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.
<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>
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