Optimization of the green synthesis of gold nanorods using aqueous extract of peeled sour guava as a source of antioxidants.

Obtaining gold nanorods (AuNRs) through biosynthesis is an alternative that replaces the traditional use of ascorbic acid with chemical compounds such as polyphenols, owing to their notable antioxidant properties. Therefore, we developed an AuNR biosynthesis method using an aqueous extract of sour guava (Psidium araca). Initially, a study was conducted to determine the antioxidant capacity of different parts of the fruit (pulp and peel) over 14 days.

The relationship between lead levels and reading acquisition in Spanish speakers, evidence from Uruguayan schoolers.

Unlabelled: Lead is a well-known neurotoxicant that continues to affect children´s cognition and behavior. Nevertheless, we still have little evidence on the consequences of lead exposure on reading abilities, particularly in languages other than English.

Objective: To investigate the cross-sectional association between blood lead levels (BLL), and pre-reading and reading abilities in first-grade children from Montevideo, Uruguay.

Automated ASPECTS Segmentation and Scoring Tool: a Method Tailored for a Colombian Telestroke Network.

To evaluate our two non-machine learning (non-ML)-based algorithmic approaches for detecting early ischemic infarcts on brain CT images of patients with acute ischemic stroke symptoms, tailored to our local population, to be incorporated in our telestroke software. One-hundred and thirteen acute stroke patients, excluding hemorrhagic, subacute, and chronic patients, with accessible brain CT images were divided into calibration and test sets. The gold standard was determined through consensus among three neuroradiologist.

Blood lead levels and math learning in first year of school: An association for concern.

Lead is a well-known neurotoxicant that continues to affect children's cognition and behavior. With the aim to examine the associations of lead exposure with math performance in children at the beginning of formal schooling, we conducted a cross-sectional study of first-grade students from 11 schools in Montevideo, Uruguay. Math abilities were assessed with tests from the Batería III Woodcock-Muñoz (Calculation, Math Facts Fluency, Applied Problems, Math Calculation Skills and Broad Maths).

B cell-targeted polylactic acid nanoparticles as platform for encapsulating jakinibs: potential therapeutic strategy for systemic lupus erythematosus.

B cells are pivotal in systemic lupus erythematosus and autoimmune disease pathogenesis. To address this, Nile Red-labeled polylactic acid nanoparticles (NR-PLA NPs) loaded with the JAK inhibitor baricitinib (BARI), specifically targeting JAK1 and JAK2 in B cells, were developed. Physicochemical characterization confirmed NP stability over 30 days.

Fragmentation of Care and Its Association With Survival and Costs for Patients With Breast Cancer in Colombia.

Purpose: Breast cancer care requires a multimodal approach and a multidisciplinary team who must work together to obtain good clinical results. The fragmentation of care can affect the breast cancer care; however, it has not been measured in a low-resource setting. The aim of this study was to identify fragmentation of care, the geographic variation of this and its association with 4-year overall survival (OS), and costs of care for patients with breast cancer enrolled in Colombia's contributory health care system.

Composite Membranes Based on Functionalized Mesostructured Cellular Foam Particles and Sulfonated Poly(Ether Ether Sulfone) with Potential Application in Fuel Cells.

Composite polymeric membranes were designed based on sulfonated poly(ether ether sulfone) (sPEES) and mesostructured cellular foam (MCF) silica nanoparticles functionalized with organic compounds. Parameters such as molecular weight (MW) of the polymer, nature of the functional group of the MCF silica, and percentage of silica charge were evaluated on the final properties of the membranes. Composite membrane characterization was carried out on their water retention capacity (high MW polymer between 20-46% and for the low MW between 20-60%), ion exchange capacity (IEC) (high MW polymer between 0.

[Permanent professional development in health through the Virtual Campus for Public Health in Colombia (2012-2019)Desenvolvimento profissional permanente em saúde por meio do Campus Virtual de Saúde Pública na Colômbia (2012-2019)].

Objective: Reconstruct the experience of the Virtual Campus for Public Health (VCPH) from 2012 to 2019 in Colombia.

Methods: The experience of public health training through the VCPH in Colombia in the period 2012-2019 was systematized. The information is presented in cross-section time series to show the evolution of the VCPH in Colombia over time.

Primary outcomes of Baerveldt glaucoma implants with a modified technique to control intraocular pressure in different cases of glaucoma.

Introduction: To describe the outcomes of Baerveldt glaucoma implants implanted via a modified technique with regard to early intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction in cases of uncontrolled glaucoma.

Methods: The medical records of patients who had Baerveldt glaucoma implants of 350 or 250 mm implanted via a modified technique and were followed up for a period of at least 6 months were reviewed. The primary outcome measures were the mean IOP and number of glaucoma medications at each visit.

Chitosan-PEG-folate-Fe(III) complexes as nanocarriers of epigallocatechin-3-gallate.

Controlled release nanocarriers systems are promising for the administration of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) in the treatment and prevention of several diseases. Therefore, the stability and therapeutic effects of EGCG must be enhanced from an encapsulation strategy. Thus, this research aims to explore a method to prepare EGCG nanocarriers based on coordination complexes from Fe (III) ions and blends of modified chitosan (Ch) with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and folic acid (F).

Combined Phacoemulsification and 360-Degree Endocyclophotocoagulation with and without a Kahook Dual Blade in Patients with Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma.

Purpose: The present study aimed to compare the outcomes of combined phacoemulsification and 360-degree endocyclophotocoagulation with and without goniotomy using a Kahook Dual Blade in patients with glaucoma.

Patients And Methods: We enrolled 37 patients, 21 of whom underwent combined phacoemulsification with 360-degree endocyclophotocoagulation and goniotomy using a Kahook Dual Blade (tri-modal therapy (T-MT) group). The remaining 16 patients underwent phacoemulsification with endocyclophotocoagulation (bi-modal therapy (B-MT) group).

Primary outcomes of combined cataract extraction technique with Ab-Interno trabeculectomy and endoscopic Cyclophotocoagulation in patients with primary open angle Glaucoma.

Background: Glaucoma surgery have been developed to lower intraocular pressure in a less invasive manner than traditional glaucoma surgery. The purpose of this article is to determine the outcome of using combined phacoemulsification technique, ab-interno trabeculectomy dual blade and endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation (ECP) surgeries in patients with primary open angle glaucoma.

Methods: A retrospective case series was performed on 27 consecutive eyes with both primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and cataract; each eye was treated with combined phacoemulsification, ab-interno trabeculectomy-Kahook Dual Blade and Endocyclophotocoagulation at Instituto de ojos Oftalmosalud, Lima, Peru, between April 2017 and May 2017.

Dissecting Cellulitis of the Scalp: A Rare Dermatological Manifestation of Crohn's Disease.

Dissecting cellulitis is an inflammatory disease of the skin. We report a case of recurrent dissecting cellulitis in a patient with Crohn's disease. A 31-year-old man with a history of purulent scalp lesions presented with night sweats, weight loss, abdominal pain, and hematochezia.

Human newborn bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccination and risk of tuberculosis disease: a case-control study.

Background: An incomplete understanding of the immunological mechanisms underlying protection against tuberculosis (TB) hampers the development of new vaccines against TB. We aimed to define host correlates of prospective risk of TB disease following bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination.

Methods: In this study, 5,726 infants vaccinated with BCG at birth were enrolled.

Removal of sodium and chloride ions from aqueous solutions using fique fibers (Furcraea spp.).

Fique fibers obtained from the leaves of Furcraea spp., a highly abundant plant in the mountains of South America, may offer an alternative as biosorbents in desalination processes as they exhibit high removal capacities (13.26 meq/g for chloride ions and 15.

Policaprolactone/polyvinylpyrrolidone/siloxane hybrid materials: Synthesis and in vitro delivery of diclofenac and biocompatibility with periodontal ligament fibroblasts.

In this paper, we report the synthesis of polycaprolactone (PCL) based hybrid materials containing hydrophilic domains composed of N-vinylpyrrolidone (VP), and γ-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MPS). The hybrid materials were obtained by RAFT copolymerization of N-vinylpyrrolidone and MPS using a pre-formed dixanthate-end-functionalized PCL as macro-chain transfer agent, followed by a post-reaction crosslinking step. The composition of the samples was determined by elemental and thermogravimetric analyses.

A new versatile primer set targeting a short fragment of the mitochondrial COI region for metabarcoding metazoan diversity: application for characterizing coral reef fish gut contents.

Introduction: The PCR-based analysis of homologous genes has become one of the most powerful approaches for species detection and identification, particularly with the recent availability of Next Generation Sequencing platforms (NGS) making it possible to identify species composition from a broad range of environmental samples. Identifying species from these samples relies on the ability to match sequences with reference barcodes for taxonomic identification. Unfortunately, most studies of environmental samples have targeted ribosomal markers, despite the fact that the mitochondrial Cytochrome c Oxidase subunit I gene (COI) is by far the most widely available sequence region in public reference libraries.

Effectiveness of annealing blocking primers versus restriction enzymes for characterization of generalist diets: unexpected prey revealed in the gut contents of two coral reef fish species.

Characterization of predator-prey interactions is challenging as researchers have to rely on indirect methods that can be costly, biased and too imprecise to elucidate the complexity of food webs. DNA amplification and sequencing techniques of gut and fecal contents are promising approaches, but their success largely depends on the ability to amplify the taxonomic array of prey consumed and then match prey amplicons with reference sequences. When little a priori information on diet is available or a generalist predator is targeted, versatile primer sets (also referred to as universal or general primers) as opposed to group- or species-specific primer sets are the most powerful to unveil the full range of prey consumed.

Improving availability of and access to opioids in Colombia: description and preliminary results of an action plan for the country.

Latin America consumes less than 2.7% of the morphine in the world, as reported by the governments to the International Narcotics Control Board. Methods to improve access to opioids for the treatment of pain have been developed by the Pain & Policy Studies Group (PPSG), a World Health Organization Collaborating Center at the University of Wisconsin.

Non-invasive measurement of intra-abdominal pressure: a preliminary study.

The importance of measuring intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) has increased since the negative effects of sustained increased IAP, also known as intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH), have become known. The relation between IAP and abdominal wall tension has been included in several reports. We have developed a device to measure abdominal wall tension by measuring force and distance.

[Perceived urgency of medical condition and use of health care services in Medellín, Colombia, 2005-2006].

Introduction: Medellín has a population of 2.1 million and has 47 acute care hospitals that provide emergency health care services. Perceived seriousness of a medical condition in addition to accessibility and availability of care may influence the use of health care services in the region.

Distribution of capsular types and antimicrobial susceptibility of invasive isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae in Colombian children. Pneumococcal Study Group in Colombia.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is the leading bacterial cause of childhood pneumonia in the developing world. This study describes the type distribution and antimicrobial susceptibility of invasive pneumococcal isolates from Colombian children and is part of the Sistema Regional de Vacunas (SIREVA), a PAHO regional initiative designed to determine the ideal serotype composition of a protein polysaccharide pneumococcal conjugate vaccine for use in children less than 5 years old in Latin America. In Colombia, during the study period, centres in Bogota, Medellin, and Cali collected 324 S.

Amikacin concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid of children with acute bacterial meningitis.

Penetration of the aminoglycoside, amikacin, into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of twenty children with acute bacterial meningitis was studied at various times after intramuscular administration and at various stages of therapy. Six of the patients were evaluated during therapy with amikacin at 7.5 mg/kg (intramuscularly) every 12 hours plus ampicillin every 6 hours at 300 mg/kg/day (intravenously); thirteen of the remaining fourteen patients were treated with ampicillin alone, but were given a single intramuscular dose of 7.

Amikacin in gram-negative paediatric infections.

Amikacin was used in the treatment of various Gram-negative infections in sixty-six children ranging in age from two days to thirteen years. Over 72% of the infections treated were classified as severe and the remainder were moderate. Among infections in which the site of origin was the urinary or gastro-intestinal tract, amikacin achieved thirty-eight (95%) complete or partial cures in forty patients.

Clinical and laboratory studies with amikacin in newborns, infants, and children.

Thirty (86%) of 35 infants and older children with proven gram-negative sepsis had a complete clinical remission after treatment with amikacin. In 27 (82%) of 33 infectious episodes for which bacteriologic results were available before and after treatment, the organism was eradicated. The dosage of amikacin was either 7.