Image-Based Detection and Classification of Malaria Parasites and Leukocytes with Quality Assessment of Romanowsky-Stained Blood Smears.

Malaria remains a global health concern, with 249 million cases and 608,000 deaths being reported by the WHO in 2022. Traditional diagnostic methods often struggle with inconsistent stain quality, lighting variations, and limited resources in endemic regions, making manual detection time-intensive and error-prone. This study introduces an automated system for analyzing Romanowsky-stained thick blood smears, focusing on image quality evaluation, leukocyte detection, and malaria parasite classification.

Evolution of the Quality of Care in Patients with Decompensated Heart Failure in a Venezuelan Hospital.

Several parameters have been proposed for the objective measurement of the quality of care (QoC) and breaches of care in patients with heart failure (HF). Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the measures of QoC in inpatients with decompensated HF in the cardiology department of a tertiary Venezuelan hospital. : An observational, descriptive, ambispective study was conducted with adults of all genders diagnosed with decompensated HF between 2022 and 2024.

Specialized Metabolite Profiling-Based Variations of Watercress Leaves ( R.Br.) from Hydroponic and Aquaponic Systems.

Watercress (), a freshwater aquatic plant in the Brassicaceae family, is characterized by its high content of specialized metabolites, including flavonoids, glucosinolates, and isothiocyanates. Traditionally, commercial cultivation is conducted in submerged beds using river or spring water, often on soil or gravel substrates. However, these methods have significant environmental impacts, such as promoting eutrophication due to excessive fertilizer use and contaminating water sources with pesticides.

Exploring Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents (NADES) for Enhanced Essential Oil Extraction: Current Insights and Applications.

Essential oils (EOs) are highly valued in the cosmetic and food industries for their diverse properties. However, traditional extraction methods often result in low yields, inconsistent compositions, lengthy extraction times, and the use of potentially harmful solvents. Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) have emerged as promising alternatives, offering advantages such as higher efficiency, cost-effectiveness, biodegradability, and tunable properties.

Histology Assessment of Chitosan-Polyvinyl Alcohol Scaffolds Incorporated with CaO Nanoparticles.

Scaffolds for regenerative therapy can be made from natural or synthetic polymers, each offering distinct benefits. Natural biopolymers like chitosan (CS) are biocompatible and biodegradable, supporting cell interactions, but lack mechanical strength. Synthetic polymers like polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) provide superior mechanical strength and cost efficiency but are not biodegradable or supportive of cell adhesion.

Influence of Environmental Factors on the Aboveground Biomass of Mature and Postmining Forests in Chocó.

Environmental factors control the accumulation of aboveground biomass (AB) in tropical forests, along with the role of AB in climate change mitigation. As such, the objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of factors such as forest type, succession, abundance of individuals, species richness, height, diameter, texture, and soil nutrient levels on the AB in mature and postmining forests in Chocó, Colombia. Five plots each were set up in primary and postmining forests with 15 and 30 years of regeneration, in which the amount of AB was measured and related to the environmental factors.

Efficacy of Telerehabilitation Protocols for Improving Functionality in Post-COVID-19 Patients.

Background And Aims: Telerehabilitation is essential for the recovery of post-COVID-19 patients, improving exercise tolerance, dyspnea, functional capacity, and daily activity performance. This study aimed to describe telerehabilitation protocols specifically designed for individuals with post-COVID-19 sequelae.

Materials And Methods: A systematic review was conducted with registration number CRD42023423678, based on searches developed in the following databases: ScienceDirect, Scopus, Dimensions.

Optimisation of Using Low-Grade Kaolinitic Clays in Limestone Calcined Clay Cement Production (LC3).

LC3 (limestone calcined clay cement) is poised to become the construction industry's future as a so-called low-carbon-footprint cement. Research into this subject has determined the minimum kaolinite content in calcined clays to guarantee good mechanical performance. This study examines the use of clay from the Valencian Community (Spain), which has a lower kaolinite content than the recommended amount (around 30%) for use in LC3 and how its performance can be enhanced by replacing part of that clay with metakaolin.

Analysis of Porosity-Water/Binder Index for Prediction of Strength and Stiffness of Cemented Sands: A Comparative Study.

Artificial sand cementation improves stability, stiffness, and mechanical strength, making it a critical process in geotechnical applications. This study analyzes the capability of the porosity-water/binding agent index (ηCw/Biv) to predict cemented sands' unconfined compressive strength (qu) and stiffness (Go). Four Colombian sands, i.

Searching for More Effective Food Baits for Tephritid Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae): Performance of Newly Developed Vial-Lures Relative to Torula Yeast Borax.

Food-baited traps are an important part of early detection programs for invasive tephritid fruit fly species, as they are attractive to both sexes of all targeted species. Torula yeast borax (TYB) mixture is a standard food bait, but its longevity is limited (1-2 weeks). Synthetic food-based lures have been developed, including ammonium acetate, putrescine, and trimethylamine.

Heat Stress in Dairy Cows: Impacts, Identification, and Mitigation Strategies-A Review.

Heat stress in animals affects productivity, health, and reproduction, with particularly pronounced effects in dairy cows. Identifying heat stress requires understanding both physiological and environmental indicators, such as increased heart rate, respiratory rate, and rectal temperature, which reflect the animal's thermal condition within its environment. Thermoregulation in cows involves behavioral and physiological adjustments to maintain homeothermy, aiming to stabilize their internal thermal state.

Periodontal Indices as Predictors of Cognitive Decline: Insights from the PerioMind Colombia Cohort.

: Poor oral health and periodontitis have been epidemiologically linked to cognitive decline and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in older adults. However, specific metrics directly linking these clinical signs are exceedingly limited. : To address this gap and develop novel tools to help clinicians identify individuals at risk of cognitive decline, we established the PerioMind Colombia Cohort, comprising elderly Colombian subjects who underwent comprehensive neurocognitive and periodontal evaluations.

Climate Change and Health: A Study of the Attitudes of Future Science Teachers.

Living beings as open systems depend on climate and weather to survive. However, changes in the Earth's climatology, which have become more frequent since the industrial period, have affected different territories of the planet, limiting access to ecosystem services and causing imbalances in health and well-being. The first purpose of this study is to conduct a literature review on academic production regarding climate change and its impact on health, in the context of education, using international academic production condensed in the Web of Science (WOS) database over the last 10 years as a reference.

Quality of life in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in Latin American countries.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the most common Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD). It is characterized by dyspnoea and a progressive decline in lung function, which negatively affects life. This study aimed to evaluate Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in IPF patients in Latin American countries.

Occurrence of Chiorchis fabaceus (Trematoda: Cladorchiidae) in a wild Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus): New parasitological data for this imperilled sirenian.

Parasites impact wildlife populations and ecosystem health, thereby demanding regular monitoring. As part of the national conservation effort to preserve the free-ranging sirenians in Colombia, a parasitological survey was conducted between 2011 and 2023 on naturally deceased Antillean manatees (Trichechus manatus manatus). A total of 17 stranded carcasses were analysed for the occurrence of parasites.

Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of zinc oxide nanoparticles in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) are of interest in biomedical applications, environmental remediation, and agriculture. ZnO-NPs inhibit the growth of phytopathogenic fungi and bacteria. We have evaluated their effects on mitochondrial function and the induction of membrane damage, apoptosis, and DNA damage in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in vitro.

Development of edible films based on sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) starch and their application in candy packaging.

Recent studies have focused on the generation of biomaterials from natural sources, highlighting the use of starch from different sources to obtain edible films and coatings. In this study, edible films were developed from sweet potato starch, and their potential use in candy packaging was evaluated. Films were prepared by the casting method, and the effects of sweet potato starch (3 %-5 % w/w), glycerol (0.

Prevalence of FGFR2b Protein Overexpression in Advanced Gastric Cancers During Prescreening for the Phase III FORTITUDE-101 Trial.

Purpose: Fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 isoform IIIb (FGFR2b) protein overexpression is an emerging biomarker in gastric cancer and gastroesophageal junction cancer (GC). We assessed FGFR2b protein overexpression prevalence in nearly 3,800 tumor samples as part of the prescreening process for a global phase III study in patients with newly diagnosed advanced or metastatic GC.

Methods: As of June 28, 2024, 3,782 tumor samples from prescreened patients from 37 countries for the phase III FORTITUDE-101 trial (ClinicalTrials.

Clinical and economic burden of varicella in pediatric patients hospitalized in four institutions in Guatemala.

Varicella presents a public health challenge in Guatemala, with limited evidence regarding its impact; vaccine is currently absent from the national immunization program. Generating local data on the economic and health burden can support immunization policies. This study describes the use of hospital resources, costs of care, clinical and demographic characteristics, and complications in children with varicella.

Comparative metabolic study of planktonic and sessile cells in Salmonella Enteritidis ATCC 13076: Elucidating metabolic pathways driving biofilm formation.

Microorganisms tend to accumulate on surfaces, forming aggregates such as biofilms, which grant them resistance to various environmental stressors and antimicrobial agents. This ability has hindered the effective treatment of diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms, including Salmonella, which is responsible for a significant number of deaths worldwide. This study aimed to compare the metabolic profiles of planktonic and sessile cells of Salmonella Enteritidis using a metabolomics approach.

Factors influencing the adoption of e-government by female university students.

The primary purpose of electronic government (e-government) is to promote transparency, facilitate access to government services, and strengthen the accountability of public institutions in the digital transformation age. However, few studies have explored the factors that affect women's adoption of e-government, especially in emerging economies. Consequently, this study aims to identify the factors that influence the adoption of e-government services by young women in Medellín, Colombia.

A protocol for loading Calcein-AM into extracellular vesicles from mammalian cells for clear visualization with a fluorescence microscope coupled to a deconvolution system.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-bound structures produced and released into the extracellular space by all types of cells. Due to their characteristics, EVs play crucial roles in cellular communication and signaling, holding an immense potential as biomarkers and molecular transporters. Various methods have been developed to label and characterize EVs, however, visualizing EVs remains a process that requires highly specialized and expensive equipment, which is not always available in all the laboratories.

Mucosal leishmaniasis is associated with the Leishmania RNA virus and inappropriate cutaneous leishmaniasis treatment.

Background: Mucosal leishmaniasis (ML) is a severe clinical form of leishmaniasis that is characterized by the destruction of the nasal and/or the oral mucosae and appears as a late complication in 5% to 10% of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) cases produced by species belonging to Leishmania (Viannia) subgenus. Some strains of Leishmania spp. carry an RNA virus known as Leishmania RNA virus (LRV) that may contribute to the appearance of ML.

Suction tube uterine tamponade versus uterine balloon tamponade for treatment of refractory postpartum hemorrhage: A randomized clinical feasibility trial.

Objective: To compare low-cost "Suction Tube Uterine Tamponade" (STUT) treatment for refractory postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) with uterine balloon tamponade (UBT) using a randomized feasibility study.

Methods: After verbal assent, we allocated participants with refractory PPH by randomly ordered envelopes to STUT or routine UBT at 10 hospitals in South Africa and one tertiary referral center in Colombia between January 10, 2020, and May 3, 2024. In the STUT group, we inserted a 24 FG Levin stomach tube into the uterine cavity and applied suction.