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Streptococcus pneumoniae is a bacterium of great global importance, responsible for more than one million deaths per year. This bacterium is commonly acquired in the first years of life and colonizes the upper respiratory tract asymptomatically by forming biofilms that persist for extended times in the nasopharynx. However, under conditions that alter the bacterial environment, such as viral infections, pneumococci can escape from the biofilm and invade other niches, causing local and systemic disease of varying severity. The polyamine transporter PotABCD is required for optimal survival of the organism in the host. Immunization of mice with recombinant PotD can reduce subsequent bacterial colonization. PotD has also been suggested to be involved in pneumococcal biofilm development. Therefore, in this study we aimed to elucidate the role of PotABCD and polyamines in pneumococcal biofilm formation. First, the formation of biofilms was evaluated in the presence of exogenous polyamines-the substrate transported by PotABCD-added to culture medium. Next, a potABCD-negative strain was used to determine biofilm formation in different model systems using diverse levels of complexity from abiotic surface to cell substrate to in vivo animal models and was compared with its wild-type strain. The results showed that adding more polyamines to the medium stimulated biofilm formation, suggesting a direct correlation between polyamines and biofilm formation. Also, deletion of potABCD operon impaired biofilm formation in all models tested. Interestingly, more differences between wild-type and mutant strains were observed in the more complex model, which emphasizes the significance of employing more physiological models in studying biofilm formation.

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Although women with schizophrenia face significant lifelong challenges due to their diagnosis and sex-related issues, those challenges are seldom taken into consideration in their medical treatment and general care. In order to report the needs and desires of a group of women with schizophrenia, we conducted a series of semistructured interviews with nine women diagnosed with schizophrenia and attending outpatient clinics at the Hospital Del Salvador in Valparaíso. Our qualitative study followed a phenomenological design. Using ATLAS.ti software, we performed a content analysis of the interview transcripts, developed a coding frame for each major topic addressed in the interviews, and triangulated the results. Despite presenting with psychotic symptoms, some women received different diagnoses. Although acknowledging the benefits of medication, women also reported concerns about weight gain and body image. All women reported experiences with stigma and self-stigma related to the diagnosis of schizophrenia, and most had experienced childhood trauma, including sexual abuse, parental violence, and/or bullying. Young women with schizophrenia also feared that if they become mothers, then their children might also have schizophrenia and/or that they would be unable to adequately care for them. Women with schizophrenia have different experiences and play different roles in society beyond their psychoses, an understanding that should integrated into more personalized treatments for schizophrenia that consider individual characteristics and needs.

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INTRODUCTION: Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common diseases worldwide, with a high morbidity and mortality rate. Its prevalence has been increasing, as well as its acute complications, such as hyperglycemic crises. Hyperglycemic crises can present with combined features of diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar state. However, their implications are not fully understood. OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics, outcomes, and complications of the diabetic population with hyperglycemic crises and to value the combined state in the Latin American population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective observational study of all hyperglycemic crises treated in the intensive care unit of the Fundación Valle del Lili between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2020. Descriptive analysis and prevalence ratio estimation for deaths were performed using the robust Poisson regression method. RESULTS: There were 317 patients with confirmed hyperglycemic crises, 43 (13.56%) with diabetic ketoacidosis, 9 (2.83%) in hyperosmolar state, and 265 (83.59%) with combined diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar state. Infection was the most frequent triggering cause (52.52%). Fatalities due to ketoacidosis occurred in four patients (9.30%) and combined diabetic ketoacidosis/hyperosmolar state in 22 patients (8.30%); no patient had a hyperosmolar state. Mechanical ventilation was associated with death occurrence (adjusted PR = 1.15; 95 % CI 95 = 1.06 - 1.24). CONCLUSIONS: The combined state was the most prevalent presentation of the hyperglycemic crisis, with a mortality rate similar to diabetic ketoacidosis. Invasive mechanical ventilation was associated with a higher occurrence of death.

Introducción. La diabetes mellitus es una de las enfermedades más frecuentes en todo el mundo, con una tasa elevada de morbimortalidad. Su prevalencia ha ido en aumento y, también, sus complicaciones agudas, como las crisis hiperglucémicas. Las crisis hiperglucémicas pueden presentar características combinadas de cetoacidosis diabética y estado hiperosmolar. Aún no se conocen completamente sus implicaciones. Objetivo. Describir las características, los resultados y las complicaciones de la población diabética con crisis hiperglucémicas, y valorar el estado mixto en la población latinoamericana. Materiales y métodos. Se trata de un estudio observacional retrospectivo de pacientes con crisis hiperglucémicas atendidos en la unidad de cuidados intensivos de la Fundación Valle del Lili, entre el 1º de enero de 2015 y el 31 de diciembre de 2020. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo y se estimó la razón de prevalencia para muerte mediante el método de regresión de Poisson. Resultados. Se incluyeron 317 pacientes con crisis hiperglucémica confirmada, 43 (13,56 %) con cetoacidosis diabética, 9 (2,83 %) en estado hiperosmolar y 265 (83,59 %) en estado mixto. La causa desencadenante más frecuente fue la infección (52,52 %). Cuatro pacientes fallecieron por cetoacidosis (9,30 %), 22 (8,30 %), por un estado mixto; ninguno se encontraba en estado hiperosmolar. La asistencia respiratoria mecánica se asoció con la muerte (razón de prevalencia ajustada = 1,15; IC95%: 1,06-1,24). Conclusiones. El estado combinado fue la presentación más prevalente de la crisis hiperglucémica, con una tasa de mortalidad similar a la de la cetoacidosis diabética, y la asistencia respiratoria mecánica invasiva se asoció con una mayor ocurrencia de muerte.

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The alarming increase in antimicrobial resistance in the last decades has prompted the search for alternatives to control infectious diseases. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent a heterogeneous class of molecules with ample antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal effects. They can be found in many organisms, including all classes of vertebrates, providing a valuable source of new antimicrobial agents. The unique properties of AMPs make it harder for microbes develop resistance, while their immunomodulatory properties and target diversity reinforce their translational use in multiple diseases, from autoimmune disorders to different types of cancer. The latest years have witnessed a vast number of studies evaluating the use of AMPs in therapy, with many progressing to clinical trials. The present review explores the recent developments in the medicinal properties of cathelicidins, a vast family of AMPs with potent antimicrobial and immunomodulatory effects. Cathelicidins from several organisms have been tested in disease models of viral and bacterial infections, inflammatory diseases, and tumors, with encouraging results. Combining nanomaterials with active, natural antimicrobial peptides, including LL-37 and synthetic analogs like ceragenins, leads to the creation of innovative nanoagents with significant clinical promise. However, there are still important limitations, such as the toxicity of many cathelicidins to healthy host cells and low stability in vivo. The recent advances in nanomaterials and synthetic biology may help overcome the current limitations, enabling the use of cathelicidins in future therapeutics. Furthermore, a better understanding of the mechanisms of cathelicidin action in vivo and their synergy with other host molecules will contribute to the development of safer, highly effective therapies.

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This study analyzed a total of 260 confirmed scorpion stings reported in the city of Manaus, in the Brazilian Amazon, from 1990 to 2020. Cases were mapped according to the GPS location of their occurrence and plotted on a satellite image of the city. The stings generally occurred close to green areas, and the hotspots of stings moved north as city grew into that direction over time. Spatial analysis shows that scorpion stings mostly occur in poor, recently urbanized areas. The rapid and unplanned urbanization of originally forested areas, without offering adequate infrastructure and services, creates favorable conditions for infestation by scorpions and increases the risk of scorpion stings.

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This study aims to describe the main tools for integrative geriatric assessment and their use in Ecuador. We performed a narrative review with a comprehensive and systematic literature search. 261 original articles were obtained from the primary search, and after the discrimination by the researchers, 76 articles were included in the final analysis. Integrative geriatric assessments cover different areas, including cognitive function, affective function, nutritional status and functionality, and seve-ral tools that are used worldwide for this purpose. In Ecuador, a deeper analysis of their use is required to evaluate their diagnostic efficacy and applicability to impro-ve health outcomes for the elderly population.

Este estudio tiene como objetivo describir las principales herramientas de evalua-ción integral geriátrica y su uso en el Ecuador. Realizamos una revisión narrativa con una búsqueda bibliográfica exhaustiva y sistemática. De la búsqueda primaria se obtuvieron 261 artículos originales, y luego de la discriminación por parte de los investigadores, se incluyeron 76 artículos en el análisis final. La evaluación ge-riátrica cubre diferentes áreas, incluida la función cognitiva, la función afectiva, el estado nutricional y la funcionalidad, y se utilizan varias herramientas en todo el mundo para este propósito. En Ecuador se requiere un análisis más profundo de su uso para evaluar su eficacia diagnóstica y aplicabilidad con el fin de mejorar los resultados de salud de la población adulta mayor.

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Background: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia represents 20% of acute leukemias in adults. Currently, there is limited data in Chile regarding the clinical, cytogenetic, and prognostic characteristics of this condition. Methods: This is a retrospective, observational, and descriptive study of 67 patients treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia at the Arturo Lopez Perez Foundation between 2018 and 2021. The main objective is to evaluate epidemiological and clinical characteristics, as well as identifying factors associated with improved overall survival and/or progression-free survival. Results: 88% of the cases were B-lineage, mainly the common B phenotype. Cytogenetic analysis was performed in less than 50% of the patients, with lower yield than expected according to the literature. Molecular testing was performed in 86.5% of the patients, with the most frequent alteration being BCR-ABL. No study was performed to search for Ph-like abnormalities. The rate of complete response after induction was 83.3%, the majority of patients having negative minimal residual disease. Only 12% of the patients received consolidation with allogenic bone marrow transplant. At 2 years, the overall survival was 69% and the progression-free survival was 59%. Conclusion: The results in terms of overall survival and progression-free survival are similar to those reported in the literature. Important diagnostic gaps prevent adequate prognostic characterization. Allogeneic consolidation transplantation was performed in a lower percentage than expected, highlighting the national deficit in access to this treatment.

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Since bull fertility prediction remains challenging, the identification of potential fertility markers is important considering the economic benefits to the livestock industry. The main goal of this study was to determine the Na/K-ATPase activity and expression in thawed sperm of high (HF)- and low-fertility (LF) Angus bulls. Samples from three different batches/bulls with HF (n = 4) and LF (n = 4) were used. The Na/K-ATPase activity was determined after thawing, whereas sperm kinematics, membrane integrity, and expression of Na/K-ATPase on sperm surface were evaluated immediately post-thaw and after 120 minutes of incubation. Within the same incubation time, there was no difference on sperm membrane integrity, kinematics, and the expression of Na/K-ATPase on the sperm surface between HF and LF bulls. Kinematic parameters of LIN and VCL were not influenced by incubation time in samples from HF and LF, respectively. A tendency (P = 0.06) of higher Na/K-ATPase enzymatic activity for sperm of HF bulls compared to LF bulls was observed (0.49 ± 0.07 and 0.32 ± 0.06, respectively). In conclusion, Na/K-ATPase activity and expression in thawed sperm from Angus bulls are not related to the fertility index after fixed-time artificial insemination. However, sperm kinematics related to hyperactivation might indicate higher sperm cryotolerance for HF bulls.