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The Covid-19 pandemic has been responsible for millions of deaths worldwide. Patients with comorbidities– such as those on peritoneal dialysis (PD)– present higher morbidity and mortality than the general population. We prospectively evaluated all Chilean patients on PD (48 centres) and followed those who had Covid-19 from the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in Chile (March 2020) to January 2021 (start of vaccination campaign). We described demographic history, comorbidities, factors related to infection, need for hospitalisation and death due to Covid-19. During the study period, 106 adults on PD were infected by SARS-CoV-2, with a mean age of 53.1 (±16.3) and of which 53.9% were female. From that group, 54.8% required hospitalisation and 24.5% ( n = 26) died due to Covid-19. Most of the patients (63.4%) were infected at home and 22.8% during hospitalisation for other reasons. There was a significant association for Covid-19 mortality with: being ≥60 years old, diabetes, time on PD ≥5 years, need for hospitalisation and hospital-acquired infection. At 90 days of follow-up, all deaths associated to Covid-19 occurred before 40 days. We conclude that patients on PD without Covid-19 vaccination have a high mortality and need for hospitalisation associated to Covid-19. To avoid this negative outcome, it is necessary to intensify strategies to avoid contagion, especially in those ≥60 years old, with diabetes and/or ≥5 years spent on PD.

Forage-based cattle systems play a key role in rural economies of developing countries in terms of food security and poverty alleviation. However, they can generate negative environmental impacts by contributing to increased greenhouse gas emissions, land degradation, and reduction of biodiversity. As a result of that, large amounts of resources have been allocated to research and development (R&D) in forage material improvement and a broad range of improved materials were released showing superior characteristics in terms of productivity and environmental impacts compared to native or naturalized materials. However, data are still scarce on both the economic and environmental “yields” of investments in R&D activities around improved forage materials. Through an ex-ante evaluation, this study aims at estimating the potential “yields” of the investment in R&D and diffusion activities of the improved forage variety Brachiaria brizantha 26,124 cv. Agrosavia Caporal in the Colombian Orinoquía region. The analysis used two evaluation methodologies: 1) a combined discounted free cash flow model and Monte Carlo simulation using the simulation software @Risk to determine the impact on individual welfare, and 2) an economic surplus model an risk analysis to determine the potential social benefits of the technologies and their distribution among producers and consumers, considering changes in adoption rates, productivity levels and probability of success. The results suggest that the evaluated material presents important economic benefits for the study region and results in a positive return on the investments made in R&D activities. The results are a key input for decision making processes among public and private institutions involved in funding and executing the development of improved forage materials and will help to set research priorities and resource allocation.

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<p>En el piedemonte llanero colombiano, se estableció la asociación de maíz con los pastos Brachiaria decumbens Stapf., Brachiaria híbrido Mulato, Brachiaria brizantha cv. Toledo como medio para renovar una pastura degradada, utilizando una fertilización nitrogenada de 100 y 200 kg ha-1. Para estimar el nitrógeno foliar en el maíz y los pastos, se comparó el método de laboratorio Kjeldahl y la medición del índice de verdor con el clorofilometro Minolta® SPAD 502 (método rápido y no destructivo). Las evaluación al inicio de la floración del maíz (35 días después de la siembra) presentó un coeficiente de determinación (r2) de 0,79 en el maíz como en el pasto, en tanto que al inicio del llenado del grano (60 días después de la siembra) fue del 0,92 en el maíz y 0,96 en los pastos indicando una buena relación entre el N foliar y el índice de verdor del clorofilometro. En la dosis de 200 kg ha-1 de N, el contenido de clorofila fue superior significativamente con 51,6 unidades SPAD en las hojas del maíz; sin embargo, el rendimiento de grano de maíz fue similar entre 100 y 200 kg ha-1 de N con un rendimiento de 5,2 t ha-1.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Relationship between leaf nitrogen and chlorophyll content in corn found in pastures in the Llanos Foothills of Colombia</strong></p><p>In the piedmont of Colombia, an association between maize and the grasses Brachiaria decumbens Stapf., Brachiaria Mulato hybrid, Brachiaria brizantha cv. Toledo was established as a means of renewing a degraded pasture, using a nitrogen fertilization of 100 and 200 kg ha-1. To estimate the leaf nitrogen in the maize and grass, we compared the laboratory kjeldahl method and the measurement of the greenness index using a clorofilometro, Minolta SPAD® 502 (rapid nondestructive method). The evaluation at the beginning of flowering in the maize (35 days after planting) had a coefficient of determination (r2) of 0.79 in the maize and in the grass, while at the beginning of grain filling (60 days after planting) an r2 of 0.92 was recorded in the maize and 0.96 in the grass, indicating a good relationship between leaf N and the clorofilometro greenness index. At doses of 200 kg ha-1 N, the chlorophyll content was significantly higher with 51.6 SPAD units in the leaves of the corn, but grain yield was similar between 100 and 200 kg ha-1 N with a yield of 5.2 t ha-1.</p><p> </p>

Molecular profile of breast cancer in Latin-American women was studied in five countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and Uruguay. Data about socioeconomic characteristics, risk factors, prognostic factors, and molecular subtypes were described, and the 60-month overall cumulative survival probabilities (OS) were estimated. From 2011 to 2013, 1,300 eligible Latin-American women 18 years or older, with a diagnosis of breast cancer in clinical stage II or III, and performance status ≦̸1 were invited to participate in a prospective cohort study. Face-to-face interviews were conducted, and clinical and outcome data, including death, were extracted from medical records. Unadjusted associations were evaluated by Chi-squared and Fisher’s exact tests and the OS by Kaplan–Meier method. Log-rank test was used to determine differences between cumulative probability curves. Multivariable adjustment was carried out by entering potential confounders in the Cox regression model. The OS at 60 months was 83.9%. Multivariable-adjusted death hazard differences were found for women living in Argentina (2.27), Chile (1.95), and Uruguay (2.42) compared with Mexican women, for older (≥60 years) (1.84) compared with younger (≤40 years) women, for basal-like subtype (5.8), luminal B (2.43), and HER2-enriched (2.52) compared with luminal A subtype, and for tumor clinical stages IIB (1.91), IIIA (3.54), and IIIB (3.94) compared with stage IIA women. OS was associated with country of residence, PAM50 intrinsic subtype, age, and tumor stage at diagnosis. While the latter is known to be influenced by access to care, including cancer screening, timely diagnosis and treatment, including access to more effective treatment protocols, it may also influence epigenetic changes that, potentially, impact molecular subtypes. Data derived from heretofore understudied populations with unique geographic ancestry and sociocultural experiences are critical to furthering our understanding of this complexity.

Il y a quelques années déjà que Don Ramon Carande a consacré d'excellents travaux aux finances publiques de Castille à l'époque de Charles-Quint. Après les études pionnières, mais aujourd'hui vieillies et parfois hasardeuses, de Konrad Häbler et de Francisco de Laiglesia, ses livres, d'un esprit tout moderne, redonnent une clarté neuve h un chapitre décisif de la grande histoire de l'Espagne et au-delà de l'Occident tout entier. R. Carande a pris pour terme de recherche la date de 1556, dont la valeur de coupure est évidente. Il était intéressant, après lui et selon son conseil même, d'étudier les finances publiques des successeurs de Charles- Quint. C'est aussitôt mettre en cause les vastes et encombrants problèmes de la grandeur espagnole au risque évident de s'y perdre.

In many parts of the foothills of the Orinoquía region of Colombia, cattle production takes place on poorly drained soils. The region is dominated by extensive grazing systems of Brachiaira humidicola cv. Humidicola, a grass with high adaptation potential under temporal waterlogging conditions. Inadequate management practices and low soil fertility result in degradation, however, with important negative effects on pasture productivity and the quality and provision of (soil) ecosystem services–a situation that is likely to worsen in the near future due to climate change. Against this background, AGROSAVIA (Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria) selected Arachis pintoi CIAT 22160 cv. Centauro (Centauro) as a promising alternative for the sustainable intensification of livestock production and rehabilitation of degraded areas. This study assesses dual-purpose milk production in the foothills of the Colombian Orinoquía from an economic perspective. We compare two production systems: the Centauro–Brachiaira humidicola cv. Humidicola association (new system) and Brachiaira humidicola cv. Humidicola as a monoculture (traditional system). We used cashflow and risk assessment models to estimate economic indicators. The projections for economic returns consider changes in forage characteristics under regional climate change scenarios RCP (2.6, 8.5). The LIFE-SIM model was used to simulate dairy production. Results show that the inclusion of Centauro has the potential to increase animal productivity and profitability under different market scenarios. The impact of climatic variables on forage production is considerable in both climate change scenarios. Both total area and potential distribution of Centauro could change, and biomass production could decline. Brachiaira humidicola cv. Humidicola showed better persistence due to higher nitrogen levels in soil when grown in association with Centauro. The legume also provides a number of ecosystem services, such as improving soil structure and composition, and also contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This helps to improve the adaptation and mitigation capacity of the system.