The microbiota metabolite, phloroglucinol, confers long-term protection against inflammation.

Phloroglucinol is a key byproduct of gut microbial metabolism that has been widely used as a treatment for irritable bowel syndrome. Here, we demonstrate that phloroglucinol tempers macrophage responses to pro-inflammatory pathogens and stimuli. , phloroglucinol administration decreases gut and extraintestinal inflammation in murine models of inflammatory bowel disease and systemic infection.

Examining the Effect of Freezing Temperatures on the Survival Rate of Micro-Encapsulated Probiotic LA5 Using the Flash Freeze-Drying (FFD) Strategy.

This work proposes a novel drying method suitable for probiotic bacteria, called flash freeze-drying (FFD), which consists of a cyclic variation in pressure (up-down) in a very short time and is applied during primary drying. The effects of three FFD temperatures (-25 °C, -15 °C, and -3 °C) on the bacterial survival and water activity of LA5 (LA), previously microencapsulated with calcium alginate and chitosan, were evaluated. The total process time was 900 min, which is 68.

Bioaccessibility and Antioxidant Capacity of Grape Seed and Grape Skin Phenolic Compounds After Simulated In Vitro Gastrointestinal Digestion.

Grapes present recognized beneficial effects on human health due to their polyphenolic composition. The grape overproduction together with the wine sales down and the world socioeconomic situation makes the wine grape valorization a promising strategy to give an added-value to this natural product. The objective of the present work was to study the influence of in vitro gastrointestinal digestion on antioxidant capacity and polyphenolic profile of skin and seed extracts of different grape varieties (Tempranillo, Graciano, Maturana tinta and Hondarrabi zuri).

Substance use and other correlates of HIV infection among transwomen and men who have sex with men in Perú: Implications for targeted HIV prevention strategies for transwomen.

Characterization of HIV risk factors among transwomen and men who have sex with men (MSM) should be assessed separately and independently. However, due to several constraints, these populations continue to be conflated in clinical research and data. There are limited datasets globally powered to make such comparisons.

Linkage to care after HIV diagnosis among men who have sex with men and transgender women in Lima, Peru.

In Lima, Perú, HIV prevalence is estimated to be 15% among men who have sex with men (MSM) and 30% among transgender women (TW). We investigated timely linkage of MSM and TW to HIV care, as linkage to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is critical to protect the health of those living with HIV and to prevent onward transmission. We investigated linkage within 90 days of HIV diagnosis by matching data from two studies conducted in Lima between 2013 and 2015 to national ART program records.

Grape polyphenols supplementation for exercise-induced oxidative stress.

Exercise induces free radicals' overproduction and therefore, an enhancement of oxidative stress, defined as an imbalance between the production of reactive species and the intrinsic antioxidant defense. Redox activity of reactive species plays an important and a positive role on exercise adaptation, but these species at very high concentrations have detrimental effects. As a result, the use of antioxidant supplements for reducing oxidative stress can be an effective health strategy to maintain an optimal antioxidant status.

Giving credit to residual bioresources: From municipal solid waste hydrolysate and waste plum juice to poly (3-hydroxybutyrate).

Municipal solid waste (MSW) is massively generated all over the world. Its organic fraction (OFMSW), which represents a high percentage of MSW, mainly contains biodegradable materials, namely food waste, paper and garden waste. The social cost of OFMSW treatment and/or disposal is a serious and widespread problem, particularly in highly populated areas.

Clinical and Immunologic Outcomes After Immediate or Deferred Antiretroviral Therapy Initiation During Primary Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection: The Sabes Randomized Clinical Study.

Background: In addition to demonstrated public health benefits on reducing transmission, it remains unclear how early antiretroviral therapy (ART) must be started after acquisition of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to maximize individual benefits.

Methods: We conducted an open-label randomized clinical study in Lima, Peru among adult men who have sex with men and transgender women with acute (HIV-antibody negative/HIV-1 RNA positive) or recent (confirmed negative HIV-antibody or RNA test within 3 months) HIV infection, who were randomized to start ART immediately versus defer by 24 weeks. We evaluated outcomes by treatment arm and immunologic markers by days since estimated date of detectible infection (EDDI).

Upgrading the organic fraction of municipal solid waste to poly(3-hydroxybutyrate).

The organic fraction of municipal solid waste was studied as feedstock for the production of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (P(3HB)). To release the monosaccharides, a diluted acid pre-treatment followed by an enzymatic hydrolysis was applied. A sugar yield of 49% was achieved using a pre-treated waste and an enzyme cocktail of Pentopan 500 BG and Celluclast BG.

Perceptions Prediagnosis and Social Experiences Postdiagnosis Among a Sample of High-Risk Peruvian Men Who Have Sex With Men.

This pilot study examines associations of perceived stigma pre-diagnosis with experienced stigma and social support post-diagnosis with qualitative data; and quantifies the interplay between pre- and post-diagnosis social factors on depressive symptoms among a sample of newly diagnosed Peruvian men who have sex with men (n = 67 total). Qualitative findings highlight the differences between perceptions of stigma pre-disclosure and actual social experiences post-disclosure for most participants. Perceived stigma pre-diagnosis was significantly related to post-diagnosis social support, -0.

Barriers in Latin America for the management of locally advanced breast cancer.

Breast cancer (BC) is a highly prevalent malignancy in Latin American women, most cases being diagnosed at locally advanced or metastatic stages when options for cancer care are limited. Despite its label as a public health problem in the region, Latin American BC patients face several barriers in accessing standard of care treatment when compared with patients from developed countries. In this review, we analyse the landscape of the four main identified barriers in the region: i) high burden of locally advanced/advanced BC; ii) inadequate access to medical resources; iii) deficient access to specialised cancer care and iv) insufficient BC research in Latin America.

Impact of pre-diagnosis awareness of HIV-related stigma and dispositional coping on linkage to HIV care among newly diagnosed HIV+ Peruvian patients.

A substantial body of literature has characterized how psychosocial factors, including HIV-related stigma and coping, are associated with HIV testing and HIV care utilization post-diagnosis. Less is known about if certain psychosocial characteristics pre-diagnosis may also predict linkage to care among individuals who receive an HIV-positive diagnosis. We examined if pre-diagnosis awareness/perception about HIV-related stigma and dispositional coping styles predicted linkage to HIV care within three months post-diagnosis with a secondary analysis of 604 patients from a randomized controlled trial (Sabes Study).

Individual and partnership factors associated with anticipated versus actual partner notification following STI diagnosis among men who have sex with men and/or with transgender women in Lima, Peru.

Objectives: A detailed understanding of intentions and practices related to partner notification (PN) following STI diagnosis can improve control strategies. We assessed participant-level and partner-level factors guiding notification behaviour among men who have sex with men and/or with transgender women (MSM-TW) in Lima, Peru, including discordances between anticipated and actual notification.

Methods: Men newly diagnosed with gonorrhoea, chlamydia and/or syphilis between 2012 and 2014 reported recent partners' characteristics, anticipated PN practices, and actual PN outcomes following diagnosis.

Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT) increases the frequency of partner notification among MSM in Lima, Peru: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Background: Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT) has been shown to improve treatment outcomes among heterosexual partners of individuals with curable sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Although the use of EPT with men who have sex with men (MSM) has been debated, due to the potential for missed opportunities to diagnose unidentified cases of HIV and syphilis infection in symptomatic partners, increases in partner notification (PN) resulting from use of EPT may promote testing and treatment of otherwise unidentified partners. We assessed the impact of EPT on self-reported PN among MSM in Peru with gonorrheal (GC) and/or chlamydial (CT) infection.

Human parainfluenza virus in patients with influenza-like illness from Central and South America during 2006-2010.

Background: Human parainfluenza viruses (HPIVs) are common viral causes of community-acquired pneumonia, particularly in children. The four types of HPIV have world-wide distribution; however, limited information exists about the epidemiological profile of HPIV in Latin-America.

Objective: Provide epidemiologic and phylogenetic information about HPIVs that circulated in Latin America between 2006 and 2010 to better characterize the extent and variability of this respiratory virus in the region.

Human rhinoviruses and enteroviruses in influenza-like illness in Latin America.

Background: Human rhinoviruses (HRVs) belong to the Picornaviridae family with high similarity to human enteroviruses (HEVs). Limited data is available from Latin America regarding the clinical presentation and strains of these viruses in respiratory disease.

Methods: We collected nasopharyngeal swabs at clinics located in eight Latin American countries from 3,375 subjects aged 25 years or younger who presented with influenza-like illness.

Serologic evidence for human hantavirus infection in Peru.

While human illness associated with hantavirus infection has been documented in many countries of South America, evidence for hantavirus transmission in Peru has been limited to the isolation of Rio Mamore virus from a pigmy mouse rat (Oligoryzomys microtis) in the Amazon city of Iquitos. To address the possibility of human hantavirus exposure in the region, we screened febrile patients reporting to health clinics in Iquitos from 2007 to 2010 for serological evidence of recent hantavirus infection. In addition, we conducted a serological survey for hantavirus-reactive IgG among healthy participants residing in Iquitos and rural areas surrounding the city.

Ochratoxin A removal from red wine by several oenological fining agents: bentonite, egg albumin, allergen-free adsorbents, chitin and chitosan.

The ability of several oenological fining agents to remove ochratoxin A (OTA) from red wine was studied. The adsorbents tested were activated sodium bentonite, egg albumin, allergen-free adsorbents (complex PVPP, plant protein and amorphous silica (complex) and high molecular weight gelatine), and the non-toxic biodegradable polymers (chitin and chitosan). Several dosages within the oenological use range were tested and the wine pH, colour parameters and polyphenol concentration impact associated with each fining agent were studied.

Condom use by partner type among military and police personnel in Peru.

The aim of this study was to analyze the rates of condom use among military and police populations in Peru, focusing on differences in use by type of partner. A Knowledge Attitudes and Practices survey was conducted among 6,808 military and police personnel in 18 Peruvian cities between August-September 2006 and September-October 2007. A total of 90.

Relationship between interpregnancy interval and birth defects in Washington State.

Objective: Interpregnancy interval (IPI) influences numerous adverse perinatal outcomes. IPI's impact on birth defects is unclear.

Study Design: We conducted a population-based case-control study, using 1998 to 2008 administrative data from Washington State.

Microencapsulation of a probiotic and prebiotic in alginate-chitosan capsules improves survival in simulated gastro-intestinal conditions.

Chitosan was used as a coating material to improve encapsulation of a probiotic and prebiotic in calcium alginate beads. Chitosan-coated alginate microspheres were produced to encapsulate Lactobacillus gasseri (L) and Bifidobacterium bifidum (B) as probiotics and the prebiotic quercetin (Q) with the objective of enhancing survival of the probiotic bacteria and keeping intact the prebiotic during exposure to the adverse conditions of the gastro-intestinal tract. The encapsulation yield for viable cells for chitosan-coated alginate microspheres with quercetin (L+Q and B+Q) was very low.

Influenza-like illness sentinel surveillance in Peru.

Background: Acute respiratory illnesses and influenza-like illnesses (ILI) are a significant source of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite the public health importance, little is known about the etiology of these acute respiratory illnesses in many regions of South America. In 2006, the Peruvian Ministry of Health (MoH) and the US Naval Medical Research Center Detachment (NMRCD) initiated a collaboration to characterize the viral agents associated with ILI and to describe the clinical and epidemiological presentation of the affected population.

Health enhancing strength training in nonagenarians (STRONG): rationale, design and methods.

Background: The Health Enhancing Strength Training in Nonagenarians (STRONG) is a randomised control trial to assess the effectiveness of an aerobic and strength training program for improving muscle strength, functional capacity and quality of life in nonagenarians.

Methods: Sixty (51 women) nonagenarians (age range: 90-102 years) who live in a geriatric nursing home will be randomly assigned to either a usual care (control) group (n = 30) or an intervention (training) group (n = 30). Participants allocated in the usual care group will receive general physical activity guidelines and participants allocated in the intervention group will also enroll in three weekly non-consecutive individualized training sessions (approximately 45-50 min each) during 8 weeks.