Triatoma infestans (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) Population Genetics: What Have We Learned from Microsatellites?
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe genetic structure of insect vectors offers valuable insights for identifying panmictic units, reinfestation sources, and minimal intervention units in vector control programs. This review highlights key findings on the genetic structure ofTriatoma infestans populations using microsatellites across various geographic scales and landscapes.Recent FindingsMicrosatellites have been employed to explore the genetic structure ofT. infestans across Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil, and Peru. Research has focused on understanding genetic structure, assessing the impacts of short and long-distance mi...
Source: Current Tropical Medicine Reports - February 24, 2024 Category: Tropical Medicine Source Type: research
Network analysis of pandemic fatigue symptoms in samples from five South American countries
CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to provide information on how pandemic fatigue symptoms were related during the COVID-19 pandemic.PMID:38279537 | DOI:10.1177/00207640231223430 (Source: The International Journal of Social Psychiatry)
Source: The International Journal of Social Psychiatry - January 27, 2024 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tom ás Caycho-Rodríguez Julio Torales Jos é Ventura-León Iv án Barrios Marcela Waisman-Campos Alexandra Terrazas-Landivar Laura Viola Lindsey W Vilca Agueda Mu ñoz-Del-Carpio-Toia Source Type: research
Burden of Stomach Cancer Incidence, Mortality, Disability-Adjusted Life Years, and Risk Factors in 204 Countries, 1990 –2019: An Examination of Global Burden of Disease 2019
ConclusionSignificant progress has been made globally in the fight against stomach cancer, with the ASIR decreasing by 30.3% and the ASMR by 41.2% between 1990 and 2019. To further reduce the burden of stomach cancer, it is essential to address factors such asHelicobacter pylori prevalence, obesity, and smoking. Additionally, improvements in early detection, socioeconomic development (including better public sanitation, hygiene, and drinking water), and dietary habits are imperative. (Source: Journal of Gastrointestinal Cancer)
Source: Journal of Gastrointestinal Cancer - January 24, 2024 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
The ultrasound-based cardiac output monitoring is a useful tool to define baseline hemodynamic parameters in healthy permanent residents at high altitude: results of a monocentric pilot study
Previous studies on the cardiac data of healthy permanent residents living in high-altitude regions such as Tibet and the Andes have yielded inconsistent findings and significant disparities. These discrepancies can be mainly attributed to the invasive methods conventionally used for parameter evaluation. However, with the introduction of cutting-edge ultrasound technology, there is now an innovative approach to addressing and reconciling these variations. In this pilot study, we employed an ultrasound-based cardiac output monitoring (USCOM) device to evaluate cardiac output and related hemodynamic variables in a group of ...
Source: Frontiers in Physiology - January 17, 2024 Category: Physiology Source Type: research
Laser mapping reveals oldest Amazonian cities, built 2500 years ago
Archaeologists once believed the ancient Amazon rainforest was an inhospitable place, sparsely populated by bands of hunter-gatherers. But the remains of enormous
earthworks
, pyramids, and roads from Bolivia to Brazil discovered over the past 2 decades have proved conclusively that the Amazon was home to large, complex societies long before European colonizers arrived. Now, there’s evidence that another human society—the oldest yet—left its mark on the region: A dense network of interconnected cities, now hidden beneath the forest in Ecuador’s Upano Valley, has been revealed by the laser mapping technolo...
Source: Science of Aging Knowledge Environment - January 11, 2024 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research
An observational cohort study on the effects of extended postoperative antibiotic prophylaxis on surgical-site infections in low- and middle-income countries
CONCLUSION: Prolonged postoperative antibiotics did not reduce surgical-site infection, but pervasive use was associated with a longer length of hospital stay, in resource-limited healthcare systems. With the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance, surgical initiatives to implement antimicrobial stewardship programmes in low- and middle-income countries are critical.PMID:38198157 | PMC:PMC10782210 | DOI:10.1093/bjs/znad438 (Source: The British Journal of Surgery)
Source: The British Journal of Surgery - January 10, 2024 Category: Surgery Authors: Clean Cut Investigators Group Source Type: research
Big is not better: Comparing two alpha-Gal-bearing glycotopes in neoglycoproteins as biomarkers for Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis infection
Carbohydr Res. 2023 Dec 28;536:109015. doi: 10.1016/j.carres.2023.109015. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThe protozoan parasite Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis is among Latin America's most widespread Leishmania species and is responsible for tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL). This disease has multiple clinical presentations, with cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) being the most frequent. It manifests as one or a few localized skin ulcers, which can spread to other body areas. Hence, early diagnosis and treatment, typically with pentavalent antimonials, is critical. Traditional diagnostic methods, like parasite culture, microscop...
Source: Carbohydrate Research - January 10, 2024 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Alba L Montoya Eileni R Gil Irodiel Vinales Igor L Estevao Paola Taboada Mary Cruz Torrico Faustino Torrico Jorge Diego Marco Igor C Almeida Katja Michael Source Type: research
Five-year serological and clinical evolution of chronic Chagas disease patients in Cochabamba, Bolivia
Conclusions/SignificanceThe study confirms that follow-up of benznidazole-treatedT.cruzi-infected patients should be longer than five years to determine, with current tools, if they are cured. In terms of serological evolution, the single use of a total antigen ELISA might be a more reliable measure and suffice to address infection status, at least in the region of Bolivia where the study was done. Additional work is needed to develop a test-of-cure for an early assessment of drugs ´ efficacy with the aim of improving case management protocols. (Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases)
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - December 29, 2023 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Jimy Pinto Source Type: research
Testosterone is positively associated with coronary artery calcium in a low cardiovascular disease risk population
CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Among Tsimane, testosterone is positively associated with coronary artery calcium despite generally low normal testosterone levels, minimal atherosclerosis and rare cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. Associations between low testosterone and CVD events in industrialized populations are likely confounded by obesity and other lifestyle factors.PMID:38145005 | PMC:PMC10746324 | DOI:10.1093/emph/eoad039 (Source: Atherosclerosis)
Source: Atherosclerosis - December 25, 2023 Category: Cardiology Authors: Benjamin C Trumble Jacob Negrey Stephanie V Koebele Randall C Thompson L Samuel Wann Adel H Allam Bret Beheim M Linda Sutherland James D Sutherland Daniel Eid Rodriguez David E Michalik Chris J Rowan Guido P Lombardi Angela R Garcia Daniel K Cummings Edmo Source Type: research
Testosterone is positively associated with coronary artery calcium in a low cardiovascular disease risk population
CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Among Tsimane, testosterone is positively associated with coronary artery calcium despite generally low normal testosterone levels, minimal atherosclerosis and rare cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. Associations between low testosterone and CVD events in industrialized populations are likely confounded by obesity and other lifestyle factors.PMID:38145005 | PMC:PMC10746324 | DOI:10.1093/emph/eoad039 (Source: Atherosclerosis)
Source: Atherosclerosis - December 25, 2023 Category: Cardiology Authors: Benjamin C Trumble Jacob Negrey Stephanie V Koebele Randall C Thompson L Samuel Wann Adel H Allam Bret Beheim M Linda Sutherland James D Sutherland Daniel Eid Rodriguez David E Michalik Chris J Rowan Guido P Lombardi Angela R Garcia Daniel K Cummings Edmo Source Type: research
Kids with chattier parents are more talkative, may have bigger vocabulary
Why do some children learn to talk earlier than others? Linguists have pointed to everything from
socioeconomic status
to gender to the number of languages their parents speak. But a new study finds a simpler explanation.
An analysis of nearly 40,000 hours of audio recordings from children around the world suggests
kids speak more when the adults around them are more talkative, which may also give them a larger vocabulary early in life
. Factors such as social class appear to make no difference, researchers report this month in the
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences...
Source: Science of Aging Knowledge Environment - December 20, 2023 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research
Frequency of Gastrointestinal Parasites, Anemia, and Nutritional Status among Children from Different Geographical Regions of Bolivia
J Trop Med. 2023 Dec 9;2023:5020490. doi: 10.1155/2023/5020490. eCollection 2023.ABSTRACTThe study aimed to measure the frequency of occurrence of infections with helminths, protozoa, and risk factors of undernutrition and anemia among schoolchildren from the Bolivian highland (altiplano) and lowland (subtropical) rural regions, with a high frequency of gastrointestinal parasite infections. Cross-sectional data were collected from 790 children, 5-13 years old. Microscopic examination of stool using the Ritchie technique, hemoglobin testing using the HemoCue analyzer, and anthropometric measurements were performed. Over 60%...
Source: Journal of Tropical Medicine - December 18, 2023 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Ceilan Apaza Washington Cuna Froil án Brañez Roberto Passera Celeste Rodriguez Source Type: research
