Abstract INTRODUCTION Immunity in cancer patients is modified both by the cancer itself and by oncospecific treatments. Whether a patient’s adaptive immunity is impaired depends on their levels of naive lymphocytes and other cell populations. During the COVID-19 pandemic, cancer patients are at greater risk of progressing to severe forms of the disease and have higher mortality rates than individuals without cancer, particularly while they are receiving cancer-specific therapies. An individual’s protection against infection, their response to vaccines, and even the tests that determine the humoral immune response to SARS-CoV-2, depend on lymphocyte populations, meriting their study. OBJECTIVE Estimate blood concentrations of lymphocytes involved in the immune response to new pathogens in cancer patients. METHODS We carried out an analytical study of 218 cancer patients; 124 women and 94 men, 26–93 years of age, who were treated at the National Oncology and Radiobiology Institute in Havana, Cuba, March–June, 2020. Patients were divided into five groups: (1) those with controlled disease who were not undergoing cancer-specific treatment; (2) those undergoing debulking surgery; (3) patients undergoing chemotherapy; (4) patients undergoing radiation therapy and (5) patients currently battling infection. We evaluated the following peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets via flow cytometry: B lymphocytes (total, naive, transitional, memory, plasmablasts and plasma cells); T lymphocytes (total, helper, cytotoxic and their respective naive, activated, central memory and effector memory subsets); and total, secretory and cytotoxic natural killer cells and T natural killer cells. We also estimated neutrophil/lymphocyte ratios. Lymphocyte concentrations were associated with controlled disease and standard cancer therapy. For variables that did not fall within a normal distribution, ranges were set by medians and 2.5–97.5 percentiles. The two-tailed Mann–Whitney U test was used to measure the effect of sex and to compare lymphocyte populations. We calculated odds ratios to estimate lymphopenia risk. RESULTS All cancer patients had lower values of naive helper and cytotoxic T lymphocyte populations, naive B lymphocytes, and natural killer cells than normal reference medians. Naive helper T cells were the most affected subpopulation. Memory B cells, plasmablasts, plasma cells, activated T helper cells, and cytotoxic central memory T cells were increased. Patients undergoing treatment had lower levels of naive lymphocytes than untreated patients, particularly during radiation therapy. The risk of B lymphopenia was higher in patients in treatment. The odds ratio for B lymphopenia was 8.0 in patients who underwent surgery, 12.9 in those undergoing chemotherapy, and 13.9 in patients in radiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS Cancer and conventional cancer therapies significantly affect peripheral blood B lymphocyte levels, particularly transitional T helper lymphocytes, reducing the immune system’s ability to trigger primary immune responses against new antigens.

Resumen Objetivo: determinar los valores séricos de la enzima lecitina colesterol aciltransferasa en un grupo de mujeres postmenopáusicas, y establecer su relación con factores asociados a riesgo cardiovascular. Materiales y métodos: estudio descriptivo transversal prospectivo, correlacional, que incluyó 56 mujeres postmenopáusicas en quienes se evaluaron variables antropométricas y bioquímicas (perfil lipídico y glicemia basal) asociadas a riesgo cardiovascular y se correlacionaron con las concentraciones séricas de lecitina colesterol aciltransferasa. Resultados: los valores séricos promedio de dicha enzima fueron 7,89 ± 1,26 (g/ml. Las mujeres con valores de índice de masa corporal superior a 25 tienen niveles séricos de lecitina colesterol aciltransferasa significativamente mayores que aquellas que tienen índice de masa corporal normal. No se observaron relaciones significativas entre los niveles de lecitina colesterol aciltransferasa y las variables bioquímicas evaluadas. Conclusiones: este trabajo es uno de los primeros que evalúa los niveles séricos de lecitina colesterol aciltransferasa en mujeres postmenopáusicas del Caribe colombiano. Se encontró una relación significativa entre los niveles séricos de lecitina colesterol aciltransferasa y los valores de índice de masa corporal elevados. Se requieren nuevos estudios para entender mejor la relación entre los niveles séricos de lecitina colesterol aciltransferasa y el riesgo cardiovascular en mujeres postmenopáusicas.

Abstract Objective: To determine the serum levels of lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase in a group of postmenopausal women and to establish their relationship with factors associated with cardiovascular risk. Materials and methods: A descriptive, correlational and cross-sectional study was performed that included 56 postmenopausal women. Anthropometric and biochemical (lipid profile and baseline blood glucose) variables associated with cardiovascular risk were measured, and were correlated with the serum concentrations of lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase. Results: The mean serum level of lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase was 7.89 ± 1.26 (g/ml. The women with a body mass index greater than 25 had significantly higher serum levels of the enzyme than those that had a normal body mass index. No significant relationships were observed between the levels of lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase and the biochemical variables evaluated. Conclusions: This study is one of the first that has evaluated the serum levels of lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase in postmenopausal women of the Colombian Caribbean. A significant relationship was found between the serum levels of lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase and elevated values of the body mass index. Further studies are required for a better understanding of the relationship between the serum levels of lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase and cardiovascular risk in postmenopausal women.

RESUMEN Objetivo Interpretar la percepción de hambre y escasez de alimentos en familias beneficiarias de Programas alimentarios MANA (Mejoramiento Alimentario y Nutricional de Antioquia) en Vigía del Fuerte. Método La investigación se orientó desde el enfoque cualitativo, usando la Etnografía Focalizada como método, para la recolección de la información se utilizaron entrevistas individuales y grupos de discusión. Resultados Las comunidades de la cuenca del río Murrí están protegidas del hambre física por la disponibilidad permanente del plátano; el hambre está asociada a la ausencia de carne o "liga" y al hecho de comer "plátano vacío"; así mismo se refieren al hambre como la sensación de desasosiego, debido al dolor de cabeza y de estómago que experimentan de manera permanente e intensa. Conclusiones A pesar de que las comunidades vigieñas disponen durante todo el tiempo de plátano, protegiéndolas del hambre física; estas no lo aprecian así, como alimento que calma su hambre y los libera, de cierta manera, de la escasez, porque su presencia como único alimento disponible, les recuerda, precisamente, que tienen carencia y hambre.

ABSTRACT Objective To analyze the perception of hunger and food shortage in families benefiting from MANA (Food and Nutritional Improvement) food programs in Vigía del Fuerte, Colombia. Methods Qualitative research, using focused ethnography as a method for collecting information. Individual interviews and discussion groups were used. Results Even though the communities that live by the Murrí River basin are protected from physical hunger due to the constant availability of plantain or musa, hunger is associated with the absence of meat or liga and the fact that they feel forced to eat empty musa. They also refer to hunger as the feeling of uneasiness caused by headache and stomachache. Conclusions Despite the fact that the communities of Vigía del Fuerte have access to plantain throughout the year, thus protecting them from physical hunger, they do not consider it as food that could calm their hunger and free them from scarcity. This happens because its presence as the only food available reminds them, precisely, that they lack certain conditions and feel hunger.

ABSTRACT Objective To analyze the perception of hunger and food shortage in families benefiting from MANA (Food and Nutritional Improvement) food programs in Vigía del Fuerte, Colombia. Methods Qualitative research, using focused ethnography as a method for collecting information. Individual interviews and discussion groups were used. Results Even though the communities that live by the Murrí River basin are protected from physical hunger due to the constant availability of plantain or musa, hunger is associated with the absence of meat or liga and the fact that they feel forced to eat empty musa. They also refer to hunger as the feeling of uneasiness caused by headache and stomachache. Conclusions Despite the fact that the communities of Vigía del Fuerte have access to plantain throughout the year, thus protecting them from physical hunger, they do not consider it as food that could calm their hunger and free them from scarcity. This happens because its presence as the only food available reminds them, precisely, that they lack certain conditions and feel hunger.

RESUMEN Objetivo Interpretar la percepción de hambre y escasez de alimentos en familias beneficiarias de Programas alimentarios MANA (Mejoramiento Alimentario y Nutricional de Antioquia) en Vigía del Fuerte. Método La investigación se orientó desde el enfoque cualitativo, usando la Etnografía Focalizada como método, para la recolección de la información se utilizaron entrevistas individuales y grupos de discusión. Resultados Las comunidades de la cuenca del río Murrí están protegidas del hambre física por la disponibilidad permanente del plátano; el hambre está asociada a la ausencia de carne o "liga" y al hecho de comer "plátano vacío"; así mismo se refieren al hambre como la sensación de desasosiego, debido al dolor de cabeza y de estómago que experimentan de manera permanente e intensa. Conclusiones A pesar de que las comunidades vigieñas disponen durante todo el tiempo de plátano, protegiéndolas del hambre física; estas no lo aprecian así, como alimento que calma su hambre y los libera, de cierta manera, de la escasez, porque su presencia como único alimento disponible, les recuerda, precisamente, que tienen carencia y hambre.

Resumen Introducción: la deficiencia de lipasa ácida lisosomal (LAL-D) es una entidad de herencia autosómica recesiva que lleva a la acumulación de esteres de colesterol y triglicéridos en el hígado, bazo y otros órganos. La edad de inicio y la tasa de progresión son muy variables, lo que posiblemente sea explicado por las mutaciones presentes en el gen LIPA. Las manifestaciones clínicas son las mismas que para otras patologías hepáticas, cardiovasculares y metabólicas, lo que hace difícil reconocerla en la práctica clínica. Objetivo: proveer una guía que permita a los clínicos reconocer los principales grupos de riesgo en los cuales se debe sospechar de LAL-D y mejorar su diagnóstico. Metodología: este documento se diseñó como un consenso de expertos en el cual participaron médicos especialistas en gastroenterología, hepatología, endocrinología, genética, patología y pediatría. Se realizó una revisión de la literatura acerca de las manifestaciones clínicas y de las herramientas para el diagnóstico de LAL-D y se siguió la metodología de técnica de grupo nominal. Resultados: se generaron algoritmos diagnósticos por consenso para cada uno de los grupos de riesgo, que facilitaran la sospecha y el diagnóstico de LAL-D. Conclusiones: esta guía propone algoritmos para el diagnóstico de LAL-D con base en el consenso clínico, que buscan optimizar la ruta diagnóstica en los pacientes con dicha patología.

Abstract Introduction: Lysosomal acid lipase deficiency (LAL-D) is an inherited autosomal recessive entity that leads to the accumulation of cholesterol and triglyceride esters in the liver, spleen and other organs. The age of onset and rate of progression vary greatly, possibly explained by mutations of the LIPA gene. Clinical manifestations are the same as those of other hepatic, cardiovascular and metabolic pathologies which makes it difficult to recognize in clinical practice. Objective: The objectives of these guidelines is to help clinicians recognize the major groups at risk for LAL-D and to improve its diagnosis. Methodology: This document was designed as a consensus of experts in gastroenterology, hepatology, endocrinology, genetics, pathology and pediatrics. A review of the literature regarding clinical manifestations and tools for diagnosis of LAL-D was conducted and the nominal group technique was followed. Results: Diagnostic algorithms which facilitate suspicion and diagnosis of LAL-D were generated by consensus for each of the risk groups. Conclusions: This guide proposes algorithms for the diagnosis of LAL-D based on clinical consensus. The algorithms seek to optimize diagnosis for patients with this pathology.

We present additions to the geographical and altitudinal distribution of Lithobates johni, as a new record to the herpetofauna of the State of Veracruz, Mexico. Specimens were collected within river of Pancho Poza Ecological Reserve, a protected area located in the central highlands of the state. The study extends the altitudinal distribution range for this endangered species, more than 1 200 m from its previous limit. Also the known geographical distribution range for the species extends more than 50 km to the South of the nearest record (Tehucante River, Puebla).

Se presentan adiciones a la distribución geográfica y altitudinal de Lithobates johni, como nuevo registro para la herpetofauna del estado de Veracruz, México. La captura de ejemplares se realizó dentro de cuerpos de agua de la Reserva Ecológica Pancho Poza, Área Natural Protegida (ANP), situada en la zona montañosa central del estado. El estudio proporciona nuevos registros del intervalo de distribución altitudinal para esta especie en peligro de extinción, en más de 1 200 m de su límite anterior. Asimismo, se amplía el intervalo conocido de distribución geográfica de la especie más de 50 km al sur del registro más cercano (río Tehucante, Puebla).

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi investigar os efeitos antiinflamatórios e antinociceptivos de um extrato metanólico de D. obtusata, utilizando modelos clássicos em ratos (teste do edema de orelha induzido por óleo de cróton e teste de contorções induzidas por ácido acético) e um teste de atividade de fosfolipase A2. A análise qualitativa da composição química das algas foi também determinada através de extração com solventes de polaridade crescente e testes de precipitação e cor. Os resultados do estudo de química qualitativa mostraram a presença de compostos lactônicos e fenólicos, hidratos de carbono reduzidos e outros açúcares, flavonoides, compostos graxos, triterpenos e esteroides. O extrato inibiu o edema de orelha dos ratos de um modo dependente da dose com eficácia superior a 90% e dose média efetiva de 4.87µg/orelha, enquanto a administração intraperitoneal apresentou atividade moderada. O extrato não inibiu a atividade da fosfolipase A2. No teste de contorção, a administração intraperitoneal do extrato mostrou forte atividade antinociceptiva (80,2%), enquanto a administração oral mostrou menor eficácia. Em conclusão, este estudo demonstrou os efeitos antiinflamatórios e antinociceptivos do extrato metanólico de D. obtusata em modelos experimentais, sugerindo seu potencial terapêutico no tratamento de patologias dolorosas periféricas e/ou inflamatórias.

The aim of the present work was to investigate the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of methanolic extract from D. obtusata using classic models in mice (croton oil-induced ear edema and acetic acid-induced writhing) and a phospholipase A2 activity test. Qualitative analysis of the chemical composition of seaweed was also determined by extraction with solvents of increasing polarity and precipitation and color tests. Results of qualitative chemical study showed the presence of lactonic and phenolic compounds, reduced carbohydrates, other sugars, flavonoids, fatty compounds, triterpenes and steroids. The extract inhibited mouse ear edema in a dose-dependent manner with an efficacy higher than 90% and a mean effective dose of 4.87µg/ear, while intraperitoneal administration presented a moderate activity. The extract did not inhibit phospholipase A2 activity. In the writhing test, the intraperitoneal administration of the extract showed a strong antinociceptive activity (80.2%), while the oral route showed a lower efficacy. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of methanol extract of D. obtusata in experimental models, suggesting its therapeutic potential in the treatment of peripheral painful and/or inflammatory pathologies.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic nasopharyngeal carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae, which is a major factor in the transmission of this bacterium. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Nasopharyngeal cultures were performed on children attending 32 day-care centers in 12 states in Mexico. RESULTS: Streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated from the nasopharynx of 829 out of 2 777(29.9%) subjects aged two months to six years. All children lived in urban areas and 80% spent more than six hours daily in a day-care center. Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes most frequently identified were: 19F (23%), 6B (15.6%), 23F (11.2%) and 6A (14.9%). Thirty-six percent of the isolates were susceptible to penicillin. CONCLUSIONS: Serotype distribution suggests the possible benefits that could be obtained from the heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.

OBJETIVO: La intención de este estudio fue determinar la prevalencia de portadores nasofaríngeos asintomáticos de Streptococcus pneumoniae, el cual es el principal factor en la transmisión de esta bacteria. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Los cultivos nasofaríngeos fueron realizados en niños que asisten a 32 estancias infantiles en 12 estados de México. RESULTADOS: Streptococcus pneumoniae fue aislado de la nasofaringe de 829 (29.9%) niños de los 2 777 incluidos en el estudio con un rango de edad de 2 meses a 6 años. Todos los niños vivían en áreas urbanas y 80% permanecían más de seis horas diarias en la estancia infantil. Los serotipos de Streptococcus pneumoniae más frecuentemente identificados fueron: 19F (23%), 6B (15.6%), 23F (11.2%) y 6 A (14.9%). Treinta y seis por ciento de los aislamientos fueron susceptibles a penicilina. CONCLUSIONES: La distribución de serotipos nos da una idea de los posibles beneficios que podrían obtenerse de la vacuna neumocóccica conjugada heptavalente.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic nasopharyngeal carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae, which is a major factor in the transmission of this bacterium. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Nasopharyngeal cultures were performed on children attending 32 day-care centers in 12 states in Mexico. RESULTS: Streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated from the nasopharynx of 829 out of 2 777(29.9%) subjects aged two months to six years. All children lived in urban areas and 80% spent more than six hours daily in a day-care center. Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes most frequently identified were: 19F (23%), 6B (15.6%), 23F (11.2%) and 6A (14.9%). Thirty-six percent of the isolates were susceptible to penicillin. CONCLUSIONS: Serotype distribution suggests the possible benefits that could be obtained from the heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.

OBJETIVO: La intención de este estudio fue determinar la prevalencia de portadores nasofaríngeos asintomáticos de Streptococcus pneumoniae, el cual es el principal factor en la transmisión de esta bacteria. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Los cultivos nasofaríngeos fueron realizados en niños que asisten a 32 estancias infantiles en 12 estados de México. RESULTADOS: Streptococcus pneumoniae fue aislado de la nasofaringe de 829 (29.9%) niños de los 2 777 incluidos en el estudio con un rango de edad de 2 meses a 6 años. Todos los niños vivían en áreas urbanas y 80% permanecían más de seis horas diarias en la estancia infantil. Los serotipos de Streptococcus pneumoniae más frecuentemente identificados fueron: 19F (23%), 6B (15.6%), 23F (11.2%) y 6 A (14.9%). Treinta y seis por ciento de los aislamientos fueron susceptibles a penicilina. CONCLUSIONES: La distribución de serotipos nos da una idea de los posibles beneficios que podrían obtenerse de la vacuna neumocóccica conjugada heptavalente.