Provoked Seizure Triggered By Electrolyte Imbalance And Substance Use: A Case Report.

This case report explores the diagnostic challenges in evaluating first-time seizures by highlighting the importance of differentiating between provoked and unprovoked seizures. The patient, a 65-year-old female, experienced her first seizure during a yoga retreat in Costa Rica, influenced by a perfect storm of overlapping factors such as traveler's diarrhea, alcohol consumption, and THC use. Comprehensive evaluation and laboratory assessments revealed an elevated hematocrit and borderline magnesium deficiency.

Green Turtle Feeding on Terrestrial Leaves Reveals Energy Pathway From Land to Sea.

We report on an adult male green turtle () feeding on fallen leaves from a terrestrial tree, frangipani (), in the waters in front of Cabuyal-a known sea turtle nesting beach-on the north Pacific coast of Costa Rica. This observation, in conjunction with similar reports worldwide, corroborates that terrestrial leaves may be a common food item for green turtles in areas near mangrove forests or coastal deciduous trees. Our observation also indicates that male turtles may feed during reproductive periods if food is available.

Stress levels, hematological condition, and productivity of plasma-producing horses used for snake antivenom manufacture: A comparison of two industrial bleeding methods.

The immunization and industrial bleeding of horses are essential stages for producing snake antivenoms. In Costa Rica, the traditional method involves stimulating the antibody response of horses by periodically injecting venoms, collecting hyperimmune plasma over three consecutive bleeding days, and repeating this process every eight weeks. While this method does not cause major physical or hematological issues in horses, the associated stress has not been evaluated.

Impact of knowledge of HPV positivity on cervical cytology performance in latin america.

Background: Cervical cytology is recommended by WHO as a triage option in HPV-based cervical cancer screening programmes. We assessed the performance of cytology to detect CIN3+ without and with knowledge of HPV positivity.

Methods: Women were screened with cytology and HPV across ESTAMPA study centres in Latin America.

Diversity pattern and antibiotic activity of microbial communities inhabiting a karst cave from Costa Rica.

The studies of cave bacterial communities worldwide have revealed their potential to produce antibiotic molecules. In Costa Rica, ~400 caves have been identified; however, their microbial diversity and biotechnological potential remain unexplored. In this work, we studied the chemical composition and microbial diversity of a Costa Rican cave (known as the Amblipigida cave) located in Puntarenas, Costa Rica.

HPV16/18 antibodies 16-years after single dose of bivalent HPV vaccination: Costa Rica HPV vaccine trial.

Background: The Costa Rica HPV Vaccine Trial provided initial evidence that 1 dose of the bivalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine induces stabilizing antibody levels that may provide extended protection against HPV-16/18 infections. We report antibody seropositivity and stability 11 to 16 years after vaccination.

Methods: We invited a random subset of Costa Rica HPV Vaccine Trial participants (n = 398) who had received 3 doses and all women (n = 203) who had received 1 dose at 18 to 25 years of age to follow-up visits 11, 14, and 16 years after vaccination.

Giardia lamblia risk factors and burden in children with acute gastroenteritis in a Nicaraguan birth cohort.

Background: Giardia lamblia is an intestinal protozoan estimated to cause ~200 million symptomatic infections annually, mainly in children in low- and middle-income countries associated with intestinal damage, increased permeability, and malabsorption.

Methods And Results: We describe here the epidemiology, incidence, clinical characteristics, and risk factors of acute gastroenteritis episodes (AGE) with G. lamblia detection (GAGE) using a birth cohort of 443 Nicaraguan children followed weekly until 36 months of life.

sp. nov. (Bothriocephalidae Blanchard, 1849), a cestode parasite of the shorthead lizardfish (Synodontidae) from the Pacific coast of Costa Rica.

A new species of bothriocephalid cestode in the genus is described from the intestine of the shorthead lizardfish from the north Pacific coast of Costa Rica. The new species is described based on an integrative taxonomic approach that includes the use of light and scanning electron microscopy, 28S rDNA sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis. sp.

SMI-Capsular Fibrosis and Biofilm Dynamics: Molecular Mechanisms, Clinical Implications, and Antimicrobial Approaches.

Silicone mammary implants (SMIs) frequently result in capsular fibrosis, which is marked by the overproduction of fibrous tissue surrounding the implant. This review provides a detailed examination of the molecular and immunological mechanisms driving capsular fibrosis, focusing on the role of foreign body responses (FBRs) and microbial biofilm formation. We investigate how microbial adhesion to implant surfaces and biofilm development contribute to persistent inflammation and fibrotic responses.

Hydration profile of the Latin American population and the contribution of total daily pure water. The ELANS study.

Introduction: water is a crucial component of human health useful for various bodily functions. Despite its importance, previous research has largely overlooked hydration in Latin America, focusing instead on regions with greater access to a variety of food sources. Objective: hence, this study provides comprehensive data on water consumption patterns in this region and analyses the hydration profiles of urban Latin American populations, emphasizing the role of pure water in daily intake.

The role of the cyclooxygenase-2 pathway in tissue ischemia and revascularization following skeletal muscle injury induced by bothropic snake venom.

Bothrops asper venom (Bav) contains metalloproteinases that disrupt the microvascular system, impairing muscle tissue regeneration after injury. This study investigated the impact of the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) pathway on vascular injury and revascularization in muscle injuries induced by Bav. Mice were injected with Bav into the gastrocnemius muscle and treated with lumiracoxib, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, 30 min, 2 days, and 6 days post-Bav injection.

Frequency and clinical characteristics of children and young people with type 2 diabetes at diagnosis from five world regions between 2012 and 2021: data from the SWEET Registry.

Aims/hypothesis: The diagnosis of type 2 diabetes is increasing in young people worldwide. This study evaluated the frequency and clinical characteristics of young people presenting with type 2 diabetes from the multinational SWEET e.V Registry 2012-2021, including the first years of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Latin American Natural Product Database (LANaPDB): An Update.

Natural product (NP) databases are crucial tools in computer-aided drug design (CADD). Over the past decade, there has been a worldwide effort to assemble information regarding natural products (NPs) isolated and characterized in certain geographical regions. In 2023, it was published LANaPDB, and to our knowledge, this is the first attempt to gather and standardize all the NP databases of Latin America.

Clutch attendance and call parameters are linked to mating success in a glassfrog with paternal care.

Females of some species improve their reproductive success not only by being choosy and selecting males with certain traits, but also by sequentially mating with multiple males within one reproductive season. However, it is relatively unknown whether females also evaluate parental care during mate choice and, if they do, whether males actively communicate their care status to approaching females. We monitored a natural population of the glassfrog , a species with sequential polyandry and paternal care, to assess the role of parental care and advertisement calling on male mating success.

Circulating microRNAs associated with bronchodilator response in childhood asthma.

Background: Bronchodilator response (BDR) is a measure of improvement in airway smooth muscle tone, inhibition of liquid accumulation and mucus section into the lumen in response to short-acting beta-2 agonists that varies among asthmatic patients. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are well-known post-translational regulators. Identifying miRNAs associated with BDR could lead to a better understanding of the underlying complex pathophysiology.

CoVEx: SARS-CoV-2 Mutation Explorer for genomic surveillance.

Effective management of emerging diseases relies on timely pathogen identification and monitoring. The emergence of COVID-19 in December 2019, rapidly evolved into a global pandemic, with millions of cases and deaths reported worldwide. The accumulation of SARS-CoV-2 genomes provided unprecedented opportunities for studying the virus's evolutionary dynamics, understanding the impact of mutations, and identifying emerging Variants of Interest (VOIs) and Variants of Concern (VOCs).

Coupling between microbial assemblages and environmental drivers along a tropical estuarine gradient.

The change in the community structure of phytoplankton and bacterioplankton, and in the degree of coupling between them as well as the environmental conditions, have substantial impacts on the transfer of energy to higher trophic levels and finally on the fate of organic matter. The microbial community structure, usually described only by the abundance of the different taxonomic or functional groups, can be extended to include other levels of descriptors, like physiological state and single-cell properties. These features play a role in the ecological regulation of microbial communities but are not generally studied as additional descriptors of the community structure.

MiR-107 and Its Association With House Dust Mite Sensitisation: Implications for Asthma.

Introduction: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been linked to allergic diseases but their effects on sensitisation to allergens in individuals with asthma are unknown. We aimed to identify miRNAs associated with house dust mite (HDM) sensitisation in childhood asthma.

Methods: Serum samples from 1126 children with asthma who participated in the Genetics of Asthma in Costa Rica Study (GACRS) were profiled for 304 miRNAs.

Documenting adaptations to an evidence-based intervention in 58 resource-variable pediatric oncology hospitals across implementation phases.

Background: Adaptation of evidence-based interventions (EBIs) often occurs when implemented in new local contexts and settings. It is unclear, however, during which phase of implementation adaptations are most frequently made and how these changes may impact the fidelity, effectiveness, and sustainability of the EBI. Pediatric Early Warning Systems (PEWS) are EBIs for early identification of deterioration in hospitalized children with cancer.