Conventional cytology scheme: adherence and associated factors.

Objectives: This study analyzed adherence rates to conventional cytology and associated factors in a cohort of women at a health service provider institution in Medellin, Colombia.

Study Design: Observational cohort study with repeated measures.

Methods: Clinical and sociodemographic data were obtained from databases for screenings between January 2018 and December 2022.

Sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections by sex, methamphetamine use, and houselessness before, at, and after HIV diagnosis in Manitoba, Canada.

Objectives: Describe the proportion of people newly living with HIV with sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs) before, at, and after HIV diagnosis in Manitoba, Canada.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study reviewed clinical charts of all 404 people ≥18 years old newly diagnosed with HIV in Manitoba, Canada between 2018 and 2021. Syphilis, hepatitis C and B, gonorrhea, and chlamydia infections before, at, and after HIV diagnosis were recorded and analyzed by sex at birth, injection drug use status, use of methamphetamines, and housing status.

Structural Rearrangement of the AT1 Receptor Modulated by Membrane Thickness and Tension.

Membrane-embedded mechanosensitive (MS) proteins, including ion channels and G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), are essential for the transduction of external mechanical stimuli into biological signals. The angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor plays many important roles in cardiovascular regulation and is associated with diseases such as hypertension and congestive heart failure. The membrane-mediated activation of the AT1 receptor is not well understood, despite this being one of the most widely studied GPCRs within the context of biased agonism.

A surveillance study of cancer incidence and mortality among young adults in Costa Rica.

Background: There has been an increase in certain cancers among young adults (YA) aged 20-39, particularly in Latin America. This is the first study to examine cancer incidence and mortality in YA in Costa Rica, focusing on sex-specific patterns.

Methods: Invasive cancer cases (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer) in YA from 2006 to 2015 were obtained from the Costa Rican National Registry of Tumors.

Clinical outcomes of patients with heart failure and atrial fibrillation: Experience from an outpatient heart failure clinic in Colombia.

Background: Heart failure (HF) can coexist with atrial fibrillation in up to 60 % of cases, increasing rates of hospitalizations and death. This study analyzed the clinical characteristics, treatment, hospitalization, and mortality of patients with HF and atrial fibrillation based on left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

Methods: A retrospective cohort study included patients from an outpatient HF clinic at Medellín (Colombia) between 2020-2022.

Characterization of bacterial diversity in rhizospheric soils, irrigation water, and lettuce crops in municipalities near the Bogotá river, Colombia.

The use of wastewater in agricultural practices poses a potential risk for the spread of foodborne diseases. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize the bacterial biodiversity in rhizospheric soil, irrigation water, and lettuce crops in three municipalities adjacent to the Bogotá River, Colombia. Samples were collected in Mosquera, Funza, and Cota municipalities, including rhizospheric soil, lettuce leaves, and irrigation water.

Agricultural Biotechnological Potential of Bacillus velezensis C3-3 and Cytobacillus sp. T106 from Resource Islands of a Semi-arid Zone of La Guajira-Colombia.

Resource islands are vegetative formations in arid and semi-arid ecosystems that harbor microorganisms facing extreme conditions. However, there is a limitation in the knowledge of the agricultural biotechnological potential of microorganisms present in these islands. This study aimed to determine the capacity of Bacillus velezensis C3-3 and Cytobacillus sp.

Microbiological performance and adherence in blood culture protocols: The role of a second anaerobic bottle.

Background: Bacteremia represents high rates of morbidity and mortality, especially in developing countries, highlighting the need for a diagnostic method that allows prompt and appropriate patient treatment. This study compared microbiological performance and adherence of two blood culture protocols for the diagnosis of bacteremia.

Methods: Quasi-experimental study conducted between June 2022 and February 2023.

Structural basis of bulk lipid transfer by bridge-like lipid transfer protein LPD-3.

Bridge-like lipid transport proteins (BLTPs) are an evolutionarily conserved family of proteins that localize to membrane contact sites and are thought to mediate the bulk transfer of lipids from a donor membrane, typically the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), to an acceptor membrane, such as a that of the cell or an organelle . Despite the fundamental importance of BLTPs for cellular function, the architecture, composition, and lipid transfer mechanisms remain poorly characterized. Here, we present the subunit composition and the cryo-electron microscopy structure of the native LPD-3 BLTP complex isolated from transgenic .

Sex differences in houselessness, injection drug use, and mental health conditions among people newly diagnosed with HIV in Manitoba, Canada from 2018 to 2021: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Manitoba saw the highest number of new HIV diagnoses in the province's history in 2021 and is the only Canadian province not meeting any of the previous UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets. Our goal was to describe sex differences and syndemic conditions within an incident HIV cohort in Manitoba, and the HIV treatment initiation and undetectable viral load outcomes.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of all people 18 years and older newly diagnosed with HIV in Manitoba, Canada between January 1st, 2018 and December 31st, 2021.

Preventive strategies in paediatric cardiovascular surgery: impact on surgical site infections and beyond.

Background: Surgical management of congenital heart disease (CHD) has increased worldwide, but healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) can threaten these efforts.

Aim: To analyse the incidence of HAI, the impact of preventive interventions, and microbiological profiles in a paediatric cardiovascular surgery programme.

Methods: Cohort study including children aged <12 years with CHD who underwent cardiovascular surgery between 2010 and 2021 in Medellín, Colombia (a middle-income setting).

Nanoconfinement of Carbon Dioxide within Interfacial Aqueous/Ionic Liquid Systems.

Nanoporous, gas-selective membranes have shown encouraging results for the removal of CO from flue gas, yet the optimal design for such membranes is often unknown. Therefore, we used molecular dynamics simulations to elucidate the behavior of CO within aqueous and ionic liquid (IL) systems ([EMIM][TFSI] and [OMIM][TFSI]), both confined individually and as an interfacial aqueous/IL system. We found that within aqueous systems the mobility of CO is reduced due to interactions between the CO oxygens and hydroxyl groups on the pore surface.

Erratum: Addition to "Carbonic Anhydrase Robustness for Use in Nanoscale CO Capture Technologies".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c02630.

Device-Associated Infections in COVID-19 Patients: Frequency of Resistant Bacteria, Predictors and Mortality in Medellín, Colombia.

Introduction: Increased antimicrobial use during the COVID-19 pandemic has raised concerns about the spread of resistant bacteria. This study analyzed the frequency of device-associated infections (DAI) caused by resistant bacteria, the predictors of these infections, and 30-day all-cause mortality in patients with and without COVID-19.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on DAI patients admitted to the ICU (intensive care unit) in 20 hospitals in Medellin, Colombia (2020-2021).

[Paravalvular leak closure using devices: a useful resource].

We present the case of a patient with a paravalvular leak of mechanical prosthesis in aortic position. Due to a recent previous surgery, it was decided to perform a percutaneous repair to reduce perioperative risk, under an off-label indication using a device for ventricular septal defect closure, successful and without complications in the follow-up.

Systematic analysis of the scientific-technological production on the use of the UV, HO, and/or Cl systems in the elimination of bacteria and associated antibiotic resistance genes.

This study presents a systematic review of the scientific and technological production related to the use of systems based on UV, HO, and Cl for the elimination of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and genes associated with antibiotic resistance (ARGs). Using the Pro Know-C (Knowledge Development Process-Constructivist) methodology, a portfolio was created and analyzed that includes 19 articles and 18 patents published between 2011 and 2022. The results show a greater scientific-technological production in UV irradiation systems (8 articles and 5 patents) and the binary combination UV/HO (9 articles and 4 patents).

Metagenomic and genomic analysis of heavy metal-tolerant and -resistant bacteria in resource islands in a semi-arid zone of the Colombian Caribbean.

Bacteria from resource islands can adapt to different extreme conditions in semi-arid regions. We aimed to determine the potential resistance and tolerance to heavy metals from the bacterial community under the canopy of three resource islands in a semi-arid zone of the Colombian Caribbean. Total DNA was extracted from soil and through a metagenomics approach, we identified genes related to heavy metal tolerance and resistance under the influence of drought and humidity conditions, as well as the presence or absence of vegetation.

Cohort profile: evaluation of immune response and household transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Costa Rica: the RESPIRA study.

Purpose: The RESPIRA cohort aims to describe the nature, magnitude, time course and efficacy of the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination, population prevalence, and household transmission of COVID-19.

Participants: From November 2020, we selected age-stratified random samples of COVID-19 cases from Costa Rica confirmed by PCR. For each case, two population-based controls, matched on age, sex and census tract were recruited, supplemented with hospitalised cases and household contacts.

Transport and Energetics of Carbon Dioxide in Ionic Liquids at Aqueous Interfaces.

A major hurdle in utilizing carbon dioxide (CO) lies in separating it from industrial flue gas mixtures and finding suitable storage methods that enable its application in various industries. To address this issue, we utilized a combination of molecular dynamics simulations and experiments to investigate the behavior of CO in common room-temperature ionic liquids (RTIL) when in contact with aqueous interfaces. Our investigation of RTILs, [EMIM][TFSI] and [OMIM][TFSI], and their interaction with a pure water layer mimics the environment of a previously developed ultrathin enzymatic liquid membrane for CO separation.

Energetics of high temperature degradation of fentanyl into primary and secondary products.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid used for managing chronic pain. Due to its higher potency (50-100×) than morphine, fentanyl is also an abused drug. A sensor that could detect illicit fentanyl by identifying its thermally degraded fragments would be helpful to law enforcement.

Carbonic Anhydrase Robustness for Use in Nanoscale CO Capture Technologies.

Continued dependence on crude oil and natural gas resources for fossil fuels has caused global atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO) emissions to increase to record-setting proportions. There is an urgent need for efficient and inexpensive carbon sequestration systems to mitigate large-scale emissions of CO from industrial flue gas. Carbonic anhydrase (CA) has shown high potential for enhanced CO capture applications compared to conventional absorption-based methods currently utilized in various industrial settings.

Adverse events during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ecuador: high frequency of healthcare-associated infections and increasing hospital stay and costs.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic generated high workloads given the high volume of seriously ill patients; conditions that could increase the risk of adverse events (AE). This study analyzed the frequency of AE in patients with COVID-19 and their effect on mortality, hospital stay and costs.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included in-patients with COVID-19 at a single hospital between March 2020-June 2021.

Influence of Increase in Phosphorus Supply on Agronomic, Phenological, and Physiological Performance of Two Common Bean Breeding Lines Grown in Acidic Soil under High Temperature Stress Conditions.

Many common bean ( L.) plants cultivated in areas of the world with acidic soils exhibit difficulties adapting to low phosphorus (P) availability, along with aluminum (Al) toxicity, causing yield loss. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of an increase in P supply level on the agronomic, phenological, and physiological performance of two common bean breeding lines grown in acidic soil, with low fertility and under high temperature conditions, in a screenhouse.

Effect of salinity on genes involved in the stress response in mangrove soils.

Mangroves are a challenging ecosystem for the microorganisms that inhabit them, considering they are subjected to stressful conditions such as high and fluctuating salinity. Metagenomic analysis of mangrove soils under contrasting salinity conditions was performed at the mouth of the Ranchera River to the Caribbean Sea in La Guajira, Colombia, using shotgun sequencing and the Illumina Hiseq 2500 platform. Functional gene analysis demonstrated that salinity could influence the abundance of microbial genes involved in osmoprotectant transport, DNA repair, heat shock proteins (HSP), and Quorum Sensing, among others.