BACKGROUND Vaccine development is a laborious craftwork in which at least two main components must be defined: a highly immunogenic antigen and a suitable delivery method. Hence, the interplay of these elements could elicit the required immune response to cope with the targeted pathogen with a long-lasting protective capacity. OBJECTIVES Here we evaluate the properties of Escherichia coli spherical proteoliposomes - known as outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) - as particles with natural adjuvant capacities and as antigen-carrier structures to assemble an innovative prophylactic vaccine for Chagas disease. METHODS To achieve this, genetic manipulation was carried out on E. coli using an engineered plasmid containing the Tc24 Trypanosoma cruzi antigen. The goal was to induce the release of OMVs displaying the parasite protein on their surface. FINDINGS As a proof of principle, we observed that native OMVs - as well as those carrying the T. cruzi antigen - were able to trigger a slight, but functional humoral response at low immunization doses. Of note, compared to the non-immunized group, native OMVs-vaccinated animals survived the lethal challenge and showed minor parasitemia values, suggesting a possible involvement of innate trained immunity mechanism. MAIN CONCLUSION These results open the range for further research on the design of new carrier strategies focused on innate immunity activation as an additional immunization target and venture to seek for alternative forms in which OMVs could be used for optimizing vaccine development.

Abstract Introduction. Worldwide, colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer mortality. In Colombia, it has a prevalence of 8.3% within neoplastic pathologies, placing it in third place, after prostate and breast cancer, which classifies it as a public health problem, making it of great importance to maintain up-to-date data on its epidemiological profile. Methods. A cross-sectional study was carried out in patients with colorectal cancer treated at the Hospital Universitario del Caribe, Cartagena, Colombia, during the period 2015-2019. Sociodemographic, clinical, pathological and histological variables were analyzed. Results. A total of 268 patients treated for colorectal cancer were found, with a female predominance of 54.5% and an average age of 62 years; comorbidities in 48.8%, and symptoms of abdominal pain in 56.7%. Adenocarcinoma was found in 82.1% of cases and the most performed intervention was right hemicolectomy. Conclusion. The epidemiological profile of colorectal cancer found in this study is consistent with the findings of the world medical literature, especially involving women in our institution.

Resumen Introducción. A nivel mundial el cáncer colorrectal es la tercera causa de malignidad y la segunda causa de mortalidad por cáncer. En Colombia, tiene una prevalencia de 8,3 % dentro de las patologías neoplásicas, ubicándolo en el tercer lugar, después del cáncer de próstata y de mama, lo que lo cataloga como un problema de salud pública, por lo que es de gran importancia mantener datos actualizados acerca de su perfil epidemiológico. Métodos. Se realizó un estudio transversal en pacientes con cáncer colorrectal atendidos en el Hospital Universitario del Caribe, Cartagena, Colombia, durante el periodo 2015-2019. Se analizaron las variables sociodemográficas, clínicas, patológicas e histológicas. Resultados. Se encontraron un total de 268 pacientes atendidos por cáncer colorrectal, con predominio femenino en el (54,5 %) de los casos, y edad promedio de 62 años; con comorbilidades en 48,8 % y sintomatología de dolor abdominal en 56,7 %. El adenocarcinoma se encontró en el 82,1 % de los casos y la intervención más realizada fue la hemicolectomía derecha. Conclusión. El perfil epidemiológico del cáncer colorrectal encontrado en este estudio concuerda con los hallazgos de la literatura médica mundial, comprometiendo especialmente mujeres en nuestra institución.

Resumen El diseño e implementación de servicios para el manejo de datos geoespaciales implica pensar en el rendimiento del motor de almacenamiento y su optimización para cada uso deseado. Las bases de datos relacionales y no relacionales aportan sus propias funcionalidades, por lo tanto, es necesario elegir una de estas opciones de acuerdo con los requisitos de la solución. Estos requisitos pueden cambiar o tal vez algunas operaciones puedan realizarse de manera más eficiente en otro motor de base de datos, por lo que usar solo un motor significa estar vinculado a sus características y modelo de trabajo. Este artículo presenta un enfoque híbrido (NoSQL-SQL) para almacenar datos geoespaciales en MongoDB, estos datos son replicados y mapeados en una base de datos PostgreSQL, utilizando una herramienta de código abierto llamada ToroDB Stampede; las soluciones pueden aprovechar las funciones NoSQL o SQL para satisfacer la mayoría de los requisitos asociados con el rendimiento del motor de almacenamiento. Aquí se presenta un análisis descriptivo para explicar el flujo de trabajo de la replicación y sincronización en ambos motores; además, el análisis cuantitativo, mediante el cual se logró determinar que una base de datos normal en PostgreSQL tiene un tiempo de respuesta menor que realizar la consulta en PostgreSQL con la base de datos híbrida; asimismo, que el tipo de geometría incrementa el tiempo de respuesta de actualización de una vista materializada.

Abstract The design and implementation of services to handle geospatial data involves thinking about storage engine performance and optimization for the desired use. NoSQL and relational databases bring their own advantages; therefore, it is necessary to choose one of these options according to the requirements of the solution. These requirements can change, or some operations may be performed in a more efficient way on another database engine, so using just one engine means being tied to its features and work model. This paper presents a hybrid approach (NoSQL-SQL) to store geospatial data on MongoDB, which are replicated and mapped on a PostgreSQL database, using an open source tool called ToroDB Stampede; solutions then can take advantage from either NoSQL or SQL features, to satisfy most of the requirements associated to the storage engine performance. A descriptive analysis to explain the workflow of the replication and synchronization in both engines precedes the quantitative analysis by which it was possible to determine that a normal database in PostgreSQL has a shorter response time than to perform the query in PostgreSQL with the hybrid database. In addition, the type of geometry increases the update response time of a materialized view.

Abstract: A hybrid and distributed geographical database is being developed which utilizes the database engines PostgreSQL and MongoDB for later implementation in Geoserver’s architecture. In the course of the study, it was necessary to establish whether there was difference between the response times of PostgreSQL and MongoDB per type of query and the use of geographical indexes, in order to appropriately select the Database Management System to be used by the Geoserver implemented Web Map Service. After a statistical analysis with 11 different types of query, the conclusion was that the type of query affects the response time of the Database Management Systems.

BACKGROUND TcP21 is a ubiquitous secreted protein of Trypanosoma cruzi and its recombinant form (rP21) promotes parasite cell invasion and acts as a phagocytosis inducer by activating actin polymerisation in the host cell. OBJECTIVE Our goal was to evaluate if the additional supplementation of rP21 during a prime/boost/challenge scheme with T. cruzi TCC attenuated parasites could modify the well-known protective behavior conferred by these parasites. METHODS The humoral immune response was evaluated through the assessment of total anti-T. cruzi antibodies as well as IgG subtypes. IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-10 were measured in supernatants of splenic cells stimulated with total parasite homogenate or rP21. FINDINGS Our results demonstrated that, when comparing TCC+rP21 vs. TCC vaccinated animals, the levels of IFN-γ were significantly higher in the former group, while the levels of IL-10 and TNF-α were significantly lower. Further, the measurement of parasite load after lethal challenge showed an exacerbated infection and parasite load in heart and skeletal muscle after pre-treatment with rP21, suggesting the important role of this protein during parasite natural invasion process. MAIN CONCLUSION Our results demonstrated that rP21 may have adjuvant capacity able to modify the cytokine immune profile elicited by attenuated parasites.

Resumen Las Infraestructuras de Datos Espaciales (IDE) permiten primordialmente la administración y publicación de información geográfica, ya sea de índole nacional, regional o local, logrando con esto el potencial establecimiento de una red de nodos de diversos actores proveedores de datos que permita la interrelación de información. En este contexto, la IDE Huetar Norte de Costa Rica (IDEHN) se creó con el propósito de proveer información regional de diversas fuentes. Para la consulta de esta información, la IDEHN facilita el uso de geoservicios que permiten el acceso remoto de los datos a través de geoportales, herramientas para Sistemas de Información Geográficos e inclusive a través de aplicaciones de software a la medida para escritorio o dispositivos móviles. En relación con este espacio de trabajo de desarrollo de aplicaciones a la medida, este artículo presenta tres casos de éxito en el uso de geoservicios proporcionados por la IDEHN para gestionar información geográfica en dispositivos móviles.

Abstract A Geographic Data Infrastructure (GDI) allow users to manage and publish geographic data representing national, regional and local information from several nodes. These nodes can establish a GDI network if the information they contain is related to each other. In this context, the Geographical Data Infrastructure for the Huetar Norte región (IDEHN) was created to publish regional information from various sources. To consult this information, IDEHN makes available geoservices to get remote access to the data from geoportals, geographical information systems tools and specific desktop software or mobile devices apps. Over this workspace, this article presents three software examples of using IDEHN geoservices to access geographical information in mobile devices.