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The Magellanic sub-Antarctic ecoregion of southern Chile represents one of the last remaining pristine areas on Earth, but there are knowledge gaps concerning the biodiversity and interactions of the regions' flora and fauna. Non-native insect species like Bombus terrestris and Vespula vulgaris are known to have detrimental influence on native populations through competition for resources/nesting habitat, larvae predation, and foreign pathogen introduction. However, their interactions with the native and non-native plants in the region and between introduced species are unknown. This study highlights the importance of further investigations documenting the region's biodiversity, native and non-native species interactions, and local pollinators.

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Future climate change scenarios project that the increase in surface temperatures will affect ocean temperatures, inducing shifts in marine biodiversity. Sea turtles are species that are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change because temperature is a factor that influences embryonic development. We collected clutches of olive ridley turtles from a mass-nesting beach in the Mexican Pacific, which were incubated in ex situ conditions. When the hatchlings emerged, we measured the body condition index-which evaluates the weight-length relationship-and swim thrust, both were considered traits associated with fitness, termed "fitness proxies," and evaluated the effects of incubation temperature, maternal effects, and paternity on these fitness proxies. The body condition index was correlated positively and significantly with the arribada month and temperature during the last third of the incubation period but showed an inverse relationship with the maternal effect. While swim thrust was positively correlated with the maternal effect and the arribada month, there was an inverse relationship with incubation temperature during the first third of the period. Paternity, whether single or multiple, did not have a significant effect on either fitness proxies; however, it may have effects on the average fitness of a population of hatchlings. These results underscore the need to expand research on the sublethal effects of high incubation temperatures on the adaptation and survival of sea turtles, particularly in scenarios of rapid climate change.

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ABSTRACT Purpose: to characterize the practices of speech-language-hearing pathologists in Chile, regarding speech perception assessment in children and adolescents. Methods: an exploratory cross-sectional study carried out using a self-administered online survey to investigate knowledge and quantify trends in the practice of speech perception assessment, based on six focus groups with speech-language-hearing pathologists. The instrument was disseminated through the researchers' social media and contact networks. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed. Results: a total of 121 people responded to the survey, all of them being speech-language-hearing pathologists. These professionals, in Chile, highly value speech perception in child development, however, a large percentage of them do not assess it. Those who carry it out, reported a wide range of assessment practices. Conclusion: the results highlight the need for standardizing certain speech-language-hearing methods and the importance of understanding the assessment strategies in use to point out opportunities to improve both the assessment and subsequent therapeutic processes.

RESUMEN Objetivo: caracterizar las prácticas de los profesionales de la Fonoaudiología en Chile en torno a la evaluación de la percepción del habla en niños, niñas y adolescentes. Métodos: se realizó un estudio exploratorio de diseño transversal mediante una encuesta online autoadministrada diseñada para indagar en los saberes y cuantificar tendencias en la práctica de la evaluación de la percepción del habla. La encuesta fue confeccionada en base a seis grupos focales realizados con profesionales fonoaudiólogos. La difusión del instrumento se realizó a través de redes sociales y redes de contacto de los investigadores. El análisis estadístico realizado fue de carácter descriptivo. Resultados: un total de 121 personas respondieron la encuesta, todos profesionales de la Fonoaudiología. Los profesionales de la Fonoaudiología en Chile otorgan un alto valor a la percepción del habla en el desarrollo infantil, no obstante, un gran porcentaje no la evalúa. Aquellos profesionales que lo realizan, revelan una amplia diversidad en las prácticas evaluativas. Conclusión: los resultados permiten visibilizar la necesidad de estandarizar ciertos métodos fonoaudiológicos y resaltar la importancia de comprender las estrategias evaluativas en uso para señalar oportunidades de mejora tanto en la evaluación como en los posteriores procesos terapéuticos.

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Anastomotic leakage (AL) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality after colorectal surgery, but the mechanism behind this complication is still not fully understood. Despite the advances in surgical techniques and perioperative care, the complication rates have remained steady. Recently, it has been suggested that colon microbiota may be involved in the development of complications after colorectal surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of gut microbiota in the development of colorectal AL and their possible virulence strategies to better understand the phenomenon. Using 16S rRNA sequencing of samples collected on the day of surgery and the sixth day following surgery, we analyzed the changes in tissue-associated microbiota at anastomotic sites created in a model of rats with ischemic colon resection. We discovered a trend for lower microbial diversity in the AL group compared to non-leak anastomosis (NLA). There were no differences in relative abundance in the different types of microbial respiration between these groups and the high abundance of the facultative anaerobic Gemella palaticanis is a marker species that stands out as a distinctive feature.

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PURPOSE: Critical care echocardiography is a fundamental tool in the hemodynamic evaluation of critically ill patients and prone position ventilation might limit its application. We aim to evaluate the feasibility of transthoracic echocardiography to assess different measurements performed in prone vs supine position in patients during COVID-19 pandemic to answer our research question: What is the feasibility of classic echocardiographic measurements in COVID-19 patients in prone position ventilation? METHODS: Patients with covid-19 admitted to ICUs in four academic hospitals with respiratory failure and on mechanical ventilation were evaluated with critical care echocardiography. The first ultrasound assessment was compared between prone and supine patients recording feasibility of several echocardiographic measurements, using Fisher's exact test complementing with Crombach's Alpha. RESULTS: 139 patients were included. Sixty-eight (49%) were evaluated in prone position and seventy one (51%) in supine position. Most variables were highly feasible, left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction were more possible to obtain in prone position, while cardiac output was in supine position. Tricuspid regurgitation was the least feasible overall measurement. CONCLUSION: Prone position ultrasound achieved a high feasibility of measurements compared with supine ultrasound in critically ill patients with COVID-19 respiratory failure and on mechanical ventilation. REGISTRATION: Post hoc analysis of Echo-COVID study (NTC04628195, registered November 13, 2020, retrospectively registered).

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Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) constitute part of a broad range of bioactive compounds present on diverse organisms, including frogs. Peptides, produced in the granular glands of amphibian skin, constitute a component of their innate immune response, providing protection against pathogenic microorganisms. In this work, two novel cruzioseptins peptides, cruzioseptin-16 and -17, extracted from the splendid leaf frog Cruziohyla calcarifer are presented. These peptides were identified using molecular cloning and tandem mass spectrometry. Later, peptides were synthetized using solid-phase peptide synthesis, and their minimal inhibitory concentration and haemolytic activity were tested. Furthermore, these two cruzioseptins plus three previously reported (CZS-1, CZS-2, CZS-3) were computationally characterized. Results show that cruzioseptins are 21-23 residues long alpha helical cationic peptides, with antimicrobial activity against E. coli, S. aureus, and C. albicans and low haemolytic effect. Docking results agree with the principal action mechanism of cationic AMPs that goes through cell membrane disruption due to electrostatic interactions between cationic residues in the cruzioseptins and negative phosphate groups in the pathogen cell membrane. An action mechanism through enzymes inhibition was also tried, but no conclusive results about this mechanism were obtained.

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Background: Depressive disorder is one of the main health problems worldwide. Many risk factors have been associated with this pathology. However, while the association between risks factors and adult depression is well established, the mechanisms behind its impact remains poorly understood. A possible, yet untested explanation is the mediating impact of levels of personality functioning, i.e., impairments with regard to self and interpersonal. Method: Around 162 patients were assessed at the beginning of their therapy, with regard to risk factors, such as sociodemographic, physical, hereditary (Information Form), and adverse childhood experiences (ACE; CTQ). Depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory, BDI) and personality functioning (OPD-SQ) were also measured. Associations between the related variables as well as other possible covariates were examined by means of zero-order correlations and bootstrapping-based mediation analysis. Results: Of all the risk factors taken into account, level of education and physical illness were associated with depression. On the other hand, the most significant predictor of depressive symptomatology was ACE, and this relationship was mediated by personality functioning. This indicates that patients presenting adverse childhood experiences are more likely to develop deficiencies in personality functioning, which in turn increases their likelihood of developing depressive symptomatology. Conclusion: These results reaffirm the importance of incorporating risk and vulnerability factors such as personality functioning in understanding depression.

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BACKGROUND: Protective mechanical ventilation (MV) aims at limiting global lung deformation and has been associated with better clinical outcomes in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients. In ARDS lungs without MV support, the mechanisms and evolution of lung tissue deformation remain understudied. In this work, we quantify the progression and heterogeneity of regional strain in injured lungs under spontaneous breathing and under MV. METHODS: Lung injury was induced by lung lavage in murine subjects, followed by 3 h of spontaneous breathing (SB-group) or 3 h of low Vt mechanical ventilation (MV-group). Micro-CT images were acquired in all subjects at the beginning and at the end of the ventilation stage following induction of lung injury. Regional strain, strain progression and strain heterogeneity were computed from image-based biomechanical analysis. Three-dimensional regional strain maps were constructed, from which a region-of-interest (ROI) analysis was performed for the regional strain, the strain progression, and the strain heterogeneity. RESULTS: After 3 h of ventilation, regional strain levels were significantly higher in 43.7% of the ROIs in the SB-group. Significant increase in regional strain was found in 1.2% of the ROIs in the MV-group. Progression of regional strain was found in 100% of the ROIs in the SB-group, whereas the MV-group displayed strain progression in 1.2% of the ROIs. Progression in regional strain heterogeneity was found in 23.4% of the ROIs in the SB-group, while the MV-group resulted in 4.7% of the ROIs showing significant changes. Deformation progression is concurrent with an increase of non-aerated compartment in SB-group (from 13.3% ± 1.6% to 37.5% ± 3.1%), being higher in ventral regions of the lung. CONCLUSIONS: Spontaneous breathing in lung injury promotes regional strain and strain heterogeneity progression. In contrast, low Vt MV prevents regional strain and heterogeneity progression in injured lungs.

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BACKGROUND: Cerebral palsy (CP) Football is a para-sport performed by individuals with physical impairments of athetosis, ataxia, or hypertonia. However, little is known about the physical demands of para-footballers with CP, and no previous study has analysed those demands in a small-sided game (SSG). This study aims to describe physical parameters using a global positioning system device in a SSG played by CP football players. METHODS: Fourteen male international para-footballers with CP took part in this study, which analysed their performance in an SSG of 3 vs. 3 players plus a goalkeeper per team. Also, a group of 12 football players participated as a control group. RESULTS: The total distance covered by the CP footballers during the SSG was 1931.1±213.6 m, and the distance covered per minute was 71.2±9.3 m/min, having lower scores than the control group. The maximum speed reached was 20.1±1.8 km/h, with a metabolic power of 6.2±0.9 W/kg and lower scores than the control group. Players with the minimal eligible impairment in this para-sport (i.e., sport class FT8) covered a greater distance in high-speed zones compared to players with more severe impairments. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that para-footballers with CP exhibited lower physical performance in an SSG compared to regular football players. Additional studies are necessary to identify the best format of an SSG for football players with CP and its application for training and evidence-based classification.

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RELEVANCIA: La pandemia por COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease-2019) se origina en diciembre de 2019. En Chile, a la fecha se han reportado 13.037 fallecidos con un enorme costo y esfuerzo asistencial, siendo limitada aun la evidencia en Chile acerca de esta enfermedad. OBJETIVOS: Describir el perfil clínico y ventilatorio de los pacientes con COVID-19 que requirieron manejo en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos en un Hospital Terciario de la Región Metropolitana. MÉTODOS: Estudio descriptivo, observacional y retrospectivo. Se extrajeron los datos de 64 pacientes ingresados entre el 24 de Marzo y el 15 de Mayo de 2020 en la UCI del Hospital Ramón Barros Luco Trudeau en el Sector Sur de la Región Metropolitana. Los resultados primarios en el estudio fueron Mortalidad en UCI, Mortalidad Intrahospitalaria y Mortalidad a 28 días. RESULTADOS: La mortalidad en UCI fue del 20%, existiendo una asociación entre Hipertensión Arterial y Enfermedad más Grave. La obesidad se asoció con mayores días UCI. En cuanto al soporte ventilatorio, 75% de los pacientes requirió apoyo con VMI al ingreso. Existe un perfil de mejor Compliance pulmonar y bajo potencial de reclutamiento durante la primera semana. Sin embargo, entre el 7mo. y 14vo día de enfermedad existe una rápida progresión hacia menor compliance pulmonar en cierto grupo de pacientes. CONCLUSIONES: Los casos más graves de COVID-19 se dan en pacientes de avanzada edad, hipertensos y obesos, con un aumento significativo en mortalidad cuando asociaron enfermedad renal crónica sobre todo en hemodiálisis. La progresión hacia deterioros severos de la elastancia pulmonar probablemente constituyen el signo ominoso de la enfermedad.

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