The University of the Republic (Spanish: Universidad de la República, sometimes UdelaR) is Uruguay's oldest public university. It is by far the country's largest university, as well as the second largest public university in South America and the world's 57th largest by enrollment, with a student body of 137,757 undergraduate students in 2018 and 6,351 postgraduate students in 2012. It was founded on 18 July 1849 in Montevideo, where most of its buildings and facilities are still located. Its current rector is Rodrigo Arim..
Stem canker caused by Diaporthe caulivora (syn. D. phaseolorum var. caulivora) was first reported in North America in the mid-20th century and is referred to as northern stem canker. Since it was reported in Uruguay in 2013, it is considered one of the most important diseases in the crop, causing up to 24
INTRODUCTION:In the intensive care unit (ICU), left ventricular systolic function is traditionally assessed by measuring the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Recently, left ventricular global systolic longitudinal strain (SL-S) has emerged as a more sensitive marker of myocardial function in this setting. However, obtaining high-quality echocardiographic images remains a significant challenge, particularly in patients undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), and data on the feasibility and reproducibility of these measurements in critically ill patients are limited. OBJECTIVE:To assess the feasibility and reproducibility (both global and per chamber) of SL-S and LVEF (both manual and automatic) in ICU patients under IMV. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Thirty ICU patients receiving IMV were randomly selected. The feasibility and reproducibility of SL-S (global and per chamber) and LVEF were assessed using both manual and automatic methods. The analysis was performed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) with its 95% confidence interval (CI), and Bland-Altman analysis (BA), which reported the mean difference and limits of agreement (lower-upper limits of agreement). RESULTS:SL-S was feasible in 70% of patients and demonstrated excellent intra- and interobserver reproducibility for both manual and automatic methods. Intraobserver reproducibility for automatic SL-S: ICC 0.97 (CI: 0.94-0.99), BA 0.26 (-1.89 to 2.40) and interobserver reproducibility: ICC 0.96 (CI: 0.92-0.98), and BA 0.53 (-2.41 to 3.47). The reproducibility of manual SL-S was comparable to automatic measurements. Additionally, the reproducibility per chamber was excellent. LVEF was feasible in 80% of patients. Manual LVEF (Simpson's biplane) reproducibility demonstrated good reproducibility: intraobserver ICC: 0.82 (CI: 0.48-0.93), BA -5.00 (-19.70 to 9.70); interobserver ICC 0.78 (CI: 0.55-0.91), BA 7.50 (-5.40 to 20.40). Automatic LVEF (auto-LVEF) demonstrated excellent reproducibility: intraobserver ICC: 0.94 (CI: 0.86-0.98), BA -0.95 (-10.02 to 8.13); and interobserver ICC: 0.94 (CI: 0.87-0.97), BA 1.75 (-6.38 to 10.33). CONCLUSION:SL-S (global and per chamber) and auto-LVEF were feasible and showed excellent reproducibility. LVEF demonstrated the highest feasibility, while SL-S exhibited the greatest reproducibility. These parameters may represent a useful tool in the evaluation of LV function in ICU patients under IMV.
Background/Objectives: Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) is an urgent public health threat due to its rapid dissemination and resistance to last-line antibiotics. Cefiderocol (FDC), a novel siderophore cephalosporin, targets resistant Gram-negative pathogens by exploiting bacterial iron uptake mechanisms. However, resistance to FDC is emerging among Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing K. pneumoniae strains. This study characterizes a spontaneous FDC-resistant subpopulation (IHC216) derived from a KPC-producing strain (KPNMA216) using comprehensive genomic, transcriptional, and phenotypic analyses. Methods: Given the whole-genome sequencing results, where mutations were identified in genes involved in transcriptional regulation and membrane permeability (ompC) among others, in the present work we further explore their potential implications and conduct a more detailed analysis of the IHC216 genome. A qRT-PCR analysis highlighted significant downregulation of classical siderophore-mediated iron acquisition systems (fepA, cirA, iroN) and upregulation of alternative iron uptake pathways (iucA, fiU), reflecting a switch in iron acquisition strategies. Results: A notable downregulation of blaKPC-163 correlated with restored susceptibility to carbapenems, indicating collateral susceptibility. Altered expressions of pbp2 and pbp3 implicated adaptive changes in cell wall synthesis, potentially affecting FDC resistance mechanisms. Furthermore, enhanced oxidative stress responses via upregulated sodC expression and increased capsule production were observed. Conclusions: These findings underscore the complex interplay of genetic and transcriptional adaptations underlying FDC resistance, highlighting potential therapeutic vulnerabilities.
The early exposure of mother-litter dyads to adult male intruders in the home cage leads to the precocious expression of fear responses in rat pups when confronted with an intruder during the stress-hyporesponsive period (SHRP). As fear-related circuits are still maturing during this period in a sex dependent manner, this study investigated whether this early-life experience promotes the activation of fear-related circuits in 8-day-old female and male pups confronted with an adult male. As expected, pups exposed to male intruders from postnatal days (PND) 1-4 exhibited increased immobility and reduced ultrasonic vocalizations when subsequently tested with an adult male on PND 8, and this response did not differ from that displayed by pups outside the SHRP (PND 14). Fear behavior was accompanied by an increase of c-Fos expression in key areas implicated in fear processing, including the amygdala (medial, cortical, basomedial, basolateral nuclei), paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, and ventromedial hypothalamus in 8- and 14-day old pups. However, neural activation patterns differed between sexes, suggesting sex-specific maturational trajectories influenced by the exposure of the dyad to the male intruder. These findings demonstrate that an early social context that alters the mother's behavior induces the precocious activation of fear-related circuits in male and female pups, highlighting the sensitivity of emotional neural circuits to maternal and environmental influences during the neonatal period.
