Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is one of the illnesses caused by
Leishmania
parasite infection, which can be asymptomatic or severe according to the infecting
Leishmania
strain. CL is commonly ...diagnosed by directly detecting the parasites or their DNA in tissue samples. New diagnostic methodologies target specific proteins (biomarkers) secreted by the parasite during the infection process. However, specific bioreceptors for the in vivo or in vitro detection of these novel biomarkers are rather limited in terms of sensitivity and specificity. For this reason, we here introduce three novel peptides as bioreceptors for the highly sensitive and selective identification of acid phosphatase (sAP) and proteophosphoglycan (PPG), which have a crucial role in leishmaniasis infection. These high-affinity peptides have been designed from the conservative domains of the lectin family, holding the ability to interact with the biological target and produce the same effect than the original protein. The synthetic peptides have been characterized and the affinity and kinetic constants for their interaction with the targets (sAP and PPG) have been determined by a surface plasmon resonance biosensor. Values obtained for K
D
are in the nanomolar range, which is comparable to high-affinity antibodies, with the additional advantage of a high biochemical stability and simpler production. Pep2854 exhibited a high affinity for sAP (K
D
= 1.48 nM) while Pep2856 had a good affinity for PPG (K
D
1.76 nM). This study evidences that these peptidomimetics represent a novel alternative tool to the use of high molecular weight proteins for biorecognition in the diagnostic test and biosensor devices for CL.
Graphical abstract
Monitoring European rabbit (
Oryctolagus cuniculus
) populations using suitable methods is crucial, especially in those areas in which endangered predators remain and rabbits occur at low densities. ...We first counted the number of rabbits, the number of scattered pellets, and the number of latrines counted within 16 plots established in areas of low rabbit density, showing that the number of rabbits counted inside the plots was more closely correlated with the number of pellets counted than with the number of latrines. In addition, no latrines were found in 8 plots. In 53 walking transects, the number of pellets m
−2
and the number of latrines km
−1
had a positive relationship, but no significant correlation was obtained between the two methods when only the transects with a low rabbit abundance were selected. These results suggest that although counting latrines can be useful to compare areas with different abundances, it may underestimate rabbit abundance at low abundances where counting scattered pellets is, therefore, the most accurate alternative.
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•Agricultural practices driven by the ‘intensification’ have caused erosion problems.•The use of cover crops attenuates the problems related to erosion.•High rabbit abundances may ...prevent the establishment of cover crop.•Unpalatable species are a good alternative to establish these cover crops.•arvensis can contribute to soil conservation and improvement in olive groves.
Sustainability is a key attribute for the future of the olive grove. Cover crops can be considered as an effective tool to achieve sustainability of olive orchards to reduce soil erosion, improve soil fertility and increase biodiversity. However, wild herbivores may forage on cover crops when natural food resources are scarce. In this study we assessed the impact of European rabbit grazing on the implantation of herbaceous cover crops of two native plant species, one palatable (Bromus rubens L.) and the other unpalatable (Anthemis arvensis L.) in two olive orchards with very scarce vegetation cover in Andalusia, Southern Spain. Eight rabbit exclusion plots, close to eight other unfenced plots, were planted where the aboveground biomass, height and the ground covered by each species were measured. The results showed that the biomass, height and the ground cover by B. rubens were higher in the rabbit exclusion areas (ground cover: 36.5±3.3%; height: 30.3±3.9cm, averaged over the entire measuring period; and biomass: 158±36g/m2, in April) than in unfenced areas (ground cover: 1.9±0.2%; height: 5.6±0.7cm; biomass: ≅0), while A. arvensis showed no difference in biomass, height or ground cover between the two treatments (ground cover: 11.3±6.3%; height: 12.2±7.9cm, averaged over the entire measuring period; and biomass: 49.5±10g/m2, in April). The results further showed that the damage by rabbits was caused from the early stages of development of B. rubens, which avoid its growth; notwithstanding the plant biomass consumption was minimal, the damage caused was critical. These findings suggest that unpalatable species such as A. arvensis could be a suitable tool for establishing herbaceous cover crops in olive groves at high rabbit densities, where other palatable species (e.g., B. rubens) are strongly consumed, thus contributing to soil conservation and improvement in olive groves with soils already degraded by erosion.
Rabbits can successfully avoid their enemies by evaluating the risk of predation. They have various defensive strategies, such as morphological adaptations and behaviours patterns, which enable them ...to perceive their predators and thus reduce the risk of predation. It is well documented that rabbits recognise the scats of terrestrial predators and avoid those areas in which they are present. However, few studies show whether the prey species can recognise the presence of congeners in carnivores’ scats, which would allow them to identify their predators in a more efficient manner. We have carried out a comparative analysis of the use of space made by rabbits on plots on which a neutral odour (water) or the odours of the ferrets’ scats that had consumed either rabbit or another mammal (beef) were applied. Our results showed a lower number of rabbit pellets on those plots containing predator odours than on the control plots. During the first 6 days after applying the first odour, the number of rabbit pellets was lower on plots on which rabbit had been included in the diet when compared with scats obtained from a beef diet. However, no differences between the two experimental plots were recorded during the third visit (9 days after applying the first odour). Our results suggest that rabbits may be able to detect congeners in their predators’ scats, thus leading them to, in the short term, avoid areas in which their terrestrial predators’ diet is based on conspecifics, probably as the result of them perceiving a higher risk of predation.
Objetivo Determinar la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud (CVRS) en población general del área urbana de Bucaramanga.Metodología Encuesta transversal, realizada entre septiembre y noviembre de ...2013, donde se aplicó el cuestionario SF-36 para medir CVRS en población general residentes en cuatro barrios seleccionados por conveniencia. La información fue sistematizada en el programa Excel, se calcularon puntajes por cada dominio y se compararon por edad, sexo, ocupación, escolaridad y estrato socioeconómico de los participantes.Resultados Se entrevistaron 1 098 personas entre 15 y 99 años, 732 (66,7%) mujeres, con edad promedio de 46 años, mediana de escolaridad de 11 años, residentes en estratos socioeconómicos 1 a 4, dedicados principalmente a actividades de comercio/servicios y hogar. Los puntajes en todos los dominios fueron superiores a 60%, considerados indicadores de buena CVRS. Sin embargo, hay un decline de la CVRS con el aumento de la edad, en contraste, los hombres mostraron mejores puntajes de CVRS que las mujeres en todos los dominios, además los estudiantes y personas con mayor escolaridad presentaron niveles más altos de CVRS.Discusión La CVRS en ésta población fue reportada como buena, sin embargo, se identificaron diferencias por edad, sexo, escolaridad y ocupación; que pueden sugerir inequidades en el acceso y uso de los servicios de salud. Estos hallazgos orientan acciones de promoción de la salud tendientes a mejorar la CVRS en éstos grupos vulnerables, como parte de las estrategias del Plan Decenal de Salud Pública en la ciudad.
To determine the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in the general population from the urban area of Bucaramanga.
Cross-sectional survey conducted between September and November 2013. The SF-36 ...questionnaire was applied to measure HRQoL in the general population of four neighborhoods selected for convenience. The information was systematized in Excel and scores for each domain were calculated and compared by age, sex, occupation, schooling and socioeconomic status of the participants.
Interviews were conducted with 1 098 people, aged between 15 and 99 years, 732 (66.7%) women, with an average age of 46 years, median of schooling of 11 years, residents in socioeconomic strata 1 to 4, dedicated mainly to commerce/services and home. The scores in all the domains were above 60%, which is considered an indicator of good HRQoL; however, HRQoL decreases as age increases. On the other hand, men showed better HRQoL scores than women in all domains, as well as students and people with higher education.
The HRQoL in this population was reported as good, although differences were identified by age, sex, education and occupation that may suggest inequities in the access and use of health services. These findings guide health promotion actions aimed at improving HRQoL in these vulnerable groups as part of the strategies of the Ten-Year Public Health Plan of the city.
Objective To study the impact on postoperative costs of a patient's antithrombin levels associated with outcomes after cardiac surgery with extracorporeal circulation. Design An analytic decision ...model was designed to estimate costs and clinical outcomes after cardiac surgery in a typical patient with low antithrombin levels (<63.7%) compared with a patient with normal antithrombin levels (≥63.7%). The data used in the model were obtained from a literature review and subsequently validated by a panel of experts in cardiothoracic anesthesiology. Setting Multi-institutional (14 Spanish hospitals). Participants Consultant anesthesiologists. Measurements and Main Results A sensitivity analysis of extreme scenarios was carried out to assess the impact of the major variables in the model results. The average cost per patient was €18,772 for a typical patient with low antithrombin levels and €13,881 for a typical patient with normal antithrombin levels. The difference in cost was due mainly to the longer hospital stay of a patient with low antithrombin levels compared with a patient with normal levels (13 v 10 days, respectively, representing a €4,596 higher cost) rather than to costs related to the management of postoperative complications (€215, mostly owing to transfusions). Sensitivity analysis showed a high variability range of approximately ±55% of the base case cost between the minimum and maximum scenarios, with the hospital stay contributing more significantly to the variation. Conclusions Based on this analytic decision model, there could be a marked increase in the postoperative costs of patients with low antithrombin activity levels at the end of cardiac surgery, mainly ascribed to a longer hospitalization.
Human, animal, and environmental health are increasingly threatened by the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance. Inappropriate use of antibiotic treatments commonly contributes to this ...threat, but it is also becoming apparent that multiple, interconnected environmental factors can play a significant role. Thus, a One Health approach is required for a comprehensive understanding of the environmental dimensions of antibiotic resistance and inform science-based decisions and actions. The broad and multidisciplinary nature of the problem poses several open questions drawing upon a wide heterogeneous range of studies.
This study seeks to collect and catalogue the evidence of the potential effects of environmental factors on the abundance or detection of antibiotic resistance determinants in the outdoor environment, i.e., antibiotic resistant bacteria and mobile genetic elements carrying antibiotic resistance genes, and the effect on those caused by local environmental conditions of either natural or anthropogenic origin.
Here, we describe the protocol for a systematic evidence map to address this, which will be performed in adherence to best practice guidelines. We will search the literature from 1990 to present, using the following electronic databases: MEDLINE, Embase, and the Web of Science Core Collection as well as the grey literature. We shall include full-text, scientific articles published in English. Reviewers will work in pairs to screen title, abstract and keywords first and then full-text documents. Data extraction will adhere to a code book purposely designed. Risk of bias assessment will not be conducted as part of this SEM.
We will combine tables, graphs, and other suitable visualisation techniques to compile a database i) of studies investigating the factors associated with the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in the environment and ii) map the distribution, network, cross-disciplinarity, impact and trends in the literature.
A new series of N–substituted 2–pyrazolines 9a–f, 10a–f, 11a–f, 12a–f and 13a–f were obtained from the cyclocondensation reaction of (7–chloroquinolin–4–yl)aminochalcones 8a–f with hydrazine hydrate ...and its derivatives. Fourteen of the synthesized compounds including the starting chalcones were selected by US National Cancer Institute (NCI) for testing their anticancer activity against 60 different human cancer cell lines, with the most important GI50 values ranging from 0.28 to 11.7 μM (0.13–6.05 μg/mL) and LC50 values ranging from 2.6 to > 100 μM (1.2 to > 51.7 μg/mL), for chalcones 8a,d and pyrazolines 10c,d. All compounds were assessed for antibacterial activity against wild type and multidrug resistant gram negative and gram positive bacteria, with MIC values ranging from 31.25 to 500 μg/mL. Additionally, the novel compounds were tested for antifungal and antiparasitic properties. Although these compounds showed mild activity against Candida albicans, chalcones 8a and 8e showed high activity against Cryptococcus neoformans with MIC50 = 7.8 μg/mL. For anti–Plasmodium falciparum activity the 2–pyrazoline 11b was the most active with EC50 = 5.54 μg/mL. Regarding the activity against Trypanosoma cruzi, compound 10a was highly active with EC50 = 0.70 μg/mL. Chalcone 8a had good activity against Leishmania panamensis amastigotes with EC50 = 0.79 μg/mL.
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•New series of 4,5–dihydro–1H–pyrazoles were synthesized from quinoline–chalcones.•Compounds 8c,d and 10a,c showed important anticancer activity with GI50 0.28–11.7 μM.•Chalcones 8a and 8e showed excellent anti–C. neoformans activity with MIC50 = 7.8 μg/mL.•Pyrazoline 9d selectively inhibited N. gonorrhoeae growth.•Compounds 8a, 10a and 11b were active to Leishmania, Trypanosoma and Plasmodium, respectively.
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