Objective: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is often accompanied by stigma, which could contribute to a worse prognosis. The objective of this study is to identify the variables associated with stigma in PD patients who are candidates for deep brain stimulation (DBS). Methods: We investigated sociodemographic and clinical variables associated with stigma in a sample of 54 PD patients indicated for DBS. The independent variables were motor symptoms assessed by the Movement Disorder Society‐sponsored revision of the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS III), depressive symptoms measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, age, disease duration and the presence of a general medical condition. The Mobility, Activities of daily living and Emotional well-being domains of the 39-item Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39) were also investigated as independent variables, and the Stigma domain of the PDQ-39 scale was considered the outcome variable. Results: After multiple linear regression analysis, activities of daily living remained associated with the Stigma domain (B = 0.42 [95%CI 0.003-0.83], p = 0.048). The full model accounted for 15% of the variance in the Stigma domain (p = 0.03). Conclusions: Although causal assumptions are not appropriate for cross-sectional studies, the results suggest that ADL difficulties could contribute to greater stigma in PD patients with refractory motor symptoms who are candidates for DBS.

Resumo Algumas espécies de Rickettsia transmitidas por carrapatos são reconhecidos como patógenos humanos na Argentina. Este presente trabalho avaliou a infecção por Rickettsia em carrapatos coletados em aves passeriformes, durante 2011-2012, em duas ecorregiões da Argentina. Os carrapatos foram processados pela reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR) e sequenciamento de DNA de dois genes de Rickettsia: gltA e ompA. Ao todo, 594 amostras de carrapatos (532 larvas e 62 ninfas), representando pelo menos 4 espécies (Amblyomma tigrinum, Ixodes pararicinus, Haemaphysalis juxtakochi, Haemaphysalis leporispalustris), foram avaliadas. Pelo menos uma larva de A. tigrinum, coletada de Coryphospingus cucullatus no Chaco Seco, estava infectada com Rickettsia parkeri, enquanto pelo menos 12 larvas e 1 ninfa de I. pararicinus, coletadas de Troglodytes aedon, Turdus amaurochalinus, Turdus rufiventris, C. cucullatus e Zonotrichia capensis estavam infectadas com Rickettsia sp., geneticamente relacionada a vários endossimbiontes riquetsiais de carrapatos do complexo Ixodes ricinus. R. parkeri é reconhecidamente um patógeno humano em alguns países americanos, incluindo a Argentina, onde um estudo recente incriminou A. tigrinum como um provável vetor. Aves poderiam desempenhar um papel importante na dispersão de carrapatos A. tigrinum infectados por R. parkeri. Em adição, relata-se pela primeira vez a infecção por Rickettsia em I. pararicinus.

Abstract Several tick-borne Rickettsia species are recognized human pathogens in Argentina. Here we evaluated rickettsial infection in ticks collected on passerine birds during 2011-2012 in two eco-regions of Argentina. The ticks were processed by molecular analysis through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection and DNA sequencing of fragments of two rickettsial genes, gltA and ompA. A total of 594 tick specimens (532 larvae and 62 nymphs), representing at least 4 species (Amblyomma tigrinum, Ixodes pararicinus, Haemaphysalis juxtakochi, Haemaphysalis leporispalustris), were evaluated. At least one A. tigrinum larva, collected on Coryphospingus cucullatus in Chaco Seco, was infected with Rickettsia parkeri, whereas at least 12 larvae and 1 nymph of I. pararicinus, collected from Troglodytes aedon, Turdus amaurochalinus, Turdus rufiventris, C. cucullatus and Zonotrichia capensis, were infected with an undescribed Rickettsia agent, genetically related to several rickettsial endosymbionts of ticks of the Ixodes ricinus complex. R. parkeri is a recognized human pathogen in several American countries including Argentina, where a recent study incriminated A. tigrinum as the potential vector of R. parkeri to humans. Birds could play an important role in dispersing R. parkeri-infected A. tigrinum ticks. Additionally, we report for the first time a rickettsial agent infecting I. pararicinus ticks.

Validating methodology formerly reported, polythiophene electrosynthesised as nanowires from the monomer and some of its oligomers is now described. The work is conducted on a platinum electrode previously modified with a template that tunes the polymer growth inside the confined space of the pores. In addition, it was confirmed that the use of larger chain-length oligomers as starting unit helps to obtain more homogeneous wires, although its adhesion to the supporting substrate works against. Characterisation allows to verify the morphology and to confirm higher levels of doping/undoping of the nanostructures as compared to the corresponding bulky deposits, which points to improved macroscopic properties. It is demonstrated that this strategy allows obtaining nanowires of very small diameter, ranging from 2.8 to 4.0 nm; thus demonstrating that the use of this approach enables the direct obtainment of nanowires upon the electrode surface, with the obvious advantage that this implies.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to present the results of pubovaginal sling with a low-cost polypropylene mesh in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence MATERIALS AND METHODS: 118 women diagnosed with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) due to urethral hypermobility or intrinsic sphincteric deficiency, treated with pubovaginal sling (PVS) with a low-cost polypropylene mesh confectioned by the surgeon, were analyzed. All patients had a basic evaluation that included a medical history, physical examination, stress tests and urodynamic investigation RESULTS: The average follow up was of 42 months. Urethral hypermobility was observed in 67% of the cases. The process was carried out on an outpatient basis on 67 patients. Intra-operative complications included 4 vesical injuries, treated with catheterization for 3 days. There were 13 early complications, of which 8 were urinary retentions treated with vesical drainage for 1 to 3 weeks and 3 vaginal extrusions of the mesh treated with covering of the sections with mucous membrane. There was a need for 6 urethrolysis in patients who presented irritative and postoperative obstructive symptoms; 81.3% of the patients were considered cured, while 9.3% had significant improvement. Three initially unsuccessful cases required sling reconfiguration. All cases were eventually cured CONCLUSION: The construction of a pubovaginal sling using a low-cost polypropylene mesh is a safe and effective technique for the relief of SUI. It should be considered an alternative, especially for patients in public health systems with low financial resources.