): (1) Am-SP-, (2) Am+SP+, and (3) (among ranches that dispensed acaricides > or = 6 times/year) Am-OP+SP+. Because ticks collected in Yucatán ranches tended to be susceptible to Am, those of Quintana Roo ranches displayed, predominantly, resistance to OP/SP, and Tabasco ticks tended to be resistant to Am (all with P < or = 0.05), acaricide profiles appeared to be non-randomly disseminated over space. Across states, two farm-related covariates were associated with resistance (P < or = 0.02): (1) high annual frequency of acaricide treatments, and (2) large farm size. Findings supported the hypothesis that spatial acaricide profiles followed neither random nor homogeneous data distributions, being partially explained by agent- and/or farm-specific factors. Some profiles could not be explained by these factors. Further spatially explicit studies (addressing host-related factors) are recommended.
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Resistencia a los Insecticidas , Insecticidas/farmacología , Ixodidae/efectos de los fármacos , Infestaciones por Garrapatas/parasitología , Animales , Bovinos , Enfermedades de los Bovinos/epidemiología , Enfermedades de los Bovinos/parasitología , Demografía , Femenino , México/epidemiología , Infestaciones por Garrapatas/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
Patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) can manifest a characteristic vasculopathy that in adults is rarely associated with fatal coronary artery occlusion. We describe the clinical and pathological findings from 2 unrelated young children with NF1, a similar vasculopathy affecting their coronary arteries, and sudden cardiac death.
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Muerte Súbita Cardíaca/etiología , Neoplasias Cardíacas/complicaciones , Neurofibromatosis 1/complicaciones , Niño , Estenosis Coronaria/complicaciones , Estenosis Coronaria/patología , Anomalías de los Vasos Coronarios/complicaciones , Anomalías de los Vasos Coronarios/patología , Muerte Súbita Cardíaca/patología , Resultado Fatal , Neoplasias Cardíacas/patología , Humanos , Lactante , Masculino , Infarto del Miocardio/etiología , Neurofibromatosis 1/patologíaRESUMEN
Geo-referenced data from the 2001 Uruguayan foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) epidemic were explored to assess whether spatial analysis could lead to cost-benefit based policies. Four variables were analysed: (i) location and size of 4022 individual rural land parcels, of which 574 were infected over 60 days, (ii) animal density, (iii) percentage of dairy farms per county, and (iv) road density. Each variable was categorized into two to five classes (e.g. small/medium/large) and the proportion of cases per class reported at days 1-3 of the epidemic was compared with that reported at days 4-6. A higher proportion of cases was found at days 4-6 than at days 1-3 in areas with: small and medium size land parcels, high animal density, > 20% farms specialized in dairy production, and high road density (P < 0.03 for each). Each of these classes showed a greater proportion of cases at days 7-60 than the proportion of the total territory covered by each class's area (early case concentration ratios: 1.14-1.37). Land parcel clusters were indicated by Moran's I-test (P < 0.01). A new region was constructed by intersecting the four spatial classes associated with higher proportions of cases at days 4-6. At days 7-60, this region included 50.4% of all cases and represented 30.6% of the territory under study (final case concentration ratio: 1.65). The final area per case in this region was at least 33% lower and covered at least 45% less territory than any of the four single-variable approaches. Bio-statistical, multivariate spatial analysis of early cases may greatly increase the efficiency of epidemiologic policy.