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Recent evidence suggests that human gene promoters display gene expression regulatory mechanisms beyond the typical single gene local transcription modulation. In mammalian genomes, genes with an associated bidirectional promoter are abundant; bidirectional promoter architecture serves as a regulatory hub for a gene pair expression. However, it has been suggested that its contribution to transcriptional regulation might exceed local transcription initiation modulation. Despite their abundance, the functional consequences of bidirectional promoter architecture remain largely unexplored. This work studies the long-range gene expression regulatory role of a long non-coding RNA gene promoter using chromosome conformation capture methods. We found that this particular bidirectional promoter contributes to distal gene expression regulation in a target-specific manner by establishing promoter-promoter interactions. In particular, we validated that the promoter-promoter interactions of this regulatory element with the promoter of distal gene BBX contribute to modulating the transcription rate of this gene; removing the bidirectional promoter from its genomic context leads to a rearrangement of BBX promoter-enhancer interactions and to increased gene expression. Moreover, long-range regulatory functionality is not directly dependent on its associated non-coding gene pair expression levels.

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A nivel mundial, la violencia urbana se ha convertido en una preocupación importante para la salud pública. Investigaciones resaltan que la violencia es un factor de riesgo significativo para la salud mental de los individuos. La exposición a eventos traumáticos relacionados con la violencia urbana, como asaltos, robos o violencia interpersonal, puede tener consecuencias graves para la salud mental. En el contexto continental, América Latina se ha visto especialmente afectada por la violencia urbana. Estudios epidemiológicos en países latinoamericanos han demostrado que la violencia urbana está asociada con un mayor riesgo de trastornos de ansiedad, estrés y depresión en la población joven y adulta. A nivel nacional, el Paraguay enfrenta desafíos significativos en términos de violencia urbana. Aunque la situación ha mejorado en los últimos años, persisten altos índices de violencia relacionada con el crimen, pandillas y conflictos socioeconómicos. La población joven se encuentra particularmente expuesta a estos eventos traumáticos, lo que plantea preocupaciones sobre el impacto en su salud mental.

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Tejuino, is a Mexican fermented beverage prepared by germination-fermentation or nixtamalization-fermentation (artisanal and commercial mode respectively) of maize. The aim of this study was to evaluate the gut metabolites, volatile, and phenolic compounds (PC) produced by the indigestible fraction (IF) of Tejuino during an in vitro colonic fermentation. Twenty-six PC in the IF were identified; the hydroxycinnamic acids (30-40 %) were the most abundant. In the IF of Tejuino pyrogallol, and urolithins were identified. Some of the representative PC of maize as maysin derivatives (apimaysin and 3-methoxymaysin) (flavonoids). The quantification of acetic and butyric acid become notable after 6 h of the colonic fermentation of IF of Tejuino. Ninety-seven volatile compounds were found, and the PCA shows the predominant compounds as short chain fatty acids, esters of organic acids and indole derivatives. These results suggest that Tejuino could be an important source of metabolites with high biological value.

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DNA methylation is a key epigenetic modification to regulate gene expression in mammalian cells. Abnormal DNA methylation in gene promoters is common across human cancer types. DNMT3B is the main de novo methyltransferase enhanced in several primary tumors. How de novo methylation is established in genes related to cancer is poorly understood. CpG islands (CGIs), common sequences, and transcription factors (TFs) that interact with DNMT3B have been associated with abnormal de novo methylation. We initially identified cis elements associated with DNA methylation to investigate the contribution of DNMT3B overexpression to the deregulation of its possible target genes in an epithelial cell model. In a set of downregulated genes (n = 146) from HaCaT cells with DNMT3B overexpression, we found CGI, common sequences, and TFs Binding Sites that interact with DNMT3B (we called them P-down-3B). PPL1, VAV3, IRF1, and BRAF are P-down-3B genes that are downregulated and increased their methylation in DNMT3B presence. Together these findings suggest that methylated promoters aberrantly have some cis elements that could conduce de novo methylation by DNMT3B.

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Ungurahui, or Patawa, fruits are a popular fruit and medicinal food used in the Amazon. Here, we have studied nine natural populations of ungurahui from the Peruvian Amazon regarding their nutritional and biological activities, including metal composition, proximal analyses, cytotoxic, antioxidant and cholinesterase inhibition activities. Twenty-four compounds have been detected in these Peruvian natural populations by UHPLC-MS, including nine phenolic acids (peaks 1-6, 8, 9 and 11), four C-glycosyl flavonoids (peaks 12, 16, 17 and 18), two flavonols (peaks 7 and 10), one flavanol (peak 15), three anthocyanins (peaks 13, 14 and 22) and five resveratrol derivatives (peaks 19-21, 23 and 24). Sample 9, Tunaants, showed the highest DPPH clearing capacity regarding the content of Trolox equivalents (2208.79 µmol Trolox/g), but an ORAC test of the sample collected in San Lorenzo showed the highest clearing activity (1222.28 µmol Trolox/g) and the sample collected in Allpahuayo Mishana showed the most powerful ABTS (1803.72 µmol Trolox/g). The sample from Jenaro Herrera was the most powerful in AChe inhibition (IC50 2.05 ± 0.03 µg/mL), followed by the sample from Contamana (IC50 2.43 ± 0.12 µg/mL). In BChE inhibition, the sample from Palestina was the most active (4.42 ± 0.06 µg/mL), followed by samples from Tunaants and San Lorenzo. The differences among bioactivities can be related to the different growing conditions of the populations of ungurahui. The palm tree fruit proved to be a good source of natural antioxidants and dietary fatty acids, and their consumption represents an alternative for the prevention of neurodegenerative or related non-chronic transmittable diseases.

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Objetivo Desarrollar un modelo dinámico para simular la oferta de médicos especialistas y estimar la brecha especto a la demanda/necesidad en anestesiología en el sistema de salud del Uruguay. Métodos Se desarrolló un modelo de simulación dinámico determinístico implementado en el programa libre R. Se analizaron las proyecciones en el período 2011-2050 y se estimó la brecha a partir de la situación de equilibrio o desequilibrio entre oferta y demanda/necesidad. Se evaluó la calidad del modelo comparando los valores simulados con los datos históricos, con indicadores de bondad de ajuste, como la raíz del error cuadrático medio relativo (rRMSE). Se realizó un análisis de sensibilidad con respecto a los cupos de ingreso a la especialidady la tasa de crecimiento de la necesidad de especialistas. Resultados Se proyectó la oferta y demanda de anestesistas para el período considerado. Se obtuvo un rRMSE menor a 0,1, lo que sugiere que el modelo propuesto reproduce adecuadamente la dinámica de la oferta real. Para el período proyectado la situación a mediano y largo plazo es de equilibrio. Conclusión El modelo simulado presenta buen ajuste, por lo que la proyección de la oferta de Recursos Humanos (RR. HH.) representa de forma precisa la disponibilidad futura de la fuerza de trabajo. Además, el modelo representa un insumo de interés para la gestión informada sobre la necesidad de recursos humanos y las políticas de salud, dado que permite evaluar las proyecciones bajo diferentes escenarios.

Objectives The aim of this study is to develop a dynamic model to simulate the supply of specialized physicians in Anesthesiology and estimate the gap with its demand, within Uruguay healthcare system. Methods A deterministic dynamic simulation model was developed and implemented using R software. Projections for the 2011-2050 period were analyzed, and the gap was estimated based on the equilibrium state of supply and demand. The quality of the model was evaluated comparing the simulated data with historical empirical data using goodness of fit indicators, such as the relative root mean square error (rRMSE). Results The demand and supply of anesthesiologists was projected for the period under analysis. A rRMSE<0,1 was obtained, which suggests the proposed model adequately reproduces the real offer dynamics. Based on the defined gap criteria, in the medium and long-term the situation is in equilibrium state. Conclusions The simulated model presents a good fit so that the human resources (HR) supply projection represents in a precise way the future availability of the work-force. Given that the model allows to evaluate the projection dynamics under different management scenarios, the model also represents an input of the utmost interest for management knowledgeable about human resource demands and healthcare policy.

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This study aims to analyze the chemical and microbial composition and characterize volatile compounds from the artisanal and commercial Tejuino beverage. For this, eight samples are analyzed (four artisanal and four commercial). The chemical and microbiological quality is determined by standard methods, and volatile compounds are determined by solid-phase microextraction. Overall, the physicochemical composition and microbiological quality are higher for artisanal Tejuino (p < 0.05). The pH values were 3.20 and 3.62, and 0.76 and 0.46 meq of lactic acid for artisanal and commercial Tejuino, respectively. With volatile compounds analyzed, esters, benzenes, and aldehydes were predominant; meanwhile, ethanol was a volatile compound with the highest concentration for all samples. Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Limosilactobacillus fermentum were identified in artisanal Tejuino; yeasts of the Pichia genera and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, for commercial Tejuino, and Enterococcus genus were identified in both samples. The characterization of both types of Tejuino allows us to update the information available on this important Mexican beverage. In addition, the isolation of lactic acid bacteria, as representative bacteria of both drinks, offers an area of opportunity to know the potential functionality of these bacteria in traditional fermented products.

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This paper revises the use of polymer nanocomposites to attenuate high-energy electromagnetic radiation (HE-EMR), such as gamma radiation. As known, high-energy radiation produces drastic damage not only in facilities or electronic devices but also to life and the environment. Among the different approaches to attenuate the HE-EMR, we consider the use of compounds with a high atomic number (Z), such as lead, but as known, lead is toxic. Therefore, different works have considered low-toxicity post-transitional metal-based compounds, such as bismuth. Additionally, nanosized particles have shown higher performance to attenuate HE-EMR than those that are micro-sized. On the other hand, materials with π-conjugated systems can also play a role in spreading the energy of electrons ejected as a consequence of the interaction of HE-EMR with matter, preventing the ionization and bond scission of polymers. The different effects produced by the interactions of the matter with HE-EMR are revised. The increase of the shielding properties of lightweight, flexible, and versatile materials such as polymer-based materials can be a contribution for developing technologies to obtain more efficient materials for preventing the damage produced for the HE-EMR in different industries where it is found.

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Introducción: Las cesáreas conllevan riesgos maternos y perinatales. Objetivo: Determinar los factores asociados al parto por cesárea en pacientes atendidas en el servicio de ginecoobstetricia del hospital Militar Central, en el periodo 2014-2018. Métodos: Estudio analítico, retrospectivo, de casos y controles; la población fueron los partos vaginales o cesáreas atendidos durante los años 2014 al2018. El muestreo fue sistemático, y el tamaño de muestra fue de 988 partos de los cuales 329 fueron cesáreas. Se aplicó las pruebas de Chi-cuadrado y regresión logística para el cálculo de los odds ratio; el análisis se realizó con el programa estadístico SPSS 23. Resultados: En gestantes, la cesárea previa resultó un factor asociado a cesárea (OR=1,55 IC95%=1,12-2,15); ni la edad, edad gestacional, ni los controles prenatales resultaron un factor asociado a cesárea (p>0,05). El nivel educativo tampoco fue un factor asociado a cesárea, pero sí el número de hijos (OR=0,83, IC95%=0,72-0,95). Conclusión: Tener cesáreas previas y pocos hijos fueron factores asociados significativos a parto por cesárea.

Introduction: Caesarean sections carry maternal and perinatal risks. Objective: To determine thefactors associated with cesarean delivery in patients treated in the gynecology obstetrics service atthe Hospital Militar Central, in the 2014-2018 period. Methods: Analytical, retrospective, case-controlstudy; the population was vaginal or caesarean deliveries attended during the years 2014 to 2018. Thesampling was systematic, and the sample size was 988 deliveries of which 329 were caesarean sections.Chi-square and logistic regression tests were applied to calculate the odds ratio; The analysis was carriedout with the statistical program SPSS 23. Results: In pregnant women, previous caesarean section wasa factor associated with caesarean section (OR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.12-2.15); neither age, gestational age,nor prenatal controls were a factor associated with caesarean section (p>0.05). Educational level wasalso not a factor associated with caesarean section, but the number of children was (OR = 0.83, 95% CI =0.72-0.95). Conclusion: Having previous caesarean sections, few children, an older age, were significantrisk factors for cesarean delivery.

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The original version of this article, unfortunately, contained an error. The first and family name of Loreto Massardo was interchanged and is now presented correctly in this article.