Línea de investigación
TRABAJOS RELACIONADOS AL ÁREA DE salud
artículos
Índice
Paradigms in the teaching of contemporary science: unconscious fetters?
Responses of myokines concentrations from exercise stimulus: a systematic review.
COVID-19 in Latin America: A bibliometric analysis of scientific publications in health.
Creencias en teorías conspirativas sobre vacunas COVID-19 en la Comunidad Andina de Naciones.
Morphological restoration of gonadotrope population by thymulin gene therapy in nude mice.
Phytochemicals for Preventing and Treating Chronic Diseases.
Development and Usability Study of an Open-Access Interviewer-Administered Automated 24-h Dietary Recall Tool in Argentina: MAR24
Contreras-Guillén, I. A., Leeson, S., Gili, R. V., Carlino, B., Xutuc, D., Martins, M. C. T., Zapata, M. E., Segovia-Siapco, G., Sabaté, J., Pacheco, F. J., & Pacheco, S. O. S. (2021). Development and Usability Study of an Open-Access Interviewer-Administered Automated 24-h Dietary Recall Tool in Argentina: MAR24. Frontiers in nutrition, 8, 642387.
Background: Latin American countries show a fast-growing rate of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and diet is a critical risk factor that must be properly assessed. Automated dietary assessment tools to collect 24-h dietary recalls (24HR) are lacking in Argentina.
Objective: This study aimed to develop an open-access automated tool (MAR24) for collecting 24HR using a multiple pass method and a database containing foods and recipes commonly consumed in Argentina.
Methods: MAR24 was developed based on data from 1,285 24HR provided by male and female participants aged 18 to 68 years from the six Argentinian geographical regions. The main structure and interface of the tool were designed using Visual Basic for Applications programming language in Excel Microsoft Office 365, integrating the five steps of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Automated Multiple-Pass Method (AMPM) for the application of 24HR in Spanish. The tool underwent alpha testing and expert assessment to address structural and usability issues. Critical feedback and face validation from researchers and experienced dietitians, and repeated testing to collect 24HR were used to adjust and improve the tool.
Results: A total of 968 food items and 100 standard Argentinian recipes were
added to its database. MAR24 allows the estimation of the nutrient profile of dietary intake. The analytic food composition includes energy and 50 nutrients including water,
macronutrients, total dietary fiber, total sugar, 10 minerals, 19 vitamins, eight fatty acids, cholesterol, ethyl alcohol, caffeine, and theobromine. MAR24 includes a user
manual and technical manual to guide users to apply changes (e.g., add foods or recipes, or change food designation according to local terms) to fit different research and clinical applications.
Contreras-Guillén et al. Development and Usability Study—MAR24
Conclusions: MAR24 is the first tool that uses the AMPM methodology for 24HR applications in Argentina. The tool may be used in clinical practice and clinical trials for monitoring purposes, and in validation of food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) for nutritional epidemiology studies addressing dietary-associated risk factors for NCDs.
Diet and Lifestyle Changes During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Ibero-American Countries: Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Peru, and Spain.
Enriquez-Martinez, O. G., Martins, M. C. T., Pereira, T. S. S., Pacheco, S. O. S., Pacheco, F. J., Lopez, K. V., Huancahuire-Vega, S., Silva, D. A., Mora-Urda, A. I., Rodriguez-Vásquez, M., Montero López, M. P., & Molina, M. C. B. (2021). Diet and Lifestyle Changes During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Ibero-American Countries: Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Peru, and Spain. Frontiers in nutrition, 8, 671004.
This study aimed to evaluate changes in dietary and lifestyle habits during the period of confinement due to the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ibero-American countries. A cross-sectional investigation was conducted with 6,325 participants of both genders (68% women), over 18 years of age and from five countries: Brazil (N = 2,171), Argentina (N = 1,111), Peru (N = 1,174), Mexico (N = 686), and Spain (N = 1,183). Data were collected during the year 2020, between April 01 and June 30 in Spain and between July 13 and September 26, in the other countries studied using a self-administered online survey designed for the assessment of sociodemographic, employment, physical activity, health status, and dietary habits changes. Most participants (61.6%), mainly those from Spain, remained constant, without improving or worsening their pattern of food consumption. Among those who changed, a pattern of better eating choices prevailed (22.7%) in comparison with those who changed toward less healthy choices (15.7%). Argentina and Brazil showed the highest proportion of changes toward a healthier pattern of food consumption. Peruvians and Mexicans were less likely to make healthy changes in food consumption (OR: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.4–0.6 and OR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.4–0.8, respectively), when compared to Argentinians. Most respondents did not change their pattern of meal consumption, but those who did reduced their consumption of main meals and increased intake of small meals and snacks. Although most participants affirmed to be doing physical activity at home, about one-half reported perception of weight gain. Individuals with alterations in sleep pattern (either by increasing or decreasing sleep time) were more likely to change their diets to a healthier pattern. In contrast, individuals with confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 and those who reported feeling anxious were more likely to perform changes to a less healthy eating pattern (OR: 1.72; 95% CI: 1.2–2.3 and OR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.1–1.4, respectively). In conclusion, although most participants remained constant in their eating habits, lifestyle changes and anxiety feelings were reported. Among those who changed patterns of food consumption, healthier choices prevailed, with differences between countries. However, there were alterations in the distribution of meals, with higher consumption of snacks and small meals. These results can be used to guide policies to prevent deleterious consequences that may affect the incidence of chronic diseases.
Reception of Dietary and Other Health-Related Lifestyle Advice to Address Non-communicable Diseases in a Primary Care Context: A Mixed-Method Study in Central Argentina.
Sánchez Urbano, R. E., Paredes, A., Vargas Chambi, F. R., Guedes Ruela, P., Olivares, D. E. V., Souza Pereira, B. T., Pacheco, S. O. S., & Pacheco, F. J. (2021). Reception of Dietary and Other Health-Related Lifestyle Advice to Address Non-communicable Diseases in a Primary Care Context: A Mixed-Method Study in Central Argentina. Frontiers in nutrition, 8, 622543.
An effective way to address risk factors for non-communicable chronic diseases (NCD) and reduce healthcare costs is by using sound health-related advice (HRA) to promote healthy lifestyle habits. In Argentina, however, few studies have examined the context in which HRA is communicated and undertaken by patients at the primary care level.
In this study, we assessed the reception of HRA using a mixed-method approach in a central area of Argentina. A total of 1,044 participants from the community were contacted and sociodemographic characteristics, health-related lifestyle factors, and medical history were collected. A calendar with health messages was provided to participants and its usage was assessed after 1 year. Additionally, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 34 patients attending a local primary healthcare center.
The results show that HRA was given more frequently to individuals with higher mean age, lower educational level, and to females. Participants with a chronic health condition are at a higher chance of receiving advice to reduce salt intake and maintain a healthy weight.
Dietary advice is offered along with other lifestyle recommendations. The use of alcohol and tobacco is usually addressed together. HRA was primarily received in the context of an NCD diagnosis and advice was directed, especially, to risky behaviors. The HRA to increase the intake of fruits and vegetables was mentioned less frequently. Patients at the healthcare center greatly appreciated receiving an HRA, especially when given in a tailored, written, and detailed form, and acknowledged its importance to prevent or control a chronic health condition as part of the medical treatment but showed concern regarding the ability to fully incorporate the advice. Lifestyle recommendations are highly appreciated by patients but are still underutilized since they are offered mostly in the context of illness. The health calendar was shown to be useful to complement health intervention programs at the community level. The findings of our study underscore the acknowledged value of HRA by participants to tackle the risk factors of chronic diseases. If properly used HRA constitutes a simple and highly valued tool to help address patient’s needs to prevent and control NCD in Argentina.
Prevalence and factors associated with self-reported anxiety in adults during the COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Mexico, and Spain: A cross-sectional Ibero-American study.
Oliveira, G., Miguez, F. G. G., Enríquez-Martinez, O. G., Pereira, T. S. S., Lopez, K. V., Huancahuire-Vega, S., Martins, M. C. T., Pacheco, S. O. S., Pacheco, F. J., López, M. P. M., & Molina, M. D. C. B. (2023). Prevalence and factors associated with self-reported anxiety in adults during the COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Mexico, and Spain: A cross-sectional Ibero-American study. PloS one, 18(3), e0280528.
The present study evaluated the factors associated with the perception of anxiety during the first wave of covid-19 in Ibero-American countries. This cross-sectional study was carried out with 5.845 participants of both sexes, over 18 years of age, and residents of four Latin American countries–Argentina (16.7%), Brazil (34.5%), Mexico (11.1%), and Peru (17.5%), and one European country–Spain (20.1%). Data were collected in 2020, between April 1st and June 30th in Spain and between July 13th and September 26th in the Latin American countries. We used an online questionnaire with sociodemographic, lifestyle, self-reported anxiety, and covid-19 related questions. The chi-square statistical test and Multivariate
logistic regressions were performed to analyze the factors associated with self-reported
anxiety. The presence of self-reported anxiety was found in 63.8% of the participants during the isolation period. The association occurred mainly in women (OR:1.52; CI: 1.3–1.7), those aged 18 to 29 years (OR: 1.51; CI: 1.2–1.9) and 30 to 49 years (OR: 1.56; CI: 1.3– 1.9), residents of Argentina (OR: 1.55 CI: 1.2–1.9), Brazil (OR: 2.38; CI: 2.0–2.8) and Mexico (OR: 1.52; CI: 1.2–1.9), those who gained weight (OR:1.71 CI: 1.5–1.9) or lost weight (OR: 1.40; CI: 1.2–1.6), and those who reported having slept more (OR: 1.56; CI: 1.3–1.8) or less (OR: 2.89; CI: 2.5–3.4). We conclude that the prevalence of self-reported anxiety in Ibero-American countries was high during the period studied, highlighting a higher likelihood of its occurrence in Brazil, in those who began to sleep less and gained weight.
Paradigms in the teaching of contemporary science: unconscious fetters?
Sacramento, M. de S. do, Souza, C. E., Moreira, J. B., & Vitavar, L. M. G. (2021). Paradigms in the teaching of contemporary science: unconscious fetters? Revista Brasileira de Fisiologia do exercí cio, 20(5), 585–591.
Advances in technology have changed many aspects of communication, and that includes the scientific milieu. The format of content presentation, dissemination, availability and speed of sharing are examples of the discrepancy between the old model of dissemination of scientific information and the current one. However, the way of teaching scientific research in higher education (which permeates from scientific initiation to doctorate) still cultivates retrograde ideas that make it difficult to actually learn about the needs to do and transmit science with quality. The purpose of this article is to question some of the mistakes in the teaching of rese arch and scientific writing. After all, the repercussions of such aspects can present themselves as barriers to learning and/or keep authors away from the publication of their studies. So, if developing science and building a scientifically literate society is really a purpose, we need to review the way we teach research.
Responses of myokines concentrations from exercise stimulus: a systematic review.
Carvalho, L. P., Oliveira, Í. C., Gomes, M. B., Santos, P. H., Oliveira II, A. C., Vitavar, L. M., & Alves, H. B. (2021). Responses of myokines concentrations from exercise stimulus: a systematic review. Revista Brasileira de Fisiologia Do Exerc&Iacute Cio, 19(5), 421–435.
Introduction: The skeletal muscle is the largest endocrine organ of human body, and have this role trough peptides and proteins known as myokines. The myokines are citocines that are produced and secreted by the skeletal muscle in response to the stimulus of contraction, acting locally and/or be released in the circulation and influence other distant tissues. Physical exercise is a potent stimulus for molecular adaptations in the or ganism, and when practiced with regularity, promotes structural and functional adaptations in skeletal muscle.
Therefore, physical exercise has a direct action on the concentrations of myokines.
Objective: Based on this, this research investigated, through a systematic literature review, the responses of myokines concentrations from the stimulus of physical exercise.
Methods: Searches were carried out by two researchers independently, in the Scielo, Pubmed and Virtual Heal thy Library databases, analyzing articles published between 2009 and 2020, after a careful selection process in four stages, the works that reached the third stage were read in full and submitted to quality analysis using a critical review form.
Results: At the end of the process, 12 articles were selected to compose the discussion.
Conclusion: The analyzed articles shows that physical performance, both acute and chronic, is capable of significantly modulating the concentration of several myokines, promoting an increase in many such as IL-6, IL-15, BDNF and Apelin, in addition to a significant decrease in muscle myostatin.
Sensibilidad de Acinetobacter a la colistina evaluada mediante los métodos de predifusión y de concentración inhibitoria mínima: Detección de aislamientos heterorresistentes.
Herrera, M., Mobilia, L. & Posse, G.(2011). Sensibilidad de Acinetobacter a la colistina evaluada mediante los métodos de predifusión y de concentración inhibitoria mínima: Detección de aislamientos heterorresistentes. Revista argentina de microbiología. 43. 115-119.
El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar comparativamente los métodos de predifusión y de concentración inhibitoria mínima para establecer la sensibilidad de aislamientos del complejo Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-baumannii (ABC) a la colistina y detectar a aquellos que presenten heterorresistencia a dicho antibiótico. Se estudiaron 75 aislamientos de ABC recuperados de materiales clínicamente significativos. Se determinó su sensibilidad a la colistina por el método de predifusión y de concentración inhibitoria mínima. Todos los aislamientos resultaron sensibles, con CIM ≤ 2 µg/ml y halos de inhibición en el ensayo de la predifusión ≥ 20 mm. Mediante el método de eficiencia de plaqueo se evaluó la presencia de heterorresistencia a la colistina. Se encontraron 14 aislamientos que originaron colonias heterorresistentes; sus CIM aumentaron en algunos casos en más de 8 veces. Con estas colonias seleccionadas se repitió el ensayo de predifusión. Finalmente se confeccionaron los gráficos de dispersión y se realizaron los análisis de regresión lineal, tanto para el conjunto inicial de todos los aislamientos clínicos como para el subgrupo de los aislamientos resistentes generados durante la evaluación de la heterorresistencia. Se obtuvieron coeficientes de determinación (r2 ) de 0,2017 y 0,604, respectivamente, lo que indica correlación entre los métodos sólo al evaluar aislamientos preseleccionados por su resistencia a este agente.
Comparative time-kill study of doxycycline, tigecycline, cefazolin and vancomycin against several clones of Staphylococcus aureus.
Herrera, M., Mobilia, L., Posse, G., Limansky, A., Ballerini, V. & Bantar C. (2013) Comparative time-kill study of doxycycline, tigecycline, cefazolin and vancomycin against several clones of Staphylococcus aureus. Curr Clin Pharmacol. 2013 Nov;8(4):332-9. doi: 10.2174/15748847113089990063. PMID: 23590512.
Background: We present herein, a comparative study assessing the bactericidal kinetics of tigecycline, doxycycline, cefazolin and vancomycin against several methicllin-susceptible (MSSA) and –resistant (MRSA) Staphylococcus aureus isolates recovered from patients of 24 different cities in Argentina.
Methods: After genotypic characterization, 20 strains (10 MRSA and 10 MSSA) were selected for time-kill studies.
Results: Vancomycin showed bactericidal effect (i.e., 3-log10 CFU/mL decrease) against 50% and 10% of the MRSA strains at 4 x Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and 2xMIC, respectively, after 24 h of incubation and displayed bactericidal activity against all MSSA isolates at 4xMIC. Cefazolin was bactericidal against 30% of MSSA strains at the higher concentration (4xMIC) and against 10% at 2 x MIC and MIC dose concentrations. The bactericidal magnitude of cefazolin observed after 24 h of incubation was lower than the vancomycin one. Albeit bacteriostactic, tigecycline at 2xMIC exerted a -1 to2-log decrease in the viable cell counts after 24-h incubation against 19 of the 20 S. aureus strains. Doxycycline was the least inhibitory of the antibiotics tested against both MRSA and MSSA, displaying no bactericidal activity in any of the cases and showing regrowth after 24 h of incubation at MIC level.
Conclusion: Vancomycin at high concentrations showed the best activity. Cefazolin did not show the activity expected for a beta-lactam antibiotic against MSSA. Tigecycline may be a useful option in infections caused by MRSA, where bactericidal activity is not an exclusive requirement and doxycycline does not seem an attractive alternative in serious infections.
In vitro selection of Staphylococcus aureus mutants resistant to tigecycline with intermediate susceptibility to vancomycin.
Herrera, M., Di Gregorio, S., Fernandez, S., Posse, G., Mollerach, M. & Conza, J. (2016). In vitro selection of Staphylococcus aureus mutants resistant to tigecycline with intermediate susceptibility to vancomycin. Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials. 15. 10.1186/s12941-016-0131-7.
Background: Tigecycline (TIG) is an antibiotic belonging to the glycylcyclines class and appears to be a good choice to fight infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus. To date, TIG exhibits good activity against this microorganism.
The aim of this work was to obtain in vitro mutants of S. aureus resistant to TIG and evaluate possible changes in their susceptibility patterns to other antibiotics.
Results: Two mutants of S. aureus resistant to TIG (MIC = 16 µg/mL) were selected in vitro from clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant S. aureus. In both mutants, corresponding to different lineage (ST5 and ST239), an increase of efflux activity against TIG was detected. One mutant also showed a reduced susceptibility to vancomycin, corresponding to the VISA phenotype (MIC = 4 µg/mL), with a loss of functionality of the agr locus. The emergence of the VISA phenotype was accompanied by an increase in oxacillin and cefoxitin MICs.
Conclusions: This study demonstrates that, under selective pressure, the increase of efflux activity in S. aureus is one of the mechanisms that may be involved in the emergence of tigecycline resistance. The emergence of this phenotype may eventually be associated to changes in susceptibility to other antibiotics such oxacillin and vancomycin.
Genetic changes associated with tigecycline resistance in Staphylococcus aureus in vitro-selected mutants belonging to different lineages.
Herrera, M., Gregorio, S., Haim, M., Posse, G., Mollerach, M. & Di Conza J. Genetic changes associated with tigecycline resistance in Staphylococcus aureus in vitro-selected mutants belonging to different lineages. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2021 Apr;57(4):106304.
Tigecycline (TGC) resistance remains rare in Staphylococcus aureus worldwide. In this study, 12 TGC-resistant S. aureus mutants (TRSAm) were obtained displaying an increase in efflux activity. The isolates belonged to seven different genetic lineages, with a predominance of clonal complex 5 (CC5). Diverse genetic changes in mepA and mepR genes were found producing alterations in the amino acid sequences of the corresponding proteins (MepA and MepR, respectively). The most frequent amino acid change in MepA was Glu287Gly. All of the TRSAm exhibited different single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) or insertions/deletions (InDels) in mepR causing premature stop codons or amino acid changes in MepR. Expression of mepA was significantly increased in TRSAm with different mutations in mepA and mepR. Of the 12 TRSAm, 6 also harboured mutations in rpsJ that resulted in amino acid changes in the S10 ribosomal protein, with Lys57 being the most frequently mutated site. Our findings demonstrate that these acquired mechanisms of TGC resistance are not restricted to a single type of genotypic background and that different lineages might have the same plasticity to develop TGC resistance. The impact of TGC selective pressure assessed by whole-genome sequencing in four selected strain pairs revealed mutations in other singular genes and IS256 mobilisation.
Genomic epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from bloodstream infections in South America during 2019 supports regional surveillance.
Di Gregorio, S., Vielma, J., Haim, MS, Rago, L., Campos, J., Kekre, M., … & Consorcio StaphNET-Sa. (2023) Genomic epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from bloodstream infections in South America during 2019 supports regional surveillance. Microbial genomics. 9. 10.1099/mgen.0.001020.
Staphylococcus aureus remains one of the leading causes of infections worldwide and a common cause of bacteraemia. However, studies documenting the epidemiology of S. aureus in South America using genomics are scarce. We hereby report on the largest genomic epidemiology study to date of both methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) in South America, conducted by the StaphNET-SA network. We characterised 404 genomes recovered from a prospective observational study of S. aureus bacteraemia in 58 hospitals from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay between April and October 2019. We show that a minority of S. aureus isolates are phenotypically multi-drug resistant (5.2%), but more than a quarter are resistant to macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B (MLSb). MSSA were more genetically diverse than MRSA. Lower rates of associated antimicrobial resistance in community-associated(CA)-MRSA versus hospital-associated (HA)-MRSA were found in association with three S. aureus genotypes dominating the MRSA population: CC30-MRSA-IVc-t019-lukS/F-PV+, CC5-MRSA-IV-t002-lukS/F-PV- and CC8-MRSA-IVc-t008-lukS/F-PV+-COMER+. These are historically from a CA origin, carry on average fewer antimicrobial resistance determinants, and often lack key virulence genes. Surprisingly, CC398-MSSA-t1451-lukS/F-PV- related to the CC398 human-associated lineage is widely disseminated throughout the region, and is described here for the first time as the most prevalent MSSA lineage in South America. Moreover, CC398 strains carrying ermT (largely responsible for the MLSb resistance rates of MSSA strains: inducible iMLSb phenotype) and sh_fabI (related to triclosan resistance) were recovered from both CA and HA origin. The frequency of MRSA and MSSA lineages differed between countries but the most prevalent S. aureus genotypes are high-risk clones widely distributed in the South American region without a clear country-specific phylogeographical structure. Therefore, our findings underline the need for continuous genomic surveillance by regional networks such as StaphNET-SA. This article contains data hosted by Microreact.
COVID-19 in Latin America: A bibliometric analysis of scientific publications in health.
Gallegos, M., Cervigni, M., Consoli, A. J., Caycho, T., Polanco, F., Martino, P., … & Cusinato, A. M. (2020). COVID-19 in Latin America: A bibliometric analysis of scientific publications in health.
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has become a global health crisis. The scientific community has responded with a sizable level of research and publications, many of which are beginning to be identified and analyzed in systematic reviews of the literature and bibliometric studies. No readily identifiable, comparable study focused on Latin American scientific literature has been undertaken thus far. Therefore, this article analyzes such literature, focused on COVID-19, and one that has been published in the scientific journals of the region. A search with the keyword “COVID-19” in the Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) database resulted in the identification of 261 documents. Following PRISMA guidelines, the total number was reduced to 117 for the purpose of the bibliometric analysis (i.e., elimination of preprint duplicates). Such analysis resulted in the following findings: 69 publications were editorial or individual commentaries, and 48 were original articles. The male authors totaled 280, contrasted with 169 female authors. Two Brazilian journals led in the number of publications: Cadernos de Saúde Pública and Clinics. Even though the Latin American scientific productivity regarding COVID-19 is not well represented in the different databases of the region, it is expected that these scientific publications will achieve increased visibility in the coming months. The article emphasizes the importance of systematic and bibliographic reviews of the scientific literature in Latin America in order to evaluate the public health achievements of the region.
Cross-cultural measurement invariance of the fear of COVID-19 scale in seven Latin American countries.
Caycho-Rodríguez, T., Valencia, P. D., Vilca, L. W., Cervigni, M., Gallegos, M., Martino, P., … & Burgos Videla, C. (2021). Cross-cultural measurement invariance of the fear of COVID-19 scale in seven Latin American countries. Death Studies, 1-15.
The Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS) was recently developed to assess dysfunctional anxiety related to COVID-19. Although diferent studies reported that the CAS is psychometrically sound, it is unclear whether it is invariant across countries. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the measurement invariance of the CAS in twelve Latin American countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay). A total of 5196 people participated, with a mean age of 34.06 (SD=26.54). Multigroup confrmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to examine the measurement invariance of the CAS across countries and gender. Additionally, the graded response model (GRM) was used to provide a global representation of the representativeness of the scale with respect to the COVID19 dysfunctional anxiety construct. The unidimensional structure of the fve-item CAS was not confrmed in all countries. Therefore, it was suggested that a four-item model of the CAS (CAS-4) provides a better ft across the twelve countries and reliable scores. Multigroup CFA showed that the CAS-4 exhibits scalar invariance across all twelve countries and all genders. In addition, the CAS-4 items are more informative at average and high levels of COVID-19 dysfunctional anxiety than at lower levels. According to the results, the CAS-4 is an instrument with strong cross-cultural validity and is suitable for cross-cultural comparisons of COVID-19 dysfunctional anxiety symptoms in the general population of the twelve Latin American countries evaluated.
Creencias en teorías conspirativas sobre vacunas COVID-19 en la Comunidad Andina de Naciones.
Caycho-Rodríguez, T., Gallegos, M., Valencia, P., Lindsey, V., Moreta-Herrera, R., PuertaCortés, D. & Bismarck, P. (2022). Creencias en teorías conspirativas sobre vacunas COVID-19 en la Comunidad Andina de Naciones. Boletín de Malariología y Salud Ambiental.
Los estudios sobre aceptación y rechazo hacia las vacunas, así como la creencia en teorías conspirativas, y la falta de confianza en los gobiernos y la ciencia, han sido importantes para analizar el proceso de vacunación contra el COVID-19 a nivel mundial, pero han sido bastante limitados, hasta el momento, para el caso de América Latina. En este sentido, el objetivo de este trabajo consiste en describir el grado de aceptación o no a ciertas creencias de conspiración sobre las vacunas contra la COVID-19 en una muestra de países miembros de la Comunidad Andina de Naciones (CAN): Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador y Perú. Se diseñó un estudio transversal descriptivo en el que participaron 1835 personas de Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador y Perú. Para la evaluación de estas creencias se utilizó la Escala de Creencias de Conspiración de Vacunas COVID-19 (ECCV-COVID, Caycho-Rodríguez et al., 2022a). Los resultados indican que, el Perú presenta el mayor puntaje promedio de creencias de conspiración sobre las vacunas contra la COVID19. Además, en los 4 países el menor grado de aceptación es con la creencia sobre “Vacunar a los niños contra la COVID-19 es perjudicial y este hecho está ocultado”. En Colombia, Ecuador y Perú el mayor grado de aceptación está referida a la creencia conspirativa referida a que “La información sobre la seguridad de las vacunas contra la COVID-19 a menudo se inventan”. Finalmente, en Bolivia, el mayor grado de aceptación es con la creencia de que “Las empresas farmacéuticas ocultan los peligros de las vacunas contra la COVID-19”. Los resultados presentados en este estudio son los primeros que se conoce de forma genérica en población latinoamericana, y particularmente, en la población Andina.
Fear of COVID-19 Scale: validity, reliability and 13 factorial invariance in Argentina’s general population.
Caycho-Rodríguez, T., Vilca, L., Cervigni, M., Gallegos, M., Martino, P., Portillo, N., Bares, I., Calandra, M. & Burgos Videla, C. (2022). Fear of COVID-19 Scale: validity, reliability and 13 factorial invariance in Argentina’s general population. Death Studies.
Traditionally, the study of well-being has been approached from the hedonic and eudaimonic perspectives. However, the last findings suggest that both aspects are complementary, giving place to an integrated conceptualization of well-being called flourishing. In spite of the constant increase of research around this construct, there is still little information regarding flourishing in adolescents. The objective of this study is to review the available literature on flourishing in adolescence in relation to its tie with other constructs, its study in different contexts and the way it has been operationalized. The selection of the studies was conducted in two phases. First, it was verified that the exclusion and selection criteria were met. Then, an evaluation of the quality of the pre-selected studies was carried out. The data were synthesized through the thematic synthesis method. For the results, 28 empirical studies were selected. Four thematic axes were identified: (a) Flourishing in different contexts, (b) Flourishing in regards to other results and positive psychological characteristics and/or their negative counterpart, (c) Flourishing and psychosocial vulnerability, and (d) indicators for the evaluation of flourishing. Suggestions are provided with the goal of consolidating the science of human flourishing.
Prevalence and Predictors of Intention to be Vaccinated Against COVID-19 in Thirteen Latin American and Caribbean Countries.
Caycho-Rodríguez, T… Gallegos, M., Cervigni, M… (2022). Prevalence and Predictors of Intention to be Vaccinated Against COVID-19 in Thirteen Latin American and Caribbean Countries. Trends in Psychology.
The presence of a significant number of people who do not intend to be vaccinated could negatively impact efforts to control the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, this study sought to determine the prevalence of intention to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and associated sociodemographic and psychosocial factors in thirteen countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). A total of 5510 people from 13 LAC countries participated. Frequencies, percentages, bivariate analyses using chi-square tests, and Poisson regression analysis with robust variance were used. The countries with the highest prevalence of intention to be vaccinated were Brazil (96.94%), Cuba (89.59%), Chile (84.59%), and Mexico (78.33%). On the other hand, the countries with the lowest prevalence were El Salvador (54.01%), Paraguay (55.87%), and Uruguay (56.40%). Prevalence is also reported according to some sociodemographic and health variables. It was found that country, male sex, hours exposed to information about COVID-19, university education, living in an urban area, belief in the animal origin of the virus, perceived likelihood of contracting COVID-19, perceived severity of COVID-19, and concern about infecting others significantly predicted intention to be vaccinated in the 13 LAC countries. While most countries had a high prevalence of intention to be vaccinated, there are still subgroups that have levels of intention that may be insufficient to predict the presence of community immunity. In this sense, knowing the estimates of vaccination intention rates, as well as the associated sociodemographic and psychological factors, can be used to plan actions and interventions that will inform about the safety and benefits of vaccines, as well as strengthen trust in health authorities.
Evaluación de la adecuación nutricional en distintos patrones alimentarios de la población argentina en el año 2020.
Schlegel, C., Gili, R. (2023). Evaluación de la adecuación nutricional en distintos patrones alimentarios de la población argentina en el año 2020. Revista de Investigación Universitaria en Salud Vol. 4 Núm. 4 (Argentina).
Introducción. La evidencia demuestra que las muertes a nivel mundial se relacionan cada vez más con una inadecuada alimentación. Identificar la adecuación nutricional de los diferentes patrones alimentarios de la población
posibilita diseñar y llevar a cabo estrategias para mantener el estado de salud óptimo y prevenir la aparición de
enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles. El objetivo general de este estudio fue evaluar la adecuación nutricional
de los distintos patrones alimentarios de la población argentina en el año 2020.
Metodología. El estudio fue descriptivo y de corte transversal. El tipo de muestreo seleccionado fue no probabilístico y por conveniencia Se identificaron los patrones alimentarios de la población mayor de 23 años en 6 regiones
del país. Los participantes respondieron 4 recordatorios de 24 horas realizados en 2 días de la semana y 2 días
de fin de semana, grabados por llamada telefónica. La adecuación nutricional normal se estableció como la que
cumplió con el 90-110 % de la ingesta dietética de referencia. La evaluación estadística incluyó la prueba de Chi2
de Pearson.
Resultados. El consumo promedio de energía (110,53 %), ácidos grasos saturados (352,37 %), ácidos grasos poliinsaturados (258,26 %), hidratos de carbono (128,37 %) y sodio (171,65 %) fue mayor que el establecido por la ingesta dietética de referencia. Sin embargo, este fue insuficiente en ácidos grasos monoinsaturados (42,97 %), potasio
(79,93 %), calcio (68,08 %), hierro (86,33 %) y agua (49,01 %). Dichos porcentajes varían según las características
sociodemográficas y los patrones alimentarios.
Conclusiones. El consumo energético alimentario es mayoritariamente excesivo en toda la población. La elección
de alimentos, y por ende también la incorporación de macro y micronutrientes, se ve influida principalmente por
el sexo y el patrón alimentario.
The thymulin-lactotropic axis in rodents: thymectomy, immunoneutralization and gene transfer studies.
Martines, E. V., Reggiani, P. C., Camihort, G., Luna, G., Zappa, M. F., Brown, O. A., … & Cónsole, G. M. (2013). The thymulin-lactotropic axis in rodents: thymectomy, immunoneutralization and gene transfer studies. Neuroimmunomodulation, 20(5), 256-263.
Objectives: There is clear evidence on the existence of a thymus-pituitary axis which seems to be particularly important during perinatal life. In particular, the thymic peptide thymulin has been shown to be a relevant player in thymus-pituitary communication. Our goal was to explore the effect of thymulin on circulating prolactin (PRL) levels in different animal models. To this end we undertook a series of experiments in rats and mice, implementing adult thymectomy, thymulin immunoneutralization in normal C57BL/6 mice and neonatal thymulin gene therapy in nude mice.
Methods: We assessed the impact of the above manipulations on PRL secretion and lactotrope morphology by measuring serum PRL by radioimmunoassay and by performing morphometric analysis of the lactotropic cell population in the anterior pituitary gland.
Results: Adult thymectomy in female rats slightly increased serum PRL, an effect that was partially reversed by thymulin gene therapy. In mice, thymulin immunoneutralization from birth to age 32 days reduced serum PRL both in males and females. Thymulin immunoneutralization induced a significant (p < 0.01) decrease in lactotrope cell density (CD) and volume density (VD) without changes in cell size (CS). Neonatal thymulin gene therapy markedly increased serum thymulin (p < 0.01) and lactotrope CD, CS and VD in nude mice of both sexes.
Conclusions: Our findings suggest a modulatory effect of thymulin on the lactotrope cell population and on serum PRL, particularly during early life.
Role of thymulin on the somatotropic axis in vivo.
Reggiani, P. C., Martines, E. V., Camihort, G. A., Poch, B., Goya, R. G., & Cónsole, G. M. (2012). Role of thymulin on the somatotropic axis in vivo. Life sciences, 91(5-6), 166-171.
Aims: There is clear evidence for the existence of a bi-directional thymus-somatotropic axis and several studies suggest that the thymic peptide thymulin may be involved in this communication. We undertook to assess the impact of serum thymulin immunoneutralization in C57BL/6 mice and that of neonatal thymulin gene therapy (NTGT) in nude mice on body weight (BW) gain and on the histomorphometric profile of the somatotrope population.
Main methods: Immunoneutralization of thymulin was done from postnatal day 1 to 35 by i.p. injections of rabbit anti-thymulin serum (α-FTS) and normal rabbit serum (NRS) in controls. NTGT was implemented in nudes using an adenoviral vector expressing a synthetic gene for thymulin (RAd-FTS). On postnatal day 1, heterozygous (nu/+) and homozygous (nu/nu) pups received a single bilateral i.m. injection either RAd-FTS or RAd-GFP (a control vector expressing green fluorescent protein). BW gain was recorded and at the end of the study the pituitaries were immunostained for growth hormone (GH). Serum GH and thymulin were determined by radioimmunoassay and bioassay, respectively.
Key findings: Thymulin immunoneutralization induced a significant decrease in BW gain, serum GH and somatotrope cell density as well as an increase in somatotrope cell size. NTGT markedly increased BW gain, serum thymulin (P<0.01) and somatotrope cell and volume density in nu/nu mice.
Significance: Our results suggest that thymulin plays a relevant physiological role on the thymus-somatotropic axis in mice.
Neonatal thymulin gene therapy in nude mice: Effects on the morphology of the pituitary corticotrope population.
Martines, E., Reggiani, P., Schwerdt, J. I., Goya, R., & Cónsole, G. (2011). Neonatal thymulin gene therapy in nude mice: Effects on the morphology of the pituitary corticotrope population. Histology and histopathology, Vol. 26, nº 4 (2011).
Summary. The integrity of the thymus during early life is necessary for a proper maturation of the neuroendocrine system, including the adrenal axis. The thymic metallopeptide thymulin seems to be a central physiologic mediator of thymus-pituitary communication. Furthermore, neonatal thymulin gene therapy has been shown to prevent the typical alterations of gonadotrophic cell number and morphology and serum gonadotropin levels in nude female mice. In the present study we assessed the impact of athymia and the effect of neonatal thymulin gene therapy on the corticotropic cell population in nude mice. The effect of thymulin administration to adult nudes on their hypothalamic content of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and the adrenal content of corticosterone was also determined. We used an adenoviral vector expressing a synthetic gene for the thymic peptide thymulin (metFTS) termed RAd-FTS. On postnatal day 1 or 2, heterozygous (nu/+) and homozygous (nu/nu) pups of both sexes received a single bilateral i.m. injection of RAd-FTS or RAd-GFP, a control vector. On postnatal day 71, mice were bled and sacrificed, and their pituitaries were immediately dissected, fixed and immunostained for corticotropin. Morphometry was performed by means of an image-analysis system. The following parameters were calculated: volume density (VD: Σ cell area/reference area), cell density (CD: number of cells/reference area), and cell surface (CS: expressed in µm2). Serum thymulin levels were measured by a bioassay, and CRH as well as corticosterone were determined by IRMA and RIA, respectively. Neonatal thymulin gene therapy in the athymic mice restored their serum thymulin levels and increased corticotrope CD, VD and CS in both control and athymic mice. Athymic mice showed only a marginal reduction in corticotrope CD, VD and CS. In these mutants hypothalamic CRH content was slightly increased, whereas adrenal corticosterone tended to be lower. Thymulin administration to adult mice tended to reverse these changes. Our results suggest a possible modulating effect of thymulin on the corticotrope population and the adrenal gland, confirming the existence of a bidirectional thymus-pituitary-adrenal axis.
Thymulin gene therapy prevents the histomorphometric changes induced by thymulin deficiency in the thyrotrope population of mice.
Martines, E. V., Reggiani, P. C., Schwerdt, J. I., Goya, R. G., & Cónsole, G. M. (2011). Thymulin gene therapy prevents the histomorphometric changes induced by thymulin deficiency in the thyrotrope population of mice. Cells Tissues Organs, 194(1), 67-75.
There is evidence of the existence of a bidirectional relationship between the thymus gland and the thyroid axis. Since the thymic peptide thymulin possesses hypophysiotropic activity, we undertook the task of assessing the histomorphometric changes induced by thymulin deficiency on the thyrotrope population of normal mice and the action of neonatal thymulin gene therapy on the thyrotropin (TSH)-cells of nude mice. C57BL/6 mice were subjected to immunoneutralization of circulating thymulin from postnatal day 1 to the end of the study (postnatal day 32) by intraperitoneal injections of rabbit anti-factor thymulin serum (α-FTS) and normal rabbit serum in controls. Also, neonatal thymulin gene therapy was implemented in athymic nude mice using an adenoviral vector expressing a gene for thymulin (RAd-FTS). On postnatal day 1, heterozygous (nu/+) and homozygous (nu/nu) pups received a single bilateral intramuscular (i.m.) injection of either RAd-FTS or RAd-GFP (the latter being the control vector). The pituitaries were immunostained for TSH. Thymulin immunoneutralization severely reduced serum thymulin (p < 0.01). We detected a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in cell size (CS) and volume density (VD) with a nonsignificant decrease in cell density (CD) in C57BL/6 in both males and females. A single neonatal i.m. injection of RAd-FTS markedly increased the circulating levels of serum thymulin in the athymic mice and increased the CD (p < 0.05), CS (p < 0.01) and VD (p < 0.01) of the thyrotrope population in nu/nu mice. Thyroid histology was not affected. Our results suggest a possible modulating effect of thymulin on the thyrotrope population.
Morphological restoration of gonadotrope population by thymulin gene therapy in nude mice.
Reggiani, P., Martines, E., Ferese, C., Goya, R., & Cónsole, G. (2009). Morphological restoration of gonadotrope population by thymulin gene therapy in nude mice. Histology and histopathology, 24(6), 729.
The integrity of the thymus during the first week of life is necessary for a proper maturation of the pituitary-gonadal axis as revealed by the significantly reduced levels of circulating gonadotropins in congenitally athymic (nude) mice. In the present work we studied the impact of athymia and the effect of neonatal thymulin gene therapy on the pituitaries of adult nude mice. Also circulating thymulin and gonadotropin levels were evaluated. We used an adenoviral vector expressing a synthetic gene for the thymic peptide thymulin (metFTS) termed RAd-FTS. On postnatal day 1, each experimental heterozygous (nu/+) and homozygous (nu/nu) pup of both sexes received a single bilateral im injection of RAd-FTS or RAd-GFP/TK, a control vector expressing green fluorescent protein. On postnatal days 51-52, mice were bled and sacrificed, their pituitaries were immediately dissected, fixed and immunostained. Morphometry was performed by means of an image analysis system. The following parameters were calculated: volume density (VD: cell area/reference area), cell density (CD: number of cells/reference area), and cell size (expressed in μm 2). Serum thymulin levels were measured by a bioassay and gonadotropin levels were assayed by RIA. It was observed that neonatal thymulin gene therapy in the athymic mice restored their serum thymulin levels and prevented the reduction in circulating gonadotropin levels. The histometrical analysis revealed that the treatment prevented the reduction in gonadotrope CD and the VD in athymic mice. Our data suggest that thymulin gene therapy may be an effective strategy to approach reproductive deficits associated with endocrine thymus dysfunction.
Análisis del sistema de admisión a la carrera de medicina de la Universidad Adventista del Plata en el período 1994-2001.
Mesa, M., Iriarte, É., Grenóvero, M. S., Chaskelís, S., Basualdo, J. Á., & Martines de Maier, E. V. (2004). Análisis del sistema de admisión a la carrera de medicina de la Universidad Adventista del Plata en el período 1994-2001.
La implementación de un sistema de admisión en las carreras de medicina exige un análisis permanente. Los objetivos del presente trabajo fueron (a) describir las estrategias utilizadas por el Sistema de Admisión de la Carrera de Medicina de la Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud de la Universidad Adventista del Plata durante el periodo 1994-2001, (b) identificar los cambios en la aplicación de dichas estrategias y (c) analizar los resultados de su aplicación. Fue un estudio no experimental, retrospectivo y longitudinal, que utilizó una muestra de 471 sujetos pertenecientes a ocho cohortes de ingresantes. Se analizaron y compararon las puntuaciones de cada sección del Sistema de Admisión (SA): antecedentes, examen de conocimientos y entrevista. El puntaje final de admisión se obtenía mediante la suma de los porcentajes de cada sección. Se halló correlación positiva entre cada sección y la puntuación final de admisión, resultando más fuerte la del examen de conocimientos y más débil la de entrevista. La correlación entre las secciones fue débil. Se observaron dos periodos distinguidos por modificaciones en los valores asignados a cada sección, siendo mayor en el segundo el porcentaje aportado por el examen de conocimientos, con diferencias significativas en sus puntuaciones finales. Este estudio mostró que el SA experimentó modificaciones durante el periodo estudiado, orientadas a fortalecer aspectos considerados de importancia con el fin de lograr los objetivos fijados y optimizar el proceso de admisión.
Phytochemicals for Preventing and Treating Chronic Diseases
Guerrero-Flores, G.N., Carlino, B., Gili, R.V., Leeson, S., Mayta, M.L. (2024). Phytochemicals for Preventing and Treating Chronic Diseases. In: Khoobchandani, M., Ghosh, S. (eds) Medicinal Applications of Phytopharmaceuticals. Springer, Cham.
The rise of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) as the leading threat to global health is clear, as these conditions cause nearly two-thirds of deaths worldwide, mostly in low and middle-income countries. NCDs are chronic conditions that last 1 year or more and that requiere medical care and lifestyle changes. Diet is one factor contributing to NCDs. While diets high in fruits, vegetables, nuts, and
whole grains protect against developing several NCDs, increased mortality has been associated with a high intake of fried food, red meat, and processed meats. Phytochemicals, plant-derived bioactive compounds, have gained attention for their potential to beneft health and prevent or treat NCDs. Interestingly, phytochemicals interact with the gut microbiota that colonizes the human digestive system, which plays a crucial role in maintaining health and preventing diseases like metabolic syndrome and associated risk factors like insulin resistance and hypertension. This chapter aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the role of phytochemicals in some chronic diseases and their prevention.
