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Background: As the COVID-19 pandemic persists, infections continue to surge globally. Presently, the most effective strategies to curb the disease and prevent outbreaks involve fostering immunity, promptly identifying positive cases, and ensuring their timely isolation. Notably, there are instances where the SARS-CoV-2 virus remains infectious even after patients have completed their quarantine. Objective: Understanding viral persistence post-quarantine is crucial as it could account for localized infection outbreaks. Therefore, studying and documenting such instances is vital for shaping future public health policies. Design: This study delves into a unique case of SARS-CoV-2 persistence in a 60-year-old female healthcare worker with a medical history of hypertension and hypothyroidism. The research spans 55 days, marking the duration between her initial and subsequent diagnosis during Chile's first COVID-19 wave, with the analysis conducted using RT-qPCR. Results: Genomic sequencing-based phylogenetic analysis revealed that the SARS-CoV-2 detected in both Nasopharyngeal swab samples (NPSs) was consistent with the 20B clade of the Nextstrain classification, even after a 55-day interval. Conclusion: This research underscores the need for heightened vigilance concerning cases of viral persistence. Such instances, albeit rare, might be pivotal in understanding sporadic infection outbreaks that occur post-quarantine.

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Introducción: Las luxofracturas vertebrales toracolumbares se producen por traumatismos de alta energía, representan el 10% de las lesiones traumáticas de la columna vertebral y se asocian frecuentemente con otras lesiones. El objetivo de este estudio fue comparar las complicaciones tempranas en pacientes con una luxofractura toracolumbar según la oportunidad quirúrgica, antes o después de las 24 h del trauma. Materiales y métodos: Estudio multicéntrico, analítico, observacional y retrospectivo de una cohorte de pacientes operados por una luxofractura toracolumbar, desde el 1 de enero de 2014 hasta el 1 de enero de 2023. Se inclu-yó a pacientes de ambos sexos, >18 años, operados por una luxofractura vertebral de alta energía. Se los agrupó según si habían sido operados de columna antes o después de las 24 h del trauma. Se registraron las complicaciones totales y agrupadas. Resultados: Se evaluó a 72 pacientes, 64 hombres (88,9%) y 8 mujeres (11,1%), con una edad promedio de 35.94 años. Predominaron las instituciones laborales (n = 60; 83,3%). El mecanismo de lesión más frecuente fueron los accidentes de tránsito (n = 42; 58,3%), seguidos de las caídas de altura (n = 26; 36,1%). El 86% sufrió una o más lesiones asociadas. Se registraron 283 complicaciones en 67 (93,1%) pacientes y 45 complicaciones quirúrgicas en 26 pacientes (36,1%). La mediana de complicaciones fue mayor en pacientes operados tardíamente (p = 0,004). Conclusiones:Los pacientes con luxofractura toracolumbar operados después de las primeras 24 h presentaron una mediana de complicaciones totales significativamente mayor que los operados precozmente. Nnivel de Evidencia: IV

Introduction: Thoracolumbar fracture-dislocations account for 10% of traumatic spinal injuries and typically occur in the context of high-energy trauma. Our objective is to compare early complications in patients with thoracolumbar fracture-dislocation based on surgical timing, either before or after 24 hours from the trauma.materials and methods: This is a multicenter, retrospective cohort study of patients surgically treated for thoracolumbar dislocations, from January 1, 2014 to January 1, 2023. We included adult patients (>18 years old) of any gender, surgically treated for high-energy thoracolumbar fracture-dislocations. Patients were grouped based on when they underwent spinal surgery: before or after 24 hours following trauma. Total and grouped complications were recorded. Results: Our sample comprised 72 patients, with 64 men (88.9%) and 8 women (11.1%) at an average age of 35.94 years. Occupational health care centers were predominant (n=60; 83.3%). Road traffic accidents (n=42; 58.3%) were the most frequent cause of injury, followed by falls from height (n=26; 36.1%). Furthermore, 86% of patients had one or more associated injuries. In total, 283 complications were recorded, with 67 patients (93.1%) suffering at least one complication, and 26 patients (36.1%) experiencing surgical complications. The median number of complications was significantly higher in late-operated patients (p=0.004). Conclusions: Patients with thoracolumbar dislocations who underwent surgery after the first 24 hours following trauma had a significantly higher median rate of complications than those who underwent early surgery. Level of Evidence: IV

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La neurorretinopatía macular aguda es una condición rara con patogenia microvascular. Se presenta con un inicio agudo con escotomas paracentrales correspondientes a lesiones paramaculares evidentes. Los avances en las imágenes multimodales permitieron caracterizar este trastorno de retina y crear nuevos conceptos. Serraf, en el 2013, identificó dos formas por medio de la tomografía de coherencia óptica dominio espectral: el tipo 1 conocido como maculopatía paracentral aguda media en la cual se observa una banda hiperreflectiva en la capa nuclear interna, y el tipo 2 en el cual la banda hiperreflectiva se ubica en la capa nuclear externa, que involucra la zona elipsoide y la zona de interdigitación con el epitelio pigmentario de la retina. Hasta el momento no existe cura; pero se puede actuar sobre los factores de riesgo. Por ser una condición rara y por no existir reportes hasta el momento en Cuba es que se presentan a continuación dos pacientes con cuadros clínicos similares de estas dos variantes; concluyendo la importancia que presentan las imágenes multimodales como medio auxiliar diagnóstico(AU)

Acute macular neuroretinopathy is a rare condition with complex pathogenesis and microvascular cause. It appears with acute onset, with paracentral scotomas corresponding to obvious paramacular lesions. Advances in multimodal imaging made it possible to characterize this retinal disorder and to create new concepts. Serraf, in 2013, identified two forms by spectral domain optical coherence tomography: type 1, known as paracentral acute middle maculopathy, in which a hyperreflective band is observed in the inner nuclear layer; and type 2, in which the hyperreflective band is located in the outer nuclear layer, involving the ellipsoid zone and the zone of interdigitation with the retinal pigment epithelium. Up to this moment, there is no cure; but it is possible to act on the risk factors. Because it is a rare condition and because there are no reports so far in Cuba, two patients with similar clinical pictures of these two variants are presented; concluding the importance of multimodal images as an auxiliary diagnostic tool(AU)

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The conversion factor of nitrogen to proteins and isoflavones present in Glycine max was determined. For the determination of the conversion factor, we worked with solubilizing the proteins at alkaline pH and then extracting them with acidic pH. The proteins were identified by the Kjeldahl method. The antioxidant capacity was determined after extracting the isoflavones and their glycosides through the Soxhlet method, and then using the Brand Williams method (DPPH). The results indicate that the protein conversion factor was 5.85, the maximum concentration of total isoflavones was 33.33%, the antiradical efficiency of total isoflavones was 0.004 mL/ug min, the antiradical efficiency of gallic acid was 0.005 mL/ug min. and the antiradical efficiency of tannic acid was 0.0004 mL/ugmin. These results justify the consumption of Glycine max (Soya) as a food that has a high nutritional quality and provides an excellent source of antioxidants, which will prevent hormonal and carcinogenic diseases.

Se determinó el factor de conversión de nitrógeno a proteínas e isoflavonas presentes en Glycine max. Para la determinación del factor de conversión se trabajó con solubilizando las proteínas a pH alcalinos y luego extrayéndolas con pH ácidos. Las proteínas fueron identificadas por el método Kjeldahl. La capacidad antioxidante se determinó previa extracción de las isoflavonas y sus glicósidos a través del método de Soxhlet, y luego empleando el método de Brand Williams (DPPH).Los resultados indican que el factor de conversión proteica fue 5,85, la concentración máxima de isoflavonas totales fue 33,33 %, la eficiencia antirradicalaria de las isoflavonas totales fue 0,004 mL/ug min, la eficiencia antirradicalaria de ácido gálico fue 0,005 mL/ug min y la eficiencia antirradicalaria de ácido tánico fue 0,0004 mL/ug min. Estos resultados justifican el consumo de Glycine max (Soya) como un alimento que posee una alta calidad nutricional y proporciona una óptima fuente de antioxidantes, que permitirá prevenir enfermedades hormonales y cancerígenas.

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Introduction: As the SARS-CoV-2 continues to evolve, new variants pose a significant threat by potentially overriding the immunity conferred by vaccination and natural infection. This scenario can lead to an upswing in reinfections, amplified baseline epidemic activity, and localized outbreaks. In various global regions, estimates of breakthrough cases associated with the currently circulating viral variants, such as Omicron, have been reported. Nonetheless, specific data on the reinfection rate in Chile still needs to be included. Methods: Our study has focused on estimating COVID-19 reinfections per wave based on a sample of 578,670 RT-qPCR tests conducted at the University of Santiago of Chile (USACH) from April 2020 to July 2022, encompassing 345,997 individuals. Results: The analysis reveals that the highest rate of reinfections transpired during the fourth and fifth COVID-19 waves, primarily driven by the Omicron variant. These findings hold despite 80% of the Chilean population receiving complete vaccination under the primary scheme and 60% receiving at least one booster dose. On average, the interval between initial infection and reinfection was found to be 372 days. Interestingly, reinfection incidence was higher in women aged between 30 and 55. Additionally, the viral load during the second infection episode was lower, likely attributed to Chile's high vaccination rate. Discussion: This study demonstrates that the Omicron variant is behind Chile's highest number of reinfection cases, underscoring its potential for immune evasion. This vital epidemiological information contributes to developing and implementing effective public health policies.

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Propolis collected by stingless bees is a valuable biocultural resource and a source of bioactive compounds. Methodologies to establish both the geographic origin and the potential pharmacological activity of propolis of stingless bees are required to regulate their sustainable use. The aim of this study was to classify Melipona beecheii propolis according to its phenolic compound content and potential pharmacological activity, using in vitro assays and statistical methodologies of multivariate analysis, hierarchical cluster analysis, and principal component analysis. Propolis samples were collected from seven states in southeastern Mexico. Total phenolic content and flavonoids were determined spectrophotometrically, and antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities were evaluated. Both total phenolic content and flavonoids, and in vitro bioactivity potential of propolis extracts showed significant variations. Multivariate analysis, hierarchical cluster analysis, and principal component analysis enabled us to distinguish and classify propolis produced by M. beecheii according to similarity in terms of total phenolic content, in vitro bioactivity potential, and geographical origin. This strategy could be used to establish regulations for sustainable use, marketing, and industrial applications.

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Giardia is a protozoan that affects humans as well as a wide range of domestic species. It is distributed worldwide, and the highest frequency is seen in developing countries. Due to the potential for domestic cats to be carriers of this parasite and subsequently transmit the infection to humans, it is important to know the risk of transmission. For this reason, the objective of this study was to determine the frequency of this parasite in the cat population of the city of Santiago de Queretaro, Mexico, and identify the assemblages present to determine the role this host plays in public health, this being the first study of its type to be performed in the country. This was a cross-sectional study during which 200 fecal samples were collected from cats of both sexes and varying ages and strata of origin. The samples were analyzed by microscopy following the flotation technique, having obtained a general frequency of 25%. Giardia cysts were found at higher frequency in pasty stools. The assemblages found were zoonotic, specifically assemblage A, which suggests that the cat poses an important risk for the dissemination of the parasite to humans, making it an important public health problem.

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At least half the population in industrialized countries suffers from obesity due to excessive accumulation of adipose tissue. Recently, rice (Oryza sativa) proteins have been considered valuable sources of bioactive peptides with antiadipogenic potential. In this study, the digestibility and bioaccessibility in vitro of a novel protein concentrate (NPC) from rice were determined through INFOGEST protocols. Furthermore, the presence of prolamin and glutelin was evaluated via SDS-PAGE, and their potential digestibility and the bioactivity of ligands against peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) were explored by BIOPEP UWM and HPEPDOCK. For the top candidates, molecular simulations were conducted using Autodock Vina to evaluate their binding affinity against the antiadipogenic region of PPARγ and their pharmacokinetics and drug-likeness using SwissADME. Simulating gastrointestinal digestion showed a recovery of 43.07% and 35.92% bioaccessibility. The protein banding patterns showed the presence of prolamin (57 kDa) and glutelin (12 kDa) as the predominant proteins in the NPC. The in silico hydrolysis predicts the presence of three and two peptide ligands in glutelin and prolamin fraction, respectively, with high affinity for PPARγ (≤160). Finally, the docking studies suggest that the prolamin-derived peptides QSPVF and QPY (-6.38 & -5.61 kcal/mol, respectively) have expected affinity and pharmacokinetic properties to act as potential PPARγ antagonists. Hence, according to our results, bioactive peptides resulting from NPC rice consumption might have an antiadipogenic effect via PPARγ interactions, but further experimentation and validation in suitable biological model systems are necessary to gain more insight and to provide evidence to support our in silico findings.

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Even though the ethnic groups Mochó and Kakchikel of the Sierra Mariscal, Chiapas, Mexico, have formal medical services, they still preserve and use medicinal plants. This research had the aim to identify their conservation practices, by using ethnographic and ethnobotanical methods with direct interviews, participatory observation and a questionnaire; furthermore, a Jaccard ́s similarity index for plant species was estimated. Both groups (97% each) use medicinal plants for various reasons and obtain them mainly from their agroecosystems. Within the Kakchikel territory, 53% are native plants, 43% introduced, while 4% does not have a report; within the Mochó territory 56% are native plants and 44% introduced ones. The similarity index showed 0.33 of shared taxonomic species within both territories (33 out of 131 of total). The Kakchikel use more conservation practices than the Mochó ethnic group, to have their medicinal plants ready available, mainly from their agroecosystems.

Aun teniendo servicios médicos oficiales, integrantes de las etnias Mochó y Kakchikel de la Sierra Mariscal, Chiapas, México, usan y conservan plantas por sus propiedades medicinales. Para identificar esas actividades se utilizó la metodología etnográfica y etnobotánica, aplicando entrevistas dirigidas, observación participante, un cuestionario y se determinó la similitud taxonómica de Jaccard. En ambos grupos étnicos el 97% recurren a las plantas medicinales y las obtienen mayormente de sus agroecosistemas. Existen en el territorio Kakchikel un 53% de plantas nativas, 43% introducidas y el 4% no tiene reporte; mientras que en el territorio Mochó, se encontró un 56% de plantas nativas y 44% introducidas. Se encontró una similitud de especies taxonómicas del 0.33 entre ambos territorios, 33 de un total de 131. La etnia Kakchikel prioriza más que los Mochó la atención a las plantas medicinales para conservarlas y tenerlas a la mano principalmente de sus agroecosistemas.

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Piscirickettsia salmonis is the most important health problem facing Chilean Aquaculture. Previous reports suggest that P. salmonis can survive in salmonid macrophages by interfering with the host immune response. However, the relevant aspects of the molecular pathogenesis of P. salmonis have been poorly characterized. In this work, we evaluated the transcriptomic changes in macrophage-like cell line SHK-1 infected with P. salmonis at 24- and 48-hours post-infection (hpi) and generated network models of the macrophage response to the infection using co-expression analysis and regulatory transcription factor-target gene information. Transcriptomic analysis showed that 635 genes were differentially expressed after 24- and/or 48-hpi. The pattern of expression of these genes was analyzed by weighted co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), which classified genes into 4 modules of expression, comprising early responses to the bacterium. Induced genes included genes involved in metabolism and cell differentiation, intracellular transportation, and cytoskeleton reorganization, while repressed genes included genes involved in extracellular matrix organization and RNA metabolism. To understand how these expression changes are orchestrated and to pinpoint relevant transcription factors (TFs) controlling the response, we established a curated database of TF-target gene regulatory interactions in Salmo salar, SalSaDB. Using this resource, together with co-expression module data, we generated infection context-specific networks that were analyzed to determine highly connected TF nodes. We found that the most connected TF of the 24- and 48-hpi response networks is KLF17, an ortholog of the KLF4 TF involved in the polarization of macrophages to an M2-phenotype in mammals. Interestingly, while KLF17 is induced by P. salmonis infection, other TFs, such as NOTCH3 and NFATC1, whose orthologs in mammals are related to M1-like macrophages, are repressed. In sum, our results suggest the induction of early regulatory events associated with an M2-like phenotype of macrophages that drives effectors related to the lysosome, RNA metabolism, cytoskeleton organization, and extracellular matrix remodeling. Moreover, the M1-like response seems delayed in generating an effective response, suggesting a polarization towards M2-like macrophages that allows the survival of P. salmonis. This work also contributes to SalSaDB, a curated database of TF-target gene interactions that is freely available for the Atlantic salmon community.

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Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic is still in force, causing global public health challenges and threats. Although vaccination and herd immunity have proven to be the most efficient way to control the pandemic, massive and early testing of patients using the RT-qPCR technique is crucial for constant genomic surveillance. The appearance of variants of SARS-CoV-2 with new mutations can reduce the efficiency of diagnostic detection. In this sense, several commercial RT-qPCR kits have been the target of extensive analysis because low assay performance could lead to false-negative diagnoses. Methods: In this study, we evaluated the performance of three commercial RT-qPCR kits; Thermo Fisher (TaqMan 2019-nCoV Assay Kit v1), BGI and Roche (LightCycler® Multiplex RNA Virus Master) used for the diagnosis of COVID-19 throughout the pandemic in Santiago de Chile. Results: Under our best assay conditions, we found significant differences in Cq amplification values for control and viral probes, against the same nasopharyngeal swab samples (NPSs). In addition, in some cases, the sensitivity of the RT-qPCR kits decreased against viral variants. Conclusion: Our study suggests evaluating the RT-qPCR kits used to detect SARS-CoV-2 because variants such as Omicron, which has several mutations, can compromise their detection and underestimate viral circulation.

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The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect several countries. One of the best ways to control its spread is the timely identification of infected patients for isolation and quarantine. While an episode of infection lasts an average of 8-10 days from the onset of symptoms, there is literature describing long-lasting viral persistence events. Here, we report a case of persistence of SARS-CoV-2 for 386 days in a health worker from Santiago de Chile. Our study could be one of the longest reported viral persistence events. RNA sequencing analyses indicated that the first positive diagnosis (8 June 2020) corresponded to a SARS-CoV-2 variant belonging to Clade Nextstrain 20A. Three hundred eighty-six days later (23 September 2021), the second positive result reached the same viral variant (Clade 20A) but without presence or circulation in Chile since May 2021. Both sequencing coverages showed an identity of 99.21%, with some mutations related to the severity of the disease (ORF1b:P314L) and more infectivity (S:D614G). This work reinforces the idea of implementing an RT-qPCR or rapid antigen test once the quarantine is fulfilled to ensure viral absence, identify potential persistence, and, consequently, minimize the risk of local outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

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The coordinated migration of immune cells from lymphoid organs to in or out of the bloodstream, and towards the site of infection or tissue damage is fundamental for an efficient innate and adaptive immune response. Interestingly, an essential part of this movement is mediated by chemoattractant cytokines called chemokines. Although the nature and function of chemokines and their receptors are well documented in mammals, much research is needed to accomplish a similar level of understanding of the role of chemokines in fish immunity. The first chemokine gene identified in teleosts (rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss) was CK1 in 1998. Since then, the identification of fish chemokine orthologue genes and characterization of their role has been more complex than expected, primarily because of the whole genome duplication processes occurring in fish, and because chemokines evolve faster than other immune genes. Some of the most studied chemokines are CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL11, and the CXCR3 receptor, all involved in T cell migration and in the induction of the T helper 1 (Th1) immune response. Data from the zebrafish and rainbow trout CXCL9-11/CXCR3 axis suggest that these chemokines and the receptor arose early in evolution and must be present in most teleost fish. However, the pieces of knowledge also indicate that different numbers of gene copies can be present in different species, with distinct regulatory expression mechanisms and probably, also with different roles, as the differential expression in fish tissues suggest. Here, we revised the current knowledge of the CXCL9-11/CXCR3 axis in teleost fishes, identifying the gaps in knowledge, and raising some hypotheses for the role of CXCL9, CXCL10 CXCL11, and CXCR3 receptor axis in fish, which can encourage further studies in the field.

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The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a concern and keeps global health authorities on alert. The RT-PCR technique has been the gold-standard assay for detecting the SARS-CoV-2 virus. However, rapid antigen tests (RATs) have been widely used to increase the number of tests faster and more efficiently in the population. Nevertheless, the appearance of new viral variants, with genomic mutations associated with greater contagiousness and immune evasion, highlights the need to evaluate the sensitivity of these RATs. This report evaluates the sensitivity of SD Biosensor-Roche, Panbio™, and Clinitest® RATs widely used in Santiago de Chile in the detection of the Omicron variant from Nasopharyngeal samples (NPSs), the most predominant SARS-CoV-2 variant in Chile and the world. SD Biosensor-Roche shows a detection sensitivity of 95.7% in the viral amplification range of 20 ≤ Cq < 25, while Panbio™ and Clinitest® show 100% and 91.3%, respectively. In the viral amplification ranges of 25 ≤ Cq < 30, the detection sensitivity decreased to 28% for SD Biosensor-Roche, 32% for Panbio™, and 72% for Clinitest®. This study indicates that the tested RATs have high sensitivity in detecting the Omicron variant of concern (VOC) at high viral loads. By contrast, its sensitivity decreases at low viral loads. Therefore, it is suggested to limit the use of RATs as an active search method, considering that infections in patients are increasingly associated with lower viral loads of SARS-CoV-2. These antecedents could prevent contagion outbreaks and reduce the underestimation of the current Omicron variant circulation at the local level.

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The variant of concern (VOC) SARS-CoV-2 Omicron (B.1.1529) has been described as a highly contagious variant but less virulent than the current variant being monitored (VBM) Delta (B.1.617.2), causing fewer cases of hospitalizations, symptomatology, and deaths associated with COVID-19 disease. Although the epidemiological comparison of both variants has been previously reported in other countries, no report indicates their behavior and severity of infection in Chile. In this work, we report for the first time the effect of the Omicron and Delta variants in a cohort of 588 patients from the Hospital de Urgencia Asistencia pública (HUAP), a high-complexity health center in Santiago, Chile. This report is framed at the beginning of Chile's third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a marked increase in the Omicron variant and a decrease in the circulating Delta variant. Our results indicated a similar proportion of patients with a complete vaccination schedule for both variants. However, the Delta variant was associated with a higher prevalence of hospitalization and more significant symptomatology associated with respiratory distress. On the other hand, our data suggest that vaccination is less effective in preventing infection by the Omicron variant. This antecedent, with a low severity but high contagiousness, suggests that the Omicron variant could even collapse the primary health care service due to the high demand for health care.

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CD8+ and CD4+ T-cells play a key role in cellular immune responses against cancer by cytotoxic responses and effector lineages differentiation, respectively. These subsets have been found in different types of cancer; however, it is unclear whether tumor-infiltrating T-cell subsets exhibit similar transcriptome profiling across different types of cancer in comparison with healthy tissue-resident T-cells. Thus, we analyzed the single cell transcriptome of five tumor-infiltrating CD4-T, CD8-T and Treg cells obtained from different types of cancer to identify specific pathways for each subset in malignant environments. An in silico analysis was performed from single-cell RNA-sequencing data available in public repositories (Gene Expression Omnibus) including breast cancer, melanoma, colorectal cancer, lung cancer and head and neck cancer. After dimensionality reduction, clustering and selection of the different subpopulations from malignant and nonmalignant datasets, common genes across different types of cancer were identified and compared to nonmalignant genes for each T-cell subset to identify specific pathways. Exclusive pathways in CD4+ cells, CD8+ cells and Tregs, and common pathways for the tumor-infiltrating T-cell subsets were identified. Finally, the identified pathways were compared with RNAseq and proteomic data obtained from T-cell subsets cultured under malignant environments and we observed that cytokine signaling, especially Th2-type cytokine, was the top overrepresented pathway in Tregs from malignant samples.

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The objective of this study was to describe the runs of homozygosity (ROH) detected in the Mexican Holstein population and to associate them with milk, fat and protein yields, and conformation final score. After imputation and genomic quality control, 4,227 genotyped animals with 100,806 SNPs markers each were used. ROH with a minimum length of 1 Mb and a minimum of 10 SNPs were included in the analysis. One heterozygous SNP marker and five missing genotypes per ROH were allowed. A total of 425,098 ROH were found in the studied population (71.83 ± 10.73 ROH per animal), with an average length and coverage of 4.80 ± 0.77 Mb, and 276.89 Mb, respectively. The average chromosome length covered by ROH was 10.40 ± 3.70 Mb. ROH between 1 and 2 Mb were the most frequent in the population (51.33%) while those between 14 and 16 Mb were the least frequent (1.20%). Long chromosomes showed a larger number of ROH. Chromosomes 10 and 20, had a greater percentage of their length covered by ROH because they presented a largest number of long ROH (>8 Mb). From the total ROH, 17 were detected in 1,847 animals and distributed among different chromosomes, and were associated with milk, fat and protein yield and percentage, and conformation final score. Of the ROH with effects on production traits, the majority were found with a length between 1 and 4 Mb. These results show evidence of genomic regions preserved by genetic selection and associated with the improvement of the productivity and functionality of dairy cattle.

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Caloric restriction (CR) possesses different cellular mechanisms. Though there are still gaps in the literature regarding its plausible beneficial effects, the suggestion that this alternative therapy can improve the inflammatory and antioxidant response to control epileptic seizures is explored throughout this study. Epilepsy is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disease in the world. However, the appropriate mechanisms for it to be fully controlled are still unknown. Neuroinflammation and oxidative stress promote epileptic seizures' appearance and might even aggravate them. There is growing evidence that caloric restriction has extensive anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. For instance, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) have been proposed to induce antioxidant processes and ulteriorly improve the disease progression. Caloric restriction can be an option for those patients with refractory epilepsy since it allows for anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties to evolve within the brain areas involved.

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The current COVID-19 pandemic is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Many countries have reported the experience of at least two contagion waves, describing associated mortality rates and population behavior. The analysis of the effect of this pandemic in different localities can provide valuable information on the key factors to consider in the face of future massive infectious diseases. This work describes the first retrospective and comparative study about behavior during the first and second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in Chile from a primary Healthcare Center. From 19,313 real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) tests assessed, the selected 1,694 positive diagnostics showed a decrease in mortality rate in the second wave (0.6%) compared with the first (4.6%). In addition, we observed that infections in the second wave were mainly in young patients with reduced comorbidities. The population with a complete vaccination schedule shows a decrease in the duration of symptoms related to the disease, and patients with more comorbidities tend to develop severe illness. This report provides evidence to partially understand the behavior and critical factors in the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic in the population of Santiago of Chile.

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The early detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) using the real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) as a gold-standard molecular tool has allowed to test and trace the viral spread and the isolation of COVID-19-infected patients. The detection capacity of viral and internal genes is an essential parameter to consider and analyze during the assay. In this study, we analyze the performance of the two commercial RT-qPCR kits used in Chile, TaqMan™ 2019-nCoV Control Kit v1 (Thermo Fisher) and MaxCov19 (TAAG Genetics), for the COVID-19 diagnosis from nasopharyngeal swab samples (NPSs). Our results show a lower sensitivity of the TAAG kit compared to the Thermo Fisher kit, even in the detection of SARS-CoV-2 mutations associated with its variants. This study reinforces the relevance of evaluating the performance of RT-qPCR kits before being used massively since those with lower sensitivity can generate false negatives and produce outbreaks of local infections.