National Autonomous University of Nicaragua

About: National Autonomous University of Nicaragua is a education organization based out in Managua, Nicaragua. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Public health. The organization has 775 authors who have published 715 publications receiving 9791 citations.

Homeless People in Nicaragua: A Point‐in‐Time Count in León

Abstract: This work analyses the difficulties encounter to determine who should be considered a homeless person in a developing country, and the result of a point-in-time count of homeless people done in the city of Leon (185,000 inhabitants), Nicaragua. Throughout the point-in-time count, 82 unduplicated persons living homeless were tallied (76% male; 23% female); 11% were under age. Half of the homeless detected seemed to have problems related to mental health, alcohol and drugs, and/or wounds, dermatological or dental problems. Sixty-nine percent showed a bad physical appearance, 74% had poor personal hygiene, and 80% had the dirty or very dirty clothes.

Vertical gradients in population characteristics of canopy lichens in boreal rainforests of Norway

Abstract: All specimens of three foliose lichens (Lobaria pulmonaria (L.) Hoffm., n = 725; Lobaria scrobiculata (Scop.) DC., n = 6613; Pseudocyphellaria crocata (L.) Vain., n = 1237) and two pendulous lichens (Alectoria sarmentosa (Ach.) Ach., n = 441; Ramalina thrausta (Ach.) Nyl., n = 990) were collected from 160 random Picea abies (L.) H. Karst. branches (2–15 m above the ground) in three spruce-dominated boreal rainforests in Norway. Maximum diameter (foliose lichens), length (pendulous lichens), and reproductive structures were quantified in each thallus. The effects of measured tree and branch variables on abundance and reproduction were tested by generalized linear mixed models with binomial errors (binomial GLMM) and zero-altered (over-dispersed) Poisson generalized linear mixed models (ZAPGLMM). Lobaria pulmonaria, P. crocata, and R. thrausta occurred predominantly in the lower canopy, whereas the remaining species were also common at higher levels. The portions of thalli producing soredia and (or) isidia ...

Analyses of an Expressed Sequence Tag Library from Taenia solium, Cysticerca

Abstract: Background Neurocysticercosis is a disease caused by the oral ingestion of eggs from the human parasitic worm Taenia solium. Although drugs are available they are controversial because of the side effects and poor efficiency. An expressed sequence tag (EST) library is a method used to describe the gene expression profile and sequence of mRNA from a specific organism and stage. Such information can be used in order to find new targets for the development of drugs and to get a better understanding of the parasite biology. Methods and Findings Here an EST library consisting of 5760 sequences from the pig cysticerca stage has been constructed. In the library 1650 unique sequences were found and of these, 845 sequences (52%) were novel to T. solium and not identified within other EST libraries. Furthermore, 918 sequences (55%) were of unknown function. Amongst the 25 most frequently expressed sequences 6 had no relevant similarity to other sequences found in the Genbank NR DNA database. A prediction of putative signal peptides was also performed and 4 among the 25 were found to be predicted with a signal peptide. Proposed vaccine and diagnostic targets T24, Tsol18/HP6 and Tso31d could also be identified among the 25 most frequently expressed. Conclusions An EST library has been produced from pig cysticerca and analyzed. More than half of the different ESTs sequenced contained a sequence with no suggested function and 845 novel EST sequences have been identified. The library increases the knowledge about what genes are expressed and to what level. It can also be used to study different areas of research such as drug and diagnostic development together with parasite fitness via e.g. immune modulation.

Reliability of a visual scoring system with fluorescent tracers to assess dermal pesticide exposure.

Abstract: Background and objectives: We modified Fenske’s semi-quantitative ‘visual scoring system’ of fluorescent tracer deposited on the skin of pesticide applicators and evaluated its reproducibility in the Nicaraguan setting. Methods: The body surface of 33 farmers, divided into 31 segments, was videotaped in the field after spraying with a pesticide solution containing a fluorescent tracer. A portable UV lamp was used for illumination in a foldaway dark room. The videos of five farmers were randomly selected. The scoring was based on a matrix with extension of fluorescent patterns (scale 0–5) on the ordinate and intensity (scale 0–5) on the abscissa, with the product of these two ranks as the final score for each body segment (0–25). Five medical students rated and evaluated the quality of 155 video images having undergone 4 h of training. Cronbach alpha coefficients and two-way random effects intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) with absolute agreement were computed to assess inter-rater reliability. Results: Consistency was high (Cronbach alpha = 0.96), but the scores differed substantially between raters. The overall ICC was satisfactory [0.75; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.62– 0.83], but it was lower for intensity (0.54; 95% CI = 0.40–0.66) and higher for extension (0.80; 95% CI = 0.71–0.86). ICCs were lowest for images with low scores and evaluated as low quality, and highest for images with high scores and high quality. Conclusions: Inter-rater reliability coefficients indicate repeatability of the scoring system. However, field conditions for recording fluorescence should be improved to achieve higher quality images, and training should emphasize a better mechanism for the reading of body areas with low contamination.