Influenza Virus Genomic Surveillance, Arizona, USA, 2023-2024.

Influenza viruses are constantly evolving and are therefore monitored worldwide in the hope to reduce the burden of disease by annual updates to vaccine recommendations. We conducted genomic sequencing of 110 influenza A and 30 influenza B viruses from specimens collected between October 2023 and February 2024 in Arizona, USA. We identified mutations in the hemagglutinin (HA) antigenic sites as well as the neuraminidase (NA) gene in our samples.

Occurrence and dynamics of microplastics and emerging concern microparticles in coastal sediments: Impact of stormwater upgrade and port-associated facilities.

Urban runoff is a significant source of microplastic pollution in aquatic environments, especially in coastal areas. Despite urban stormwater runoff being considered a major pathway of anthropogenic particles there's no studies about the impact of stormwater upgrades on microparticle transport. Moreover, due to the influence of anthropogenic activities, including maritime traffic and maintenance, on coastal environments, it is crucial to identify plastic debris from both inland and in-shore sources.

Effect of the structural modification of Candesartan with Zinc on hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy.

Hypertension is the most common cause of left ventricular hypertrophy, contributing to heart failure progression. Candesartan (Cand) is an angiotensin receptor antagonist widely used for hypertension treatment. Structural modifications were previously performed by our group using Zinc (ZnCand) as a strategy for improving its pharmacological properties.

Analysis of the efficacy, safety, and cost of alternative forms of creatine available for purchase on Amazon.com: are label claims supported by science?

Creatine monohydrate (CM) is an established and effective dietary supplement, but it is not the only form of creatine. We analyzed forms of creatine for sale on Amazon.com" title = "http://Amazon.

Relational abilities index: A experimental study of the procedure at different trial durations.

The relational abilities index (RAI) has been shown to consistently correlate with standardized measures of intellectual aptitude, such as the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. However, the procedure has not been systematically studied and, when used with adults, it has problems in discriminating between medium and high-ability participants. Therefore, the aim of this experiment was to study participants' performance at different levels of analysis and under different trial durations.

University-Associated SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2 Infections, Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, 2022.

We investigated a university-affiliated cohort of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2 infections in Arizona, USA. Of 44 cases, 43 were among students; 26 persons were symptomatic, 8 sought medical care, but none were hospitalized.

Spatial distribution patterns and identification of microplastics on intertidal sediments from urban and semi-natural SW Atlantic estuaries.

Although estuaries act as a sink of many pollutants, the assessment of microplastics pollution in these transition environments remain scarce or unknown. Sediments from estuarine intertidal areas possess a great ecological concern but also could act as a sink of both buoyant and non-buoyant plastic debris. In this work, we have compared microplastic abundances and their main characteristics (size, shape, colour and polymer type) on intertidal sediments from SW Atlantic Argentinean estuaries (Samborombón, Mar Chiquita, Quequén Grande and Bahía Blanca).

Adoption Factors Related to Electronic Vaccine Record in the Public Primary Care Network of Buenos Aires City.

The Electronic Health Record used in the public primary care network of Buenos Aires City has a specific module for the vaccines registration. The present study explores the factors of EHR adoption by nurses. We found 5 barriers and one facilitator for adoption.

Information Systems, Statistical Information Availability and Decision Making in the Primary Health Care Level of the City of Buenos Aires.

The availability of statistical information is usually associated with 'better decision making', fundamentally within the paradigm of evidence-based decisions. Thus, it is interesting to understand the demands and expectations, interpretations and effective use of statistical information by decision-makers at the primary health care level, considering the implications of the recently implemented Information System in Public Health (Buenos Aires, Argentina).

Postextraction Alveolar Preservation and Use of the Crown of the Extracted Tooth as a Temporary Restoration.

Ranging from the extraction of teeth from anterior sector commitment to the loss of bone and soft tissues, alveolar preservation is a regenerative technique that employs biomaterials that induce the preservation of bone tissue and minimize resorption. Placement of provisional restorations at the defect site maintains the stability of the soft tissues and aesthetics at which the definitive restoration is found. The objective of this clinical case was alveolar preservation postextraction of the anterior tooth that presented a coronal fracture, placing the clinical crown of the extracted tooth as the provisional restoration to maintain stability and to avoid soft tissue collapse and compromise to an aesthetic area.

Metallothionein-I + II Reduces Oxidative Damage and Apoptosis after Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury in Rats.

After spinal cord injury (SCI), some self-destructive mechanisms start leading to irreversible neurological deficits. It is known that oxidative stress and apoptosis play a major role in increasing damage after SCI. Metallothioneins I and II (MT) are endogenous peptides with known antioxidant, neuroprotective capacities.

Comparisons of the spectroscopic and microbiological activities among coumarin-3-carboxylate, o-phenanthroline and zinc(II) complexes.

Coumarins (2H-chromen-2-one) are oxygen-containing heterocyclic compounds that belong to the benzopyranones family. In this work we have synthesized different coordination complexes with coumarin-3-carboxylic acid (HCCA), o-phenanthroline (phen) and zinc(II). In the reported [Zn(CCA)(HO)] complex, coumarin-3-carboxylate (CCA) is acting as a bidentate ligand while in the two prepared complexes, [Zn(phen)]CCA(NO) (obtained as a single crystal) and [Zn(CCA)phen].

Experimental and DFT characterization, antioxidant and anticancer activities of a Cu(II)-irbesartan complex: structure-antihypertensive activity relationships in Cu(II)-sartan complexes.

The coordination compound of the antihypertensive ligand irbesartan (irb) with copper(II) (CuIrb) was synthesized and characterized by FTIR, FT-Raman, UV-visible, reflectance and EPR spectroscopies. Experimental evidence allowed the implementation of structural and vibrational studies by theoretical calculations made in the light of the density functional theory (DFT). This compound was designed to induce structural modifications on the ligand.

Mental Health and Health-Related Quality of Life in Multiple Sclerosis Caregivers in Mexico.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) rates are increasing in Latin America, and caregiving for an individual with MS is associated with poorer mental and physical health outcomes. No existing research has examined the relation between mental health and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in MS caregivers in Latin America.

Methods: The present study examined the association between mental health (Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Satisfaction with Life Scale, Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) and HRQOL (36-item Short Form Health Status Survey) in 81 Mexican MS caregivers.

Insights into the mechanisms underlying the antitumor activity of an oxidovanadium(IV) compound with the antioxidant naringenin. Albumin binding studies.

Naringenin, a natural antioxidant present in grapefruit, oranges and the skin of tomatoes showed low antioxidant properties among other flavonoids due to its structural characteristics. Since many flavonoids were shown to have cell-killing and antioxidant activities, naringenin was investigated herein. In parallel with its antioxidant activities the flavonoid showed very low cytotoxicity at concentrations up to 100 μM against lung (A549) and breast (SKBr3 and MDAMB231) cancer cell lines.

Anti-thyroid and antifungal activities, BSA interaction and acid phosphatase inhibition of methimazole copper(II) complexes.

It has been reported that various metal coordination compounds have improved some biological properties. A high activity of acid phosphatase (AcP) is associated to several diseases (osteoporosis, Alzheimer's, prostate cancer, among others) and makes it a target for the development of new potential inhibitors. Anti-thyroid agents have disadvantageous side effects and the scarcity of medicines in this area motivated many researchers to synthesize new ones.

Antitumoral, antihypertensive, antimicrobial, and antioxidant effects of an octanuclear copper(II)-telmisartan complex with an hydrophobic nanometer hole.

A new Cu(II) complex with the antihypertensive drug telmisartan, [Cu8Tlm16]·24H2O (CuTlm), was synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis and electronic, FTIR, Raman and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. The crystal structure (at 120 K) was solved by X-ray diffraction methods. The octanuclear complex is a hydrate of but otherwise isostructural to the previously reported [Cu8Tlm16] complex.

Improvement of the antihypertensive capacity of candesartan and trityl candesartan by their SOD mimetic copper(II) complexes.

Two new complexes [Cu(Cand)(H2O)4] [1] and [Cu2(TCand)4(H2O)2]·4H2O [2] (Cand = candesartan; TCand = trityl candesartan) have been synthesized and thoroughly characterized. The FTIR, Raman, EPR and diffuse reflectance spectra of the solid compounds show a dimeric complex for [2] with carboxylate bridging of the type found in copper(II) acetate. Both elemental analysis and thermal measurements allow the determination of the total stoichiometries of both complexes.

Towards establishing MS prevalence in Latin America and the Caribbean.

A very high prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) has been reported in some Western European and North American countries. The few surveys of MS epidemiology in South America reveal lower prevalence rates, implying that susceptibility varies between distinct ethnic groups, thus forming an important determinant of the geographic distribution of the disease. The objective of this study is to review MS prevalence estimates in different Latin American and Caribbean countries.

Evaluation of a novel isotope biomarker for dietary consumption of sweets.

Carbon isotopic signatures ("δ¹³C") might reflect consumption of corn- and cane-based sweeteners. The authors hypothesized that the δ¹³C value of human serum is higher for individuals with high versus low intakes of corn- and cane-based sweeteners (measured as sweetened beverage intake). They conducted a cross-sectional study within the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Magnetic Resonance Imaging study (Maryland, 2005-2006).

A randomized clinical trial of the effectiveness of photon stimulation on pain, sensation, and quality of life in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Context: Peripheral neuropathy is one of the most common complications of diabetes.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of photon stimulation on pain intensity, pain relief, pain qualities, sensation and quality of life (QOL) in patients with painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Methods: In this randomized, placebo-controlled trial, patients were assigned to receive either four photon stimulations (n=63) or four placebo (n=58) treatments.

Association between hyperglycemia and survival in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma.

Purpose: Hyperglycemia has been associated with poor outcomes in many disease states. This retrospective study assessed the association between hyperglycemia and survival in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). PATIENTS AND METHODS; Between 1999 and 2004, before the standard use of temozolomide, 191 patients were accrued onto New Approaches to Brain Tumor Therapy CNS Consortium trials with similar eligibility criteria.

Stereotypes of women in different stages of their reproductive life: data from Mexico and the United States.

College students from Mexico and the United States (n = 349) were surveyed to explore stereotypes regarding women in different menstrual cycle phases and other stages of reproductive life. Participants from both countries defined a premenstrual or menstrual woman as irritable and moody and a menopausal woman as old and irritable. A woman with a hysterectomy was defined as sad, and only Americans used other words that did not have any negative connotation.

Purification and characterization of beta-lactamase from Neisseria gonorrhoeae from clinical samples.

beta-Lactamase was isolated from Neisseria gonorrhoeae, obtained from male patients with gonococcic urethritis. Biochemical properties of the enzyme were studied. The enzyme was purified 38-fold by ammonium sulphate precipitation and using Sephadex G75 and DEAE-cellulose columns.

Nicotine modulation of stress-related peptide neurons.

Nicotine has been shown to activate stress-related brain nuclei, including the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) and the central nucleus of the amygdala (CEA), through complex mechanisms involving direct and indirect pathways. To determine the neurochemical identities of rat brain neurons which are activated by a low dose (0.175 mg/kg) of nicotine given 30 minutes before sacrifice, we have used single- and double-label in situ hybridization.