Abstract Background Systemic inflammation, documented before rheumatoid arthritis (RA) diagnosis, is associated with accelerated atherosclerosis. We aimed to compare the prevalence of carotid plaque (CP) in RA patients in the first five years since diagnosis and healthy controls, and to determine disease characteristics associated with the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis in RA patients. Methods This was a cross-sectional study. We recruited 60 RA patients in the first five years since diagnosis and 60 matched healthy controls. Carotid ultrasound was performed to detect the presence of CP and measure carotidintima media thickness (cIMT). Subclinical atherosclerosis was considered as the presence of CP and/or increased cIMT. Distribution was evaluated with the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Comparisons were made with Chi-square or Fisher's exact test for qualitative variables and Student's t or Mann-Whitney's U test for quantitative variables. A p-value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results There were no differences in the demographic characteristics between RA patients and controls. The mean disease duration was 2.66 ± 1.39 years. A higher prevalence of CP (30.0% vs. 11.7%, p = 0.013), bilateral CP (18.3% vs. 3.3%, p = 0.008), increased cIMT (30.0% vs. 6.7%, p = 0.001), and subclinical atherosclerosis (53.3% vs. 18.3%, p = < 0.001) was found in RA patients. RA patients with subclinical atherosclerosis were older (56.70 years vs. 50.00 years, p = 0.002), presented a higher prevalence of dyslipidemia (53.1% vs. 14.3%, p = 0.002), and higher prevalence of classification in moderate-high disease activity category measured by DAS28-CRP (68.8% vs. 35.7%, p = 0.010). The latter variable persisted independently associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in the binary logistic regression (OR 6.11, 95% CI 1.51–24.70, p = 0.011). Conclusions In the first five years since diagnosis, higher prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis, including CP was found in RA patients. Carotid ultrasound should be considered part of the systematic CVR evaluation of RA at the time of diagnosis.

RESUMEN El lulo (Solanum quitoense) es un prometedor árbol frutal andino muy apreciado en los mercados internacionales por sus características nutricionales, su sabor y aroma, y su alto contenido de vitaminas A y C con propiedades antioxidantes. Sin embargo, ciertos problemas sanitarios, como Fusarium oxysporum y nematodos del suelo, plantean problemas para la competitividad del cultivo del lulo. Al respecto, el cultivo de plantas de lulo injertadas en patrones resistentes, como S. hirtum, es una solución plausible a estos problemas sanitarios y, por lo tanto, determinar el comportamiento de las plantas injertadas es una cuestión relevante. En este estudio se evaluó la fenología y la dinámica de crecimiento de las plantas de lulo injertadas mediante análisis funcionales basados en el tiempo térmico (grados día-DD). La finalización de la fase vegetativa del lulo requirió 561 DD desde la plantación hasta el inicio de la brotación del botón floral, 715 DD para alcanzar la antesis, 801 DD para el cuajado de los frutos y un total acumulado de 2.464 DD para alcanzar la maduración de los frutos. Los análisis funcionales mostraron que el modelo de Richards se ajustaba a la dinámica de las variables de crecimiento (altura, índice de superficie foliar, índice de crecimiento del cultivo, peso seco total, peso seco de la hoja y peso seco del tallo). Del total de la biomasa seca de la planta, el 39,7% correspondía a los tallos, el 33,8% a los frutos, el 15,54% a las hojas, el 10,56% a las raíces y el 0,4% a las flores. El rendimiento no se vio afectado por el proceso de injerto de lulo S. quitoense en S. hirtum; por el contrario, la población de los cultivos y su productividad se mantuvieron durante más tiempo.

ABSTRACT Lulo (Solanum quitoense) is a promising Andean fruit tree that is highly valued in international markets because of its nutritional characteristics, flavor, aroma, and high content of vitamins A and C with antioxidant properties. However, certain sanitary problems, such as Fusarium oxysporum and soil nematodes, pose challenges to the competitiveness of lulo crops. Cultivating lulo plants grafted onto resistant patterns, such as S. hirtum, is a plausible solution to these sanitary issues; so, determining the behavior of grafted plants is relevant. In this study, the phenology and growth dynamics of grafted lulo plants were evaluated with functional analyses based on thermal time (degree days-DD). Completion of the vegetative phase of the lulo required 561 DD from planting to the onset of flower bud sprouting, 715 DD to reach anthesis, 801 DD for fruit set, and a cumulative total of 2,464 DD to reach fruit ripening. The functional analyses showed that Richards’s model fit the dynamics of the growth variables (height, leaf area index, crop growth index, total dry weight, leaf dry weight, and stem dry weight). Of the total plant dry biomass, 39.7% corresponded to the stems, 33.8% was from the fruits, 15.54% was from the leaves, 10.56% was from the roots, and 0.4% was from the flowers. The yield was not affected by the grafting process of lulo S. quitoense onto S. hirtum stocks; on the contrary, the crop population and productivity were maintained for a longer time.

En Venezuela el Dengue es una enfermedad endémica, con brotes cíclicos en casi todos los asentamientos humanos ubicados por debajo de los 1800 metros sobre el nivel del mar. Casi todos los estudios realizados en esta enfermedad se han efectuado acerca de los hábitos del vector Aedes aegypti, como son los lugares de su cría y los condicionantes socioeconómicos y culturales. Objetivo General: Describir la dinámica ecoepidemiológica del Dengue en el municipio Naguanagua durante el lapso 2006-2010.Material y Métodos: Se realizo un estudio Descriptivo La muestra fue de tipo No Probabilística e Intencional. Los datos se colectaron a través de fuentes de información secundarias, por la revisión de base de datos. Resultados: Se identificaron 06 áreas de mayor morbilidad por Dengue en el Municipio. La infección afecto de la siguiente manera: 0-4 años fue afectado el sexo masculino, de 5-9 años: el sexo femenino, de 10-14 y de 15-19 años prevaleció la arbovirosis en varones. Los índices aedicos a casa (IAC) y a deposito (IAD) permanecieron por encima del 5%. Predominaron los criaderos útiles: tanques de barriles, seguidos de materos, en área muy urbanizada, en criaderos inservibles sobresalieron depósitos diversos y los cauchos. Conclusión: Existen áreas repetidoras de dengue, la infección prevalece en masculinos de 0 a19 años de edad, los índices entomológicos son muy altos, predominaron tanques, barriles, depósitos diversos y cauchos como criaderos del vector.

In Venezuela Dengue is endemic, with cyclical outbreaks in almost all human settlements located below 1800 meters above sea level., Studies of this disease have been made about the habits of Aedesaegypti vector, , their breeding sites and socioeconomic and cultural conditions. General Objective: To describe the dynamics of eco-epidemiological Naguanagua Dengue in the town during the period 2006-2010.Material and Methods: A descriptive study nonrandom sample type and intentional. The data were collected through secondary sources, by reviewing database. Results: We identified 06 areas of increased morbidity from Dengue in the Municipality. Infection affection as follows: 0-4 years was affected males, 5-9 years: females, 10-14 and 15- 19 years in men prevailed arboviruses. Indexes aedicos home (IAC) and deposit (IAD) remained above 5%. Farms predominated helpful: tanks barrels, followed materos in highly urbanized area in various deposits stood useless hatcheries and rubbers. Conclusion: There are repetitive areas of dengue infection in male prevails 0 a19 year old entomological indices are very high, dominated tanks, barrels, tanks and various rubbers as vector breeding sites.

En Venezuela el Dengue es una enfermedad endémica, con brotes cíclicos en casi todos los asentamientos humanos ubicados por debajo de los 1800 metros sobre el nivel del mar. Casi todos los estudios realizados en esta enfermedad se han efectuado acerca de los hábitos del vector Aedes aegypti, como son los lugares de su cría y los condicionantes socioeconómicos y culturales. Objetivo General: Describir la dinámica ecoepidemiológica del Dengue en el municipio Naguanagua durante el lapso 2006-2010.Material y Métodos: Se realizo un estudio Descriptivo La muestra fue de tipo No Probabilística e Intencional. Los datos se colectaron a través de fuentes de información secundarias, por la revisión de base de datos. Resultados: Se identificaron 06 áreas de mayor morbilidad por Dengue en el Municipio. La infección afecto de la siguiente manera: 0-4 años fue afectado el sexo masculino, de 5-9 años: el sexo femenino, de 10-14 y de 15-19 años prevaleció la arbovirosis en varones. Los índices aedicos a casa (IAC) y a deposito (IAD) permanecieron por encima del 5%. Predominaron los criaderos útiles: tanques de barriles, seguidos de materos, en área muy urbanizada, en criaderos inservibles sobresalieron depósitos diversos y los cauchos. Conclusión: Existen áreas repetidoras de dengue, la infección prevalece en masculinos de 0 a19 años de edad, los índices entomológicos son muy altos, predominaron tanques, barriles, depósitos diversos y cauchos como criaderos del vector.

In Venezuela Dengue is endemic, with cyclical outbreaks in almost all human settlements located below 1800 meters above sea level., Studies of this disease have been made about the habits of Aedesaegypti vector, , their breeding sites and socioeconomic and cultural conditions. General Objective: To describe the dynamics of eco-epidemiological Naguanagua Dengue in the town during the period 2006-2010.Material and Methods: A descriptive study nonrandom sample type and intentional. The data were collected through secondary sources, by reviewing database. Results: We identified 06 areas of increased morbidity from Dengue in the Municipality. Infection affection as follows: 0-4 years was affected males, 5-9 years: females, 10-14 and 15- 19 years in men prevailed arboviruses. Indexes aedicos home (IAC) and deposit (IAD) remained above 5%. Farms predominated helpful: tanks barrels, followed materos in highly urbanized area in various deposits stood useless hatcheries and rubbers. Conclusion: There are repetitive areas of dengue infection in male prevails 0 a19 year old entomological indices are very high, dominated tanks, barrels, tanks and various rubbers as vector breeding sites.

The evaluation of new antimalarial agents using older methods of monitoring sensitivity to antimalarial drugs are laborious and poorly suited to discriminate stage-specific activity. We used flow cytometry to study the effect of established antimalarial compounds, cysteine protease inhibitors, and a quinolone against asexual stages of Plasmodium falciparum. Cultured P. falciparum parasites were treated for 48 h with different drug concentrations and the parasitemia was determined by flow cytometry methods after DNA staining with propidium iodide. P. falciparum erythrocytic life cycle stages were readily distinguished by flow cytometry. Activities of established and new antimalarial compounds measured by flow cytometry were equivalent to results obtained with microscopy and metabolite uptake assays. The antimalarial activity of all compounds was higher against P. falciparum trophozoite stages. Advantages of flow cytometry analysis over traditional assays included higher throughput for data collection, insight into the stage-specificity of antimalarial activity avoiding use of radioactive isotopes.