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Background: Diagnosis and treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are often delayed in Latin America due to barriers at the patient, provider, and health care system levels. Methods: This qualitative study, conducted in 16 countries, explored the experiences and recommendations of persons with SLE and rheumatologists to identify key needs and strategies to improve care. Semistructured interviews and focus groups were analyzed thematically. Results: Six main themes emerged: (1) education and training, (2) access to specialized care, (3) health care system organization, (4) awareness, (5) patient organizations, and (6) research. Participants underscored the need to strengthen professional competencies, decentralize care, reduce administrative barriers, and raise awareness among decision-makers and society. Conclusions: The perspectives of persons with SLE and rheumatologists converge on the urgent need for coordinated, equitable, and patient- and caregiver-centered approaches to SLE care. Implementing these recommendations—through improved education, health care system reform, advocacy, and research—could substantially reduce diagnostic and treatment delays and improve outcomes for people living with SLE in Latin America.
La autotomía caudal es un fenómeno conocido principalmente en reptiles (por ejemplo, Lepidosauria), pero los casos en mamíferos son escasos. Por lo tanto, se presenta una revisión sobre la autotomía caudal en roedores y se registran cuatro nuevos casos para las especies: la rata de arroz del bosque nublado, Handleyomys saturatior (Merriam, 1901); el ratón espinoso de Desmarest, Heteromys desmarestianus (Gray, 1868); la Rata de Vesper, Nyctomys sumichrasti (Saussure, 1860); y el ratón trepador de orejas grandes, Ototylomys phyllotis Merriam, 1901. Se han documentado un total de 55 especies de roedores con autotomía caudal, siendo el 72,7% autotomía falsa y el 27,3% autotomía verdadera. Es esencial investigar este rasgo defensivo, ya que puede contribuir significativamente a su adaptabilidad y éxito en diversos hábitats.
Dengue is one of the most important arboviral diseases worldwide and is considered a reemerging infectious condition, posing a significant public health challenge, particularly among the pediatric population. The most effective diagnostic method during the acute phase of the illness (0–5 days), when viremia levels are high, is Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). However, some molecular techniques may detect viral RNA for up to seven days, depending on the viral load. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of RT-PCR in detecting viral RNA after the fifth day of illness in pediatric patients at Hospital Escuela, Honduras. A total of 101 paired serum samples were analyzed, with positive results within the first five days, and a second sample from the same pediatric patients was obtained on day six or later. Among the referred patients, 76.2% (n=77) were clinically classified as having dengue with warning signs; the predominant serotype was DENV-3 in 90.0% (n=91). The mean Ct (cycle threshold) in samples collected within the first 0–5 days was 29.5, with 43.5% (n=44) showing Ct values between 25.1 and 32.0. Of the samples obtained on the 6th and 7th days, 82.2% (n=81) tested negative for viral RNA regardless of initial viremia; only 18.8% (19/101) tested positive, with a mean Ct of 34.2. These findings indicate that RTPCR had reduced efficacy in detecting dengue virus beyond the fifth day of illness. RT-PCR should be used preferably during the first five days of the disease, highlighting the need to integrate it with serology in later stages. KEY WORDS: Viral load; dengue fever; pediatrics; molecular virus detection; late-stage; diagnosis.
Cacao (Theobroma cacao) is significantly impacted each year by Frosty Pod Rot (FPR) caused by Moniliophthora roreri and Black Pod Rot (BPR) caused by Phytophthora species. The losses from these diseases pose a severe threat to cacao production worldwide. Consequently, cacao breeding programs focus on developing new clones that demonstrate high productivity potential and disease resistance. However, achieving this goal is challenging due to the lengthy selection process, the influence of environmental conditions on disease severity, and the need to avoid chemical control methods. Genetic resistance is, therefore, the most viable option for selecting and introducing new cacao clones to farmers. In this study, 40 cacao clones were evaluated from 2013 to 2017, with 20 clones sourced from the “Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza” (CATIE) breeding program and 20 from the Fundación Hondureña de Investigación Agrícola (FHIA) breeding program. Three criteria were employed for clone selection: yield, percentage of diseased pods (PDP), and disease and production index (DPI). The results indicated that, depending on the objectives of the breeding program, these criteria can effectively be used to select new cacao clones that are both highly productive and disease-resistant. It was noted that cacao clones with high productivity are not always the most resistant to diseases, and vice versa. However, by combining these criteria, it is possible to identify cacao clones exhibiting high productivity potential and resistance to FPR and BPR.
