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.

Metabolomics Analysis Reveals Tissue-Specific Metabolite Compositions in Leaf Blade and Traps of Carnivorous Nepenthes Plants.

Abstract: Nepenthes is a genus of carnivorous plants that evolved a pitfall trap, the pitcher, to catch and digest insect prey to obtain additional nutrients. Each pitcher is part of the whole leaf, together with a leaf blade. These two completely different parts of the same organ were studied separately in a non-targeted metabolomics approach in Nepenthes x ventrata, a robust natural hybrid. The first aim was the analysis and profiling of small (50-1000 m/z) polar and non-polar molecules to find a characteristic metabolite pattern for the particular tissues. Second, the impact of insect feeding on the metabolome of the pitcher and leaf blade was studied. Using UPLC-ESI-qTOF and cheminformatics, about 2000 features (MS/MS events) were detected in the two tissues. They showed a huge chemical diversity, harboring classes of chemical substances that significantly discriminate these tissues. Among the common constituents of N. x ventrata are phenolics, flavonoids and naphthoquinones, namely plumbagin, a characteristic compound for carnivorous Nepenthales, and many yet-unknown compounds. Upon insect feeding, only in pitchers in the polar compounds fraction, small but significant differences could be detected. By further integrating information with cheminformatics approaches, we provide and discuss evidence that the metabolite composition of the tissues can point to their function.

Dynamical screening effects on rate coefficients for dense plasmas

Abstract: Usually collisional rate coefficients in plasmas are calculated from cross sections for the respective processes averaged with the electron distribution function. The cross sections are taken from scattering theory or scattering experiments referring to processes of isolated particles. In dense plasmas, however, there have to be taken into account many-particle effects like screening, lowering of the ionization energy and Pauli-blocking. These can be included into the theory if one starts from quantum kinetic equations for nonideal systems with chemical reactions. Statistical expressions can be derived for the rate coefficients now taking into account many-body effects. Also in-medium cross sections can be calculated which are dependent on the density. However, the concept of a cross section breaks down in dense plasmas in some cases. This shows that the ionization process, for instance, cannot be treated further as a process in which one electron collides with an atom, but is a collective one. Numerical results are presented for the coefficients of impact ionization, three-body recombination, excitation and deexcitation in nonideal hydrogen and carbon plasmas. These coefficients are strongly dependent on the density. Results obtained in the cases of statically and dynamically screened potentials are compared: in the latter case, higher ionization and recombination rates are obtained in the dense plasma region.

Informing the TB suspect for sputum sample collection and communicating laboratory results in Nicaragua: a neglected process in tuberculosis case finding

Abstract: Objective. To assess the patient information process before sputum sample collection, the quality of sputum sample and transmission of acid-fast bacilli (AFB) examination results to TB suspects, in three local areas of Nicaragua. Methods. (a) directed interviews of consecutive series of TB suspects whose sputum had been examined for AFB; (b) directed interview of health personnel; and (c) assessment of the sputum sample quality. Results. A total of 115 TB suspects and 33 health personnel were interviewed and 625 sputum samples were assessed. Results show multiple weaknesses in the process of information to the patient during sputum collections, as well as in the communication of results. Conclusions. This study unveiled an aspect usually overlooked of case finding, that is, the information process during sputum production, sputum sample quality, and the communication of results to the TB suspects. The results illustrate the need for routine assessment of the whole diagnostic process.

Unsuspected Dengue as a Cause of Acute Febrile Illness in Children and Adults in Western Nicaragua

Abstract: Background Dengue is an emerging infectious disease of global significance Suspected dengue, especially in children in Nicaragua’s heavily-urbanized capital of Managua, has been well documented, but unsuspected dengue among children and adults with undifferentitated fever has not Methodology/Principal Findings To prospectively study dengue in semi-urban and rural western Nicaragua, we obtained epidemiologic and clinical data as well as acute and convalescent sera (2 to 4 weeks after onset of illness) from a convenience sample (enrollment Monday to Saturday daytime to early evening) of consecutively enrolled patients (n = 740) aged ≥ 1 years presenting with acute febrile illness We tested paired sera for dengue IgG and IgM and serotyped dengue virus using reverse transcriptase-PCR Among 740 febrile patients enrolled, 90% had paired sera We found 470 (635%) were seropositive for dengue at enrollment The dengue seroprevalance increased with age and reached >90% in people over the age of 20 years We identified acute dengue (serotypes 1 and 2) in 38 (51%) patients Only 81% (3/37) of confirmed cases were suspected clinically Conclusions/Significance Dengue is an important and largely unrecognized cause of fever in rural western Nicaragua Since Zika virus is transmitted by the same vector and has been associated with severe congenital infections, the population we studied is at particular risk for being devastated by the Zika epidemic that has now reached Central America

Innate Immune Factors in Mothers' Breast Milk and Their Lack of Association With Rotavirus Vaccine Immunogenicity in Nicaraguan Infants.

Abstract: To better understand underlying causes of lower rotavirus vaccine effectiveness in low-middle income countries (LMICs), we measured innate antiviral factors in Nicaraguan mothers' milk and immune response to the first dose of the pentavalent rotavirus vaccine in corresponding infants. No relationship was found between concentrations of innate factors and rotavirus vaccine response.