Caracterización de Moléculas Bioactivas Presente en los Extractos de la Anémona Condylactis gigantea

Los organismos marinos en las últimas décadas han sido blanco de interés para la búsqueda de moléculas con actividad biológica. Condylactis gigantea es una anemona presente en el suelo del fondo del océano; contiene células productoras de veneno (nematocistos) utilizadas para la caza y defensa. El objetivo del presente trabajo es evaluar el extracto de este organismo en busca de moléculas con actividad biológica. Del extracto total del cuerpo, se caracterizaron las actividades proteolíticas mediante zigmograma en geles SDS-PAGE, así como la actividad hemolítica y fosfolipasa A2. Encontrándose una actividad proteolítica de aproximadamente 23KDa que se activa con la temperatura y es independiente de pH e iones y dos actividades de naturaleza metaloproteasas con afinidad al Na+ , Ca2+ y Zn2+ de alto peso molecular, se determinó la capacidad hemolítica y la actividad fosfolipasa A2, lo que nos permite concluir que las proteínas presentes pueden ser de interés como compuestos bioactivos

Caracterización de Klebsiella pneumoniae CP1 aislada de bulbos de cebolla (Allium cepa L.)

Las bacteriosis de cebolla (Allium cepa L.) que producen podredumbre en el bulbo son causadas por varias especies de los géneros Xanthomonas, Pantoea, Enterobacter y Burkholderia. El objetivo de este trabajo fue identificar el micro- organismo causante de la podredumbre blanda observada en bulbos de cebollas obtenidas de supermercados locales. La caracterización bioquímica fue realizada mediante la galería API 20E y la identificación molecular secuenciando el gen ARN-ribosomal 16S, amplificado por PCR. Adicionalmente se determinó la susceptibilidad a diferentes antibióticos y la capacidad de formación de biopelícula. Los resultados de la caracterización bioquímica y molecular del aislado CP1, que reprodujo los síntomas de patogenicidad en cebolla, confirmó una identidad con Klebsiella pneumoniae en un 97,9% y 99% respectivamente.  CP1 mostró resistencia a antibióticos  ampicilina,  gentamicina,  tobramicina,  estreptomicina, kanamicina, trimetoprim y tetraciclina, así como la producción de una biopelícula fuertemente adherente. Estos resultados podrían sugerir un origen no ambiental de dicho aislado. Klebsiella pneumoniae es un importante patógeno de humanos y animales con una amplia distribución en el ambiente y en plantas, donde se la ha aislado como endófita por su capacidad de fijar nitrógeno. Este sería el primer reporte de Klebsiella pneumoniae como patógeno en cebolla por lo que se recomienda hacerle un seguimiento a la incidencia de esta bacteriosis en cultivos de cebolla del país y en caso de ser un problema recurrente en los cultivos, buscar el origen de la contaminación

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Background: Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. // Methods: We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung's disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. // Findings: We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung's disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middle-income countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in low-income countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. // Interpretation: Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Genetic diversity characterization of a Venezuelan in vitro cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) collection with Simple Sequence Repeats (SSR)

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz), is an important root crop in most Neotropical countries and is one of the richest carbohydrate sources for millions of people in the tropics. This crop has a diversity of different varieties and/or cultivars with a variety of morphological, agronomic and industrial characteristics. To elucidate the genetic differentiation in cassava varieties, recent progress has been made with the application of Simple Sequence Repeats (SSR). In the present study, we characterized the genetic diversity of an in vitro Venezuelan germplasm cassava bank, located at Instituto de Estudios Avanzados, using the SSR described by CIAT (Mba et al., 2001). A total of 20 SSR markers were amplified using genomic DNA isolated from fully in vitro plants of 100 cassava accessions. In preliminary analysis of 7 SSR (SSR 12, 51, 63, 102, 103, 105, 161) a total of 33 alleles (between 2 and 7 alleles per locus) were found with a high level of polymorphism. The genetic diversity value (H) was 0.68. The highest Polymorphism Information Content (PIC) was recorder by de SSR 12 (0.82) and the lowest PIC by SSR 102 (0.38), hence the SSR 12 was found to be highly informative followed by SSR 51 (0.78). With this preliminary study, we can confirm that SSR markers can contribute to a better understanding of the genetic diversity present in this Venezuelan collection of cassava in vitro plants

Envenomation by the scorpion tityus breweri in the guayana shield, venezuela: Report of a case, efficacy and reactivity of antivenom, and proposal for a toxinological partitioning of the venezuelan scorpion fauna

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Effect of Surface Treatments on Zea mays Husk and the Behaviour of Husk/Low-Density Polyethylene Composites

(1) Background: The increasing generation of plastic and agricultural wastes is a critical environmental issue that requires urgent attention. Aiming to address this challenge, this study developed a sustainable waste-to-wealth system through the utilization of Zea mays husk as a reinforcing material in the production of green composites. (2) Methods: Delignification, de-hemicellulolysis, and bleaching were employed sequentially to improve the characteristics of the husk. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy confirmed the removal of lignin, hemicellulose, and impurities, and X-ray diffraction analysis determined the degree of crystallinity. Composites were made with treated and untreated husk and recycled low-density polyethylene (LDPE) at various husk-to-LDPE ratios. (3) Results: Mechanical characterization demonstrated that the treated husk composites exhibited superior tensile strength, flexural strength, and hardness compared to the untreated ones and pure LDPE. The treatment did not enhance the thermal stability of the composites, but it did lower their capacity for water absorption and improve their crystallinity. The economic assessment of the husk composite production indicated a total annualized cost of USD 0.9601 per kg, which is significantly lower than the estimated cost for LDPE (USD 1.2 to USD 1.4 per kg). Additionally, it has a much smaller carbon footprint compared to LDPE production. (4) Conclusions: The potential of utilizing treated Z. mays husk as a reinforcing agent in the development of sustainable and cost-effective green composites, improving their overall performance, was established. This approach offers a promising solution for the effective management of plastic and agricultural wastes, contributing to the transition towards a circular economy