The risk of thyroid cancer in relation to residential proximity to nuclear power plants: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Ionizing radiation is a human carcinogen, and there is a public concern but limited evidence that it increases the incidence of cancer among those who live near nuclear power plants (NPPs). Previous analyses of thyroid cancer in these populations have been inconsistent, and the last synthesis was published nearly a decade ago. To address these gaps, we undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Numerical Simulation of Autoresonant Ion Oscillations in an Anharmonic Electrostatic Trap.

This work presents the results of modeling the ion dynamics in the ART-MS (Autoresonant Trap Mass Spectrometry) device in the quasi-static approximation. This instrument utilizes an anharmonic, purely electrostatic trap for ion confinement and a radio frequency (RF) voltage source with decrementally varying frequency for selective ion extraction. The autoresonant interaction between the oscillatory motion of the ion and the RF voltage increases the amplitude of some confined ions, allowing their selective extraction.

Etiology and diagnostic approach of recurrent miscarriage at a reference center in Bucaramanga, Colombia.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the etiologies of recurrent miscarriage in our hospital and whether its diagnostic approach followed the recommendations of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) guidelines published in 2012 and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines published in 2011.

Methods: This was a retrospective study. The medical records of 158 patients diagnosed with recurrent miscarriage between 2013 and 2018 at Santander University Hospital were reviewed.

Spatiotemporal hierarchical Bayesian analysis to identify factors associated with COVID-19 in suburban areas in Colombia.

Introduction: The pandemic had a profound impact on the provision of health services in Cúcuta, Colombia where the neighbourhood-level risk of Covid-19 has not been investigated. Identifying the sociodemographic and environmental risk factors of Covid-19 in large cities is key to better estimate its morbidity risk and support health strategies targeting specific suburban areas. This study aims to identify the risk factors associated with the risk of Covid-19 in Cúcuta considering inter -spatial and temporal variations of the disease in the city's neighbourhoods between 2020 and 2022.

A very-low-calorie ketogenic diet normalises obesity-related enhanced levels of erythropoietin compared with a low-calorie diet or bariatric surgery.

Purpose: Nutritional ketosis synergistically with body-weight loss induced by a very-low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) has proven to be effective in improving obesity-related pathophysiology. Recently, growing attention has been focused on the relation between erythropoietin (EPO) and obesity. Thus, this study aims to investigate whether nutritional ketosis and weight loss induced by a VLCKD modify the circulating levels of EPO in patients with obesity in comparison with the effect of low-calorie diet (LCD) or bariatric surgery (BS).

Single-pill combination for treatment of hypertension: Just a matter of practicality or is there a real clinical benefit?

Elevated blood pressure (BP) is the largest contributor to the incident cardiovascular disease worldwide. Despite explicit guideline recommendations for the diagnosis and management of hypertension, a large proportion of patients remain undiagnosed, untreated, or treated but uncontrolled. Inadequate BP control is associated with many complex factors including patient preference, physician's inertia, health systems disparities, and poor adherence to prescribed antihypertensive drug treatment.

Electrophoretic Deposition of Calcium Phosphates on Carbon-Carbon Composite Implants: Morphology, Phase/Chemical Composition and Biological Reactions.

Despite a long period of application of metal implants, carbon-carbon medical composites are also widely used for bone defect prosthesis in surgery, dentistry, and oncology. Such implants might demonstrate excellent mechanical properties, but their biocompatibility and integration efficiency into the host should be improved. As a method of enhancing, the electrophoretic deposition of fine-dispersed hydroxyapatite (HAp) on porous carbon substrates might be recommended.

Route of exposure to veterinary products in bees: Unraveling pasture's impact on avermectin exposure and tolerance in stingless bees.

Deforestation rapidly increases in tropical regions, primarily driven by converting natural habitats into pastures for extensive cattle ranching. This landscape transformation, coupled with pesticide use, are key drivers of bee population decline. Here, we investigate the impact of pasture-dominated landscapes on colony performance, pesticide exposure, and insecticide sensitivity of the stingless bee .

Weight stigma and allostatic load in adults: protocol for a scoping review.

Introduction: Weight-related stigma (WS) has been associated with adverse psychosocial and physical health effects. Despite the relationship between WS and allostatic load, there are no integrative reviews of this association. This scoping review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the relationship between allostatic load biomarkers associated with WS by identifying gaps in this topic and proposing recommendations for future research.

Maternal ancestry and lineages diversity of the Santander population from Colombia.

Santander, located in the Andean region of Colombia, is one of the 32 departments of the country. Its population was shaped by intercontinental admixture between autochthonous native Americans, European settlers, and African slaves. To establish forensic databases of haplotype frequencies, the evaluation of population substructure is crucial to capture the genetic diversity in admixed populations.

Prediction of patient admission and readmission in adults from a Colombian cohort with bipolar disorder using artificial intelligence.

Introduction: Bipolar disorder (BD) is a chronically progressive mental condition, associated with a reduced quality of life and greater disability. Patient admissions are preventable events with a considerable impact on global functioning and social adjustment. While machine learning (ML) approaches have proven prediction ability in other diseases, little is known about their utility to predict patient admissions in this pathology.

Guidance for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring anti-genotoxicity.

Since DNA damage can occur spontaneously or be produced by the environmental genotoxins in living cells, it is important to investigate compounds that can reverse or protect DNA damage. An appropriate methodology is essential for the responsive identification of protection offered against DNA damage. This review includes information on the current state of knowledge on prokaryotic cell-based assays (SOS chromotest, umu test, vitotox assay) and cytogenetic techniques (micronucleus assay, chromosome aberration test and sister chromatid exchange assay) with an emphasis on the possibility to explore genoprotective compounds.

Novel and Accessible Physical Recycling for Expanded Polystyrene Waste with the Use of Acetone as a Solvent and Additive Manufacturing (Direct Ink-Write 3D Printing).

The current high production of plastics has prompted the exploration of alternative pathways to facilitate recycling, aiming for a progressively sustainable society. This paper presents an alternative and affordable technology for treating waste expanded polystyrene (EPS) mixed with acetone in a 100:1 volume ratio to be used as 3D printing ink for Direct Ink Write technology. In order to optimize the printing parameters, a comprehensive study was conducted, evaluating different needle diameters, printing speeds, and bed temperature values to achieve homogenous pieces and a highly repeatable 3D printing process.

Essential Oil or Thymol in Combination with Fluconazole Produces Damage to Cells and Reverses the Azole-Resistant Phenotype of a Strain.

is one of the most pathogenic species within the genus. Increased antifungal resistance has been reported, which is in part due to the organism's ability to form biofilms. In natural products derived from plants, such as essential oils (EOs) or their major components, there is significant potential to develop new antifungals or to both enhance the efficacy and reduce the toxicity of conventional antifungals.

Immediate Results of the Use of Split-Thickness Skin Autografts With and Without Acellular Dermal Matrix in Patients with Burns: A Comparative Study in a Colombian Population.

Dermal substitutes have become fundamental tools for covering skin defects, most recently with biological subtypes such as glycerolized acellular dermal matrix (GADM). However, literature regarding this matter is scarce in Latin America and Colombia. In this descriptive observational study, we compared the use of partial skin autografts (PSA) combined with GADM and autografts without GADM.

Progesterone circulation and follicular growth in adapted cows.

The creole breed Blanco Orejinegro ( adapted) is an important animal genetic resource in Colombia. However, very little is known about the reproductive physiology of the breed. The objective was to determine the dynamics of progesterone circulation and follicular growth in Blanco Orejinegro cows throughout the estrous cycle.

Internet of medical things. Measurement of respiratory dynamics using wearable sensors in post-COVID-19 patients.

Nowadays, the measurement of respiratory dynamics is underrated at clinical setting and in the daily life of a subject and it still represents a challenge from a technical and medical point of view. In this article we propose a concept to measure some of its parameters, such as the respiratory rate (RR), using four inertial sensors. Two different experiments were performed to validate the concept.

Austrian Syndrome: Community-Acquired Pneumonia in an Unusual Triad.

Austrian syndrome corresponds to the triad of meningitis, pneumonia, and endocarditis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, there is no global or local incidence given the infrequency of entity. Scarce cases are published in Latin America, with none of them in Colombia. A case of Austrian syndrome by penicillin-resistant S.

Base of the Third Metacarpal as a Palpable and Reliable Landmark for Identifying the Median Nerve's Thenar Branch.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to investigate whether the base of the third metacarpal can predict the location of the thenar branch (TB) of the median nerve and the accuracy of palpating the base of the third metacarpal.

Methods: In 15 patients with ulnar nerve lesions around the elbow, we transferred the opponens motor branch to repair the deep terminal division of the ulnar nerve (DTDUN). Before surgery, we located the TB by palpating the base of the third metacarpal volarly.

Mapping the risk of respiratory infections using suburban district areas in a large city in Colombia.

Background: Acute respiratory infections (ARI) in Cúcuta -Colombia, have a comparatively high burden of disease associated with high public health costs. However, little is known about the epidemiology of these diseases in the city and its distribution within suburban areas. This study addresses this gap by estimating and mapping the risk of ARI in Cúcuta and identifying the most relevant risk factors.