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ABSTRACT Dialdehyde starches (DAS) have been used as biomaterials due to their biocompatibility and biodegradability; nonetheless, sweet potato (Ipomea batatas L.) starch has not been researched. Films based on sweet potato DAS, mixed with native starch (NS), poly-vinyl alcohol (PVA) and glycerin have been developed with protein encapsulation, using central composite design (CCD) and response surface methodology (RSM). Input variables were oxidation degree, NS concentration and polymeric mixture volume, while output variables were film's thickness, equilibrium swelling and BSA (Bovine serum albumin) release. DAS was obtained through hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) oxidation, and the oxidation degree is referred to as H2O2 concentration. Films presented rough surfaces, and formulations containing 10% H2O2 DAS presented micropores. Water uptake was greater with higher DAS content. Film thickness depended on the volume of the polymeric suspension and influenced swelling capacity. According to RSM, the optimal formulation was DAS with 5% H2O2 and 35% NS. These results demonstrate that oxidized sweet potato starch has potential for protein encapsulation and delivery.

RESUMEN Almidones dialdehído (DAS) se han utilizado como biomateriales por su biocompatibilidad y biodegradabilidad; sin embargo, el almidón de camote (Ipomea batatas L.) no ha sido investigado. Se han desarrollado películas de DAS de camote, con almidón nativo (NS), alcohol polivinílico (PVA) y glicerina con encapsulación de proteínas, utilizando un diseño central compuesto (CCD) y metodología de superficie de respuesta (RSM). Las variables de entrada fueron: grado de oxidación, concentración de NS y volumen de la mezcla polimérica, mientras que las variables de salida fueron: espesor de la película, hinchamiento y liberación de BSA (Albúmina de Suero Bovino) en equilibrio. DAS se obtuvo mediante oxidación con peróxido de hidrógeno (H2O2), y el grado de oxidación se define como concentración de H2O2. Las películas presentaron superficies rugosas y las formulaciones con 10% H2O2 DAS presentaron microporos. La absorción de agua fue mayor con mayor contenido de DAS. El espesor de la película dependió del volumen de la mezcla polimérica e influyó en la capacidad de hinchamiento. Según RSM, la formulación óptima fue DAS con 5% H2O2 y 35% NS. Estos resultados demuestran que el almidón de camote oxidado tiene potencial para aplicaciones en la encapsulación y liberación de proteínas.

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Incisional wound closure is a key surgical step to facilitate tissue healing, reduce the risk of infection and obtain esthetic and functional recovery. Cyanoacrylates such as Histoacryl® have become a popular choice in surgical veterinary practice. However, how Histoacryl® is affecting tissue regeneration and bacterial load in the wound in comparison to poliglecaprone (Monocryl®) traditional suture methods remains to be determined. This work aimed to evaluate how wounded tissue responds to traditional suture with Monocryl® (poliglecaprone 25/4-0) and Histoacryl®, as well as provide evidence of their effects on wound healing in mice. Fortyeight hours after the incisional procedure, wound tissue biopsies were prepared for histological and microbiological analysis. Biopsies were fixed and colored with Mallory's trichrome and hematoxylin-eosin stains. For microbiological assays, biopsies were suspended in tryptic soy broth (TSB) and 1/10 diluted to evaluate the number of CFU in nutrient agar plates. Our results show no differences between Histoacryl® and Monocryl® traditional suture suggesting that both methods could be used to treat wounds in small animals such as rodents.

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Introducción: Lactobacillus gasseri es una bacteria láctica del tracto digestivo que tiene características probióticas importantes para el control de organismos patógenos mientras Staphylococcus aureus es una cepa patógena importante en la industria alimentaria debido a los problemas sanitarios que produce en varios países. Objetivo: evaluar las características probióticas de L. gasseri sobre S. aureus en condiciones in vitro. Materiales y métodos: se evaluó la susceptibilidad de ambas cepas a diferentes antibióticos; el efecto de inhibición de L. gasseri y su sobrenadante sobre S. aureus; el crecimiento de la cepa láctica a diferentes pH, temperaturas, sales biliares y bilis bovina; se estableció la cinética de fermentación y en ella se determinó conteo de microorganismos viables en placa, pH, consumo de azúcar, consumo de proteína y porcentaje de ácido láctico; mediante HPLC-DAD se determinaron péptidos y ácido láctico; y en el caso de aminoácidos en el sobrenadante, se determinó mediante HPLC-PDA. Resultados: se encontró resistencia de ambas cepas a los antibióticos penicilina, dicloxacilina, cifoxitin y cefalexin. La cepa láctica y el sobrenadante inhibieron el crecimiento de S. aureus. El crecimiento fue adecuado para las diferentes variables con valores entre 1,5 x 108 a 3,0 x 1014 UFC/150 μl. Se observó la fase exponencial a las 9 horas con valores de 33,33 Ln UFC/150 μl. Finalmente se identificaron, a través de HPLC-DAD, el péptido VA L-TIR-VA L, 11,70 g/l de ácido láctico y el aminoácido tirosina. Conclusión: los resultados demuestran que L. gasseri tiene características probióticas sobre S. aureus en condiciones in vitro.

Introduction. Lactobacillus gasseri is a lactic bacteria of the digestive tract which hasprobiotic properties important for the control of pathogenic organisms, and Staphylococcusaureus is an important pathogenic strain in the food industry, due to the healthproblems in several countries. Objective. Evaluate the features probiotic of L. gasseri onS. aureus in conditions in vitro. Materials and methods. We evaluated the susceptibilityof two different antibiotic resistant strains; the effect of inhibition of L. gasseri and itssupernatant on S. aureus; growth of the strain lactic to different pH, temperatures, salts bile and bile bovine; the kinetics of fermentation was also established and she foundcount of viable microorganism in plate, pH, sugar consumption, consumption of proteinand percentage of lactic acid; and using HPLC-DAD determined peptides and lacticacid, and in the case of amino acids in the supernatant was determined by HPLC-PDA. Results. Found both strains resistant to antibiotics penicillin, dicloxacillin, cifoxitin andcefalexin. The strain of lactic and supernatant inhibited the growth of S. aureus. Thegrowth was suitable for the different variables with values between 1.5 x 108 to 3.0 x1014 UFC / 150 μl. The exponential phase was observed at 9:00 with values of 33.33Ln UFC/150 μl. Finally were identified using HPLC-DAD VA L-TIR-VA L peptide,11.70 g/l of lactic acid and the amino acid tyrosine. Conclusion. The results show thatL. gasseri has probiotic properties over S. aureus in conditions in vitro.

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BACKGROUND: Renal transplantation is the best treatment for end stage renal disease. Acute graft rejection is one of the main complications and may influence graft survival. OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence and features of acute cellular rejection (ACR) episodes confirmed by biopsy. METHODS: We studied a cohort of 175 patients who underwent renal transplantation between 2004 and 2012 to determine the cumulative incidence of ACR confirmed by biopsy and to identify the associated risk factors using multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The one-year patient survival was 96.6%; the graft survival was 93.7%. The incidence of ACR within one year was 14.3%, of which 46% were observed within 6 months following transplantation. The most frequently observed ACR type was 1B according to the Banff classification system (42%). A relationship between ACR and receipt of a kidney from expanded criteria donors was observed, both in univariate and adjusted multiple log-binomial regression analyses, but only 6.3% of patients received extended criteria donor kidneys. No other relationships between variables were found. CONCLUSION: ACR frequency in this study was similar to that of other cohorts reported previously. We need a bigger sample of renal transplants from expanded criteria donors, PRA and DSA test to support the results.

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Reproductive characteristics of the Pacific angel shark, Squatina californica, were evaluated from 420 specimens obtained from the artisanal fishery in La Paz Bay, Gulf of California, Mexico. Females (99 cm, 6000 g) were larger than males (95 cm, 5000 g) in terms of both total length (L(T)) and body mass (M(T)). The overall sex ratio was significantly different from the expected 1:1, suggesting sexual segregation of mature individuals in La Paz Bay. Males had developed reproductive organs and calcified claspers from 72 cm L(T); the median size at maturity (LT50 ) was 75.6 cm. In females, only the left ovary was functional and mature ovarian follicles were present from 77 cm L(T); the estimated LT50 was 77.7 cm. For the 10 gravid females sampled, uterine fecundity was between two and 10 embryos. Mature, non-gravid females with small and large ovarian follicles appeared simultaneously with gravid females with follicles that did not exceed 1.9 cm diameter.

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Biological sampling of whitesnout guitarfish Rhinobatos leucorhynchus, caught as by-catch in the commercial fisheries on the Pacific coast of Ecuador, was conducted from specimens caught between April 2013 and January 2015, in order to provide further information on the reproductive biology of this species, for which data are limited. Samples comprised 1024 specimens (458 males and 566 females), with the sex ratio (1:1·23) significantly in favour of females. The total length (LT) ranged from 20·5 to 106·0 cm and showed sexual dimorphism, with females attaining a larger size. The relationship between body mass (MT) and LT was not significantly different between sexes. The length at 50% maturity for males based on internal reproductive organs was 60·9 cm LT , which was slightly larger than when based on clasper condition alone (58·5 cm LT). The LT at 50% maturity for females was 57·8 cm, and the LT at maternity was 65·1 cm. Fecundity ranged from one to seven embryos and LT at birth was 20-26 cm. According to oocyte development, two peaks of ovulation were observed (May to June and November to December). The ovarian cycle was estimated at 6 months and gestation between 5 and 6 months. Embryos showed different sizes all year-round, indicating an asynchronous cycle.

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OBJECTIVE: We estimate treatment costs associated with diarrheal disease and all-cause pneumonia among children under-5 years of age in Colombia and assess similarities or differences with previous cost estimations in developing countries of the Americas. METHODS: Macro-costing methods were used to carry out an analysis of diarrhea and all-cause pneumonia costs in Colombia in 2010. The perspective of the health care system was taken. Data were extracted from a health insurer database that includes information on health service utilization among 130,800 children from low-income households. Lengths of stay for hospital admissions and frequencies of cases at all levels of care registered in the database were estimated. RESULTS: There were 1456 diarrheal disease cases among the 130,800 children (aged ≥ 60 months) included in the study. The median cost per case was $27.10 (interquartile range [IQR]: $15.60-77.40). A total of 1545 all-cause pneumonia cases were reported to the insurer in 2010, resulting in a frequency of 1181 cases per 100,000 children (95% confidence interval [CI]=1122, 1240). The overall cost of all-cause pneumonia cases was $858,791, and the median cost per case treated was $263 (IQR: $27-546). Comparisons by level of care showed that costs were significantly different for the two diseases (p<.05). Costs for the diseases did not differ by age group (p>.05). CONCLUSIONS: Diarrhea and all-cause pneumonia constitute a significant economic and health burden in Colombia. The relatively large size of our sample allowed us to provide reliable national estimates of the costs associated with these diseases. Our results for Colombia are similar to previous estimates from developing countries in the Americas. These data provide valid estimates that may be used decision makers in other countries to make appropriate recommendations on the introduction of rotavirus and pneumococcal vaccines.

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The goal of the Dialysis Outcomes in Colombia (DOC) study was to compare the survival of patients on hemodialysis (HD) vs peritoneal dialysis (PD) in a network of renal units in Colombia. The DOC study examined a historical cohort of incident patients starting dialysis therapy between 1 January 2001 and 1 December 2003 and followed until 1 December 2005, measuring demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical variables. Only patients older than 18 years were included. As-treated and intention-to-treat statistical analyses were performed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazard model. There were 1094 eligible patients in total and 923 were actually enrolled: 47.3% started HD therapy and 52.7% started PD therapy. Of the patients studied, 751 (81.3%) remained in their initial therapy until the end of the follow-up period, death, or censorship. Age, sex, weight, height, body mass index, creatinine, calcium, and Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) variables did not show statistically significant differences between the two treatment groups. Diabetes, socioeconomic level, educational level, phosphorus, Charlson Co-morbidity Index, and cardiovascular history did show a difference, and were less favorable for patients on PD. Residual renal function was greater for PD patients. Also, there were differences in the median survival time between groups: 27.2 months for PD vs 23.1 months for HD (P=0.001) by the intention-to-treat approach; and 24.5 months for PD vs 16.7 months for HD (P<0.001) by the as-treated approach. When performing univariate Cox analyses using the intention-to-treat approach, associations were with age > or =65 years (hazard ratio (HR)=2.21; confidence interval (CI) 95% (1.77-2.755); P<0.001); history of cardiovascular disease (HR=1.96; CI 95% (1.58-2.90); P<0.001); diabetes (HR=2.34; CI 95% (1.88-2.90); P<0.001); and SGA (mild or moderate-severe malnutrition) (HR=1.47; CI 95% (1.17-1.79); P=0.001); but no association was found with gender (HR=1.03, CI 95% 0.83-1.27; P=0.786). Similar results were found with the as-treated approach, with additional associations found with Charlson Index (0-2) (HR=0.29; Cl 95% (0.22-0.38); P<0.001); Charlson Index (3-4) (HR=0.61; Cl 95% (0.48-0.79); P<0.001); and SGA (mild-severe malnutrition) (HR=1.43; Cl 95% (1.15-1.77); P<0.001). Similarly, the multivariate Cox model was run with the variables that had shown association in previous analyses, and it was found that the variables explaining the survival of patients with end-stage renal disease in our study were age, SGA, Charlson Comorbidity Index 5 and above, diabetes, healthcare regimes I and II, and socioeconomic level 2. The results of Cox proportional risk model in both the as-treated and intention-to-treat analyses showed that there were no statistically significant differences in survival of PD and HD patients: intention-to-treat HD/PD (HR 1.127; CI 95%: 0.855-1.484) and as-treated HD/PD (HR 1.231; CI 95%: 0.976-1.553). In this historical cohort of incident patients, there was a trend, although not statistically significant, for a higher (12.7%) adjusted mortality risk associated with HD when compared to PD, even though the PD patients were poorer, were more likely to be diabetic, and had higher co-morbidity scores than the HD patients. The variables that most influenced survival were age, diabetes, comorbidity, healthcare regime, socioeconomic level, nutrition, and education.

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Two encyrtid species, Acerophagus coccois and Aenasius vexans, parasitoids of the cassava mealybug Phenacoccus herreni use a contact kairomone from the body surface of their host as a host-location stimulant. The kairomone was synthesized and identified as O-caffeoylserine based on a combination of chromatographic methods. The synthetic compound was determined to be active.

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