National University of Asuncion

Introducción: la pandemia por COVID-19 presentó desafíos a nivel mundial. La aceptación de las vacunas en la población es indispensable como medida preventiva. Es innegable que existen factores que elevan el rechazo o cuestionamiento al respecto, que pueden estar relacionados con la cultura, política, confianza, conveniencia, experiencia en servicios sanitarios también la opinión del entorno. Objetivo: determinar el porcentaje de estudiantes y docentes vacunados, y el número de dosis aplicadas contra el COVID-19 de la Facultad de Odontología de la Universidad Nacional de Asunción, en el año 2022. Metodología: estudio observacional descriptivo de corte transversal, aplicando una encuesta en digital con 23 preguntas acerca del conocimiento, aplicación y autopercepción de la vacuna; además de datos demográficos. Resultados: fueron incluidos 168 encuestados, 128 estudiantes y 40 docentes. 80,0 % fueron mujeres. 97,6 % se ha vacunado contra COVID-19, la mayoría (85,4 %) se aplicó tres dosis de la vacuna. 34,1 % se aplicó la vacuna Covaxin, 32,9 % Sputnik V, 15,9 % AstraZeneca y 17,1 % otras (Pfizer, Sinopharm y Moderna). El 35,1 % tuvo dudas acerca de la eficacia pero que en su mayoría se aplicaron igualmente. El 94,1 % consideró necesaria y el 88,7 % segura la vacuna. El 78,5 % respondió que la cobertura es elevada para prevenir los síntomas de la enfermedad. El 35,1 % mencionó sentirse protegido en su totalidad con la vacuna. El 78,6 % sabe que puede presentarse luego de la aplicación alguna reacción adversa. Conclusión: Casi la totalidad de los encuestados se encontraban vacunados y se aplicaron las tres dosis de la vacuna COVID-19 al momento de la encuesta.

Karaguata is a shrub from the bromeliad family from which fiber is extracted in order to produce different products, used as an ancestral resource by the indigenous communities of the Gran Chaco. The objective of this research is to describe the progress in recent years in the use of Karaguata, taking the communities of the Ayoreos of Carmelo Peralta and the Nivaclé of Boquerón as case studies. The method used is a qualitative approach, descriptive level of ethnographic design; the technique is documentary analysis. Through these studies, the result is that these aboriginal communities have acquired a certain degree of technology and the opening to a new marketing market that can offer economic solutions for sustainable development. Although positive results are obtained, it is also necessary to take into account some extremely important aspects in order to sustain significant improvements, such as, for example, the provision of raw materials and the care of the symbolic and sociocultural value of the production made by the native peoples. The article is an introductory study to others that may be carried out in the future and whose main focus is to examine in more depth the production, distribution and trade of karaguata at the country level.

The overarching objective was to examine the manner in which academic institutions can contribute to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Paraguay. In light of the necessity to make this contribution by academia visible, the objective of the study is to facilitate an exchange of experiences on how academia can collaborate to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the importance of disseminating information related to the SDGs, and, most importantly, to investigate the degree of knowledge of the SDGs among key individuals from organizations or institutions in various communities within the area of influence of the Central Headquarters and the Branches of FCE-UNA. The study is primarily analytical and descriptive in nature, with a particular focus on fieldwork and the collection of data from community leaders. The findings indicate that the leaders perceive the role of universities in achieving the SDGs in Paraguay to be of paramount importance. Furthermore, they assert that their role is to serve as a conduit between society and the achievement of the SDGs. It is thus concluded that the most effective mechanism through which academia/ universities can contribute to the achievement of the SDGs in Paraguay would be to integrate the topic of the SDGs into the curricula of the faculties and to offer courses on the SDGs. Additionally, another avenue for contribution would be the development and implementation of SDG-aligned projects, in collaboration with institutions responsible for achieving the SDGs

In Paraguay (2002-2022), families undergone changes due to modernization and modernity processes that are studied based upon woman´s progress as main explanatory axis, and taking also in account her economic, political, and physical autonomies. Diversity of types of households, consensual unions growth, and feminine household headship, growth and its base are studied. INE´s census 2002 and 2012 and 2022 surveys data are compared (%). A general trend towards modernity is underway but it is not uniform within these three areas, and an acceleration pace during the last ten years is a parallel process. Within types of households, the one-parent and children household increase and the extended household decrease are noted. Consensual unions exploded during the last decade does not necessarily mean modernity; it is a late process in the region. By 2022, an equilibrium has arrived between formal and informal (consensual) unions. A growing feminine headship is a modernity sign, it has reached almost 4 out of every 10 households in 2022 and it has grown almost 2,5 times within 20 years, included two-parents and children family, ”the” model. For reaching this political level, wo- men should be within the labor market, and they do according to their civil-conjugal state; for instance, separated and divorced women are on the peak at both variables. Within the public agenda, more studies on families are required as well as to include families´ diversity and their ongoing changes for more precise public policies.

We report the case of a patient with psoriasis vulgaris who presented worsening of the disease after infection with Chikungunya, with no improvement of the outbreak with the usual treatment for psoriasis, in whom a diagnosis of classic Hodgkin lymphoma was subsequently made. Chemotherapy treatment was started and a complete improvement of the skin lesions of psoriasis was observed.

Introducción: la satisfacción y seguridad sexual son elementos clave para el bienestar masculino, integrando aspectos físicos y emocionales de la intimidad; estos conceptos engloban el disfrute pleno de las relaciones sexuales, junto con la comodidad y confianza en las prácticas de protección utilizadas. Objetivo: determinar la felicidad sexual y satisfacción con la seguridad sexual en hombres de Asunción y Central durante el 2023. Metodología: se realizó un estudio observacional, descriptivo de corte transversal en Asunción, y Central durante los meses de setiembre a noviembre del 2023. La población de estudio lo constituyeron los hombres elegibles que tenían mayor de 18 años, a quienes se les asignó el sexo masculino al nacer, residentes de las ciudades seleccionadas. Las variables del estudio fueron las demográficas, salud mental (ansiedad, depresión e ideación suicida). Resultados: el estudio incluyó 143 participantes. De estos, el 55,24 % (79) tenía entre 18 y 29 años, el 69,23 % (99) se identificó como gay, y el 12,59 % (18) como bisexual. Los Hombres que tienen sexo con hombres mostraron una mayor probabilidad de reportar satisfacción, con una odds ratio ajustada por edad de 2,82 (IC 95 %: 1,41-3,57, p=0,001) en comparación con los heterosexuales, tener tres o más parejas estables y once o más parejas no estables se asoció fuertemente con ser HSH (p=0,003 y p=0,001, respectivamente). Conclusión: los hombres que tienen sexo con hombres reportaron niveles más altos de satisfacción sexual, lo que sugiere una experiencia positiva en sus relaciones íntimas. Sin embargo, este grupo también mostró una tendencia a tener un mayor número de parejas sexuales, tanto estables como no estables. Estas diferencias en comportamientos sexuales pueden indicar distintas normas sociales o preferencias personales entre los grupos estudiados.

Introducción: el cáncer cervical representa un grave problema de salud pública a pesar de ser altamente prevenible. Objetivo: determinar las características clínicas y epidemiológicas de la participación de las mujeres del área de influencia de un Hospital Público en la prevención del cáncer de cuello uterino entre los meses de enero a diciembre de los años 2020 al 2021. Metodología: diseño no experimental de corte transversal tipo descriptivo, con enfoque cuantitativo. Se incluyó el total de mujeres participantes de la prevención de cáncer cervical en el área de influencia del Hospital Público. Se utilizaron datos secundarios que fueron cargados en una planilla elaborada previamente. Resultados: el 61 % de las mujeres estaban en edad de riesgo, 83 % no estaban embarazadas y 17 % si, 53 % tiene antecedente de PAP y 47 %, no, 86 % tuvo resultado negativo para lesión, 9 % inflamatorio y 4 % positivo. Entre los resultados positivos el preponderante fue el de ASCUS con un 47 %. Se concluye que la mayoría de las mujeres tuvieron un resultado de PAP negativo. Entre las mujeres con resultados positivos se tuvo preponderancia de diagnósticos de ASCUS y en segundo lugar CIN I LSIL. Conclusión: las características que se encontraron significativamente asociadas al resultado de PAP fueron: formar parte del grupo de edad de riesgo y presencia de embarazo. Se sugiere seguir haciendo hincapié en la prevención y seguimiento, indagar en las edades de riesgo e incluir otras variables de interés en futuros estudios.

Introduction: Although drug trafficking has been a historical practice in the Paraguayan Chaco, social dynamics have changed in recent years, generating a hybrid social order in which drug traffickers have gained power, indigenous groups have been left unprotected and at the mercy of traffickers, and politics has disengaged from the community and freed up areas to facilitate and protect the illegal business. Objective: Against this backdrop, the article describes social perceptions of drug trafficking and politics in indigenous communities in the Department of Alto Paraguay. Methodology: The research is based on a qualitative multi-method approach that includes documentation, ethnography and key informant interviews. Conclusions: The paper demonstrates how the delegitimization of formal politics and legality create areas of risk not only for the expansion and social tolerance of criminality, but also for the legitimization of illegality as a means to achieve a (more) dignified life. In this sense, the article questions that the literature on criminal governance and narcopolitics has focused more on adjectives than on nouns. It is the previous inefficiency of governance and politics that creates the conditions for the emergence of unwanted adjectives (such as criminal or narco). The challenge is not so much to fight crime as to promote revalorized governance and policy.

Study aim: This study aimed to investigate the impact of physical activity on the mental health characteristics of a sample of university students from Paraguay, assessing their daily physical activity and the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress. Materials and methods: This observational, descriptive, prospective, cross-sectional study included 317 university students. Participants were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) to categorize their physical activity levels and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) to measure mental health characteristics. Data analysis utilized descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, and chi-square tests to explore associations between physical activity and mental health outcomes. Results: The results indicated that 49.5% of the participants were engaged in low levels of physical activity, while 20.2% and 30.3% reported high and moderate activity levels, respectively. Mental health assessments showed high prevalence rates for depression (65.3%), anxiety (68.5%), and stress (66.6%). Inverse correlations were found between total physical activity and each mental health parameter: depression (r = –0.167, p = 0.003), anxiety (r = –0.141, p = 0.012), and stress (r = –0.133 p = 0.018). Thus, higher levels of physical activity were associated with lower levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. Conclusions: This study confirmed a significant inverse correlation between physical activity and common mental health issues. The promotion of physical activity may be a protective factor against depression, anxiety, and stress in this population. These findings support the need for university health programs to encourage physical activity as a strategic approach to enhance students’ mental health.

In this study, we investigated the microstructural evolution resulting from various solution heat treatments and the effects of thermal exposure at 900°C for 1000 and 2000 h on the B1914 Ni-based superalloy, aiming to represent the material's conditions close to thermodynamic equilibrium. Between 1080 and 1150°C, only partial solution of the c¢-cuboidal phase occurred, with no dissolution of the Ti-rich c-c¢ and cM 3 B 2 eutectics. At temperatures above 1200°C, incipient melting occurred at the interdendritic region. Around 1200°C, without incipient melting, the cM 3 B 2 eutectic was completely dissolved into the c-phase through solid-state reaction. Under thermal exposure conditions, the c-c¢-M 3 B 2 microstructure remained unaltered, showing good correlation with the predicted phase equilibria. Only changes in the morphological structure of the M 3 B 2-phase were observed. Regarding the uniaxial tensile properties at high temperatures (750 and 1050°C), it was observed that the presence of casting pores (quantified via X-ray computed tomography) had a more pronounced effect on the tensile behavior of the B1914 superalloy after 2000 h of thermal exposure compared to the resulting microstructural modifications at 900°C.

Loneliness and depression are the most prevalent mental health issues among older adults, and their relationship has been documented in studies using reflective psychopathological models based on the total scores. However, mental health problems should be investigated at the level of individual symptoms in order to develop intervention strategies aimed at mitigating the adverse impact of both variables. The goal was to examine the extent to which symptoms of loneliness relate to symptoms of depression in elderly Peruvians using the network method in 328 Peruvian adults with an average age of 68.44 years (SD = 7.64). The participants were selected through non-probability convenience sampling, which may limit the generalizability of the results. The Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2) and three-item UCLA Loneliness Scale were used in this study. Network analysis was used to identify central and bridging symptoms within the network of loneliness and depressive symptoms. Furthermore, the invariance in symptom networks between men and women was estimated. The results indicated that ‘feeling excluded’ was the most central symptom. Furthermore, the symptoms ‘feeling excluded’ and ‘anhedonia’ have the strongest relationship and can be considered as bridge symptoms between loneliness and depressive disorders. Symptom networks were invariant between men and women (M = .26; p = .42; S = .09; p = .38). In conclusion, the network structure provides valuable insights into the relationship between the symptoms of loneliness and depression in older Peruvian adults. The results suggest that the symptoms ‘feeling excluded’ and ‘anhedonia’ could serve as potential targets for psychological interventions aimed at efficiently reducing loneliness and depression.

Bovine brucellosis (BB) is a cosmopolitan zoonotic disease caused by certain bacteria of the genus Brucella. It has negative health implications for the cattle, economic implications for the owners and is present in numerous cattle and wildlife populations worldwide. To determine the seroprevalence of BB in dual-purpose herds and assess its impact in the southern part of the Department of Atlántico, northern Colombia. 1,000 female cattle were tested for brucellosis, using the Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and indirect ELISA (iELISA) as screening and confirmatory tests, respectively. Of these, 100 animals tested positive by RBPT and 204 were inconclusive, while 38 positive animals were identified by iELISA. Consequently, the apparent seroprevalence was 3.8%, and the estimated true prevalence was 4.4%. Based on estimates of the economic losses caused by BB, the cost was calculated at $2,496,364 COP ($822 USD) per animal. The costs identified in this study include medication costs, loss of lactation, and others. It highlights the significant impact of BB on food security, particularly concerning the availability of and access to bovine food products, as well as on the economy of livestock farmers in the region.

This work reports a detailed theoretical study of the molecular parameters, harmonic vibrational frequencies, UV absorption spectra and standard enthalpies of formation for the radicals C2X3 (with X = F, Cl and Br) and a comparison with the corresponding determinations for the rest of the members of the family C2Xn (with n = 2-4). Molecular properties were calculated using different levels of theory: density functional theory employing the B3LYP, X3LYP, BMK, M06-2X and M08-HX functionals combined with the basis sets 6–311++G(3df,3pd) and aug-cc-pVTZ, and the ab initio composite models G3B3 and G4. Structural and spectroscopic characterization of the C2F3, C2Cl3 and C2Br3 radicals, along with the estimation of the enthalpies of formation of C2F3 and C2Cl3, were derived here for the first time, to our knowledge. In particular, values of −220.9 ± 2.9, 230.8 ± 3.8 and 375.4 ± 5.9 kJ mol⁻¹ were computed for enthalpies of formation of C2F3, C2Cl3 and C2Br3, respectively. Additionally, enthalpies of formation for related closed-shell molecules were obtained with less uncertainty compared to those found in the literature. The recommended values of −669.6 ± 3.8, −23.0 ± 4.6 and 155.3 ± 5.0 kJ mol⁻¹ were derived for C2F4, C2Cl4 and C2Br4, while corresponding values of 0.6 ± 6.3, 228.1 ± 2.1 and 319.6 ± 5.4 kJ mol⁻¹ were estimated for C2F2, C2Cl2 and C2Br2, respectively.

La satisfacción del cliente interno o trabajador, en el ámbito organizacional es fundamental para el logro de un ambiente armónico y una mayor productividad, pudiendo verse afectada por diversos factores de índole económico como psicosocial. El presente trabajo se centró en identificar los factores que influyen en la satisfacción laboral de los empleados en una empresa privada en Asunción Paraguay, en el año 2023. El diseño de estudio fue cuantitativo, descriptivo, de corte transversal, el muestreo fue no probabilístico por conveniencia, donde se aplicó un cuestionario digital, en una población de 166 colaboradores de una empresa del área de capital entre los meses de abril y mayo. Los principales resultados fueron: 50,6% fueron mujeres, 54.8% de Central, 82.1% solteros, 47% es reconocido por el trabajo que desempeñan y 4.2% nunca lo han sido, se encontró asociación estadísticamente significativa entre el nivel de ingresos económicos y lo significativo del trabajo (p=0,023), la conformidad con el salario (p=0,001) y los medios y recursos para realizar el trabajo (p=0,004). El sexo y la conformidad con el salario y actividades desempeñadas (p=0,006) y medios y recursos para realizar el trabajo (p=0,031), y el nivel de formación y los medios y recursos para realizar el trabajo (p=0,003). Como conclusión, esta investigación ha demostrado que la satisfacción laboral se ve influenciada por una combinación de factores interrelacionados.

Ante la creciente demanda de profesionales altamente capacitados, este trabajo denominado Coherencia y Pertinencia de un Programa de Maestría en Ciencias de la Educación, a través de un diseño metodológico mixto y trasversal, analizó la coherencia entre diseño, implementación y desarrollo de un programa de una maestría con énfasis en diseño curricular en una universidad de gestión pública y su pertinencia para la formación profesional mediante la revisión de los documentos curriculares, de una encuesta y entrevistas a diferentes actores de la comunidad universitaria. Los resultados indican una alta coherencia entre las fases del proceso curricular y su pertinencia para los fines de la formación del profesional, e indican la existencia de una estructura programática sólida, sin embargo, se identificó una brecha en el desarrollo del plano actitudinal lo que sugiere la necesidad de fortalecer este aspecto en futuros diseños curriculares.

Se denomina cambio climático a la variación global del clima de la Tierra debido a causas naturales, pero principalmente a la acción humana. El reto de adaptarse a las nuevas condiciones climáticas y participar en estrategias de mitigación supone costos económicos que hacen del cambio climático un factor condicionante esencial de las características y opciones del desarrollo económico en las próximas décadas. El impacto laboral de las políticas de mitigación del cambio climático, son políticas para reducir las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero, y las de adaptación, son políticas que predicen las consecuencias del cambio climático. Se puede decir que cuando la economía sufre, también lo hace el empleo. Sin embargo, lo difícil de analizar son los efectos que esto produce, ya que dichos efectos sobre la economía pueden no traducirse en cambios inmediatos y visibles en todos los escenarios; aunque se evidencie efectos tanto positivos como negativos en algunos sectores debido a estos cambios. Este trabajo tuvo como objetivo estudiar los empleos verdes y su adaptación al cambio climático en Paraguay, en el año 2023. Para ello, la metodología empleada fue el análisis documental bibliográfico, ya que se analiza el Índice Global de la Economía Verde (GGEI), de manera a evaluar las circunstancias favorables que permiten construir una transición hacia una economía verde. Se espera que este trabajo pueda servir como base para el estudio del empleo verde en Paraguay y de insumo a otras investigaciones del área económica.

Charcoal rot, caused by the soilborne fungus Macrophomina phaseolina (Mp) poses a serious threat to soybean health and harvests at a global scale. Mp exhibits varying distribution patterns across fields, which complicates our ability to predict disease occurrences and outbreaks. Therefore, determining the spatial distribution of Mp abundance and its relation with soil physicochemical properties would help to inform precision management decisions for mitigating charcoal rot. To achieve this, Mp colony forming units (CFU) and edaphic properties were evaluated in 297 soybean fields located in the main soybean growing regions across 7 Departments of Paraguay. A pattern of decreasing CFU density was observed from the south-eastern to the western part of the country. While several edaphic factors are positively correlated with Mp CFU, pH showed a significant negative correlation with CFU. Both spatial and non-spatial model suggest that cation exchange capacity, percentage of clay, and pH could be potential predictors of Mp CFU abundance. Including spatial dependence of edaphic factors improved the prediction of Mp CFU more effectively than classical statistical models. We demonstrated that the occurrence of Mp shows a significant spatial clustering pattern as indicated by Moran’s I. Our findings will help growers and policy-makers make informed decisions for managing Mp by improving our ability to predict which agricultural fields and soils are at greatest risk for charcoal rot.

In the face of a pressing global issue-the escalating threat of antibiotic resistance-the development of new antimicrobial agents is urgent. Nanotechnology, with its innovative approach, emerges as a promising solution to enhance the efficacy of these agents and combat the challenge of microbial resistance. Chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) stand out in biomedical applications, particularly in the controlled release of antibiotics, with their unique properties such as biocompatibility, stability, biodegradability, non-toxicity, and simple synthesis processes suitable for sensitive molecules. This study synthesized CSNPs using the ionotropic gelation method, with tripolyphosphate (TPP) as the crosslinking agent. Various CS: TPP ratios (6:1, 5:1, 4:1, 3:1, 2:1) were tested, and the resulting nanoparticles were evaluated using dynamic light scattering (DLS). The CS: TPP ratio of 4:1, with an average hydrodynamic diameter (DHP) of (195 ± 10) nm and a zeta potential of (51 ± 1) mV, was identified as the most suitable for further analysis. The characterization of NPs by Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed diameters of (65 ± 14) nm and (102 ± 18) nm, respectively. Notably, CSNPs exhibited significant aggregation during centrifugation and lyophilization, leading to diameter increases of up to 285% as measured by AFM. The antibacterial activity of CSNPs against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli was assessed using the resazurin assay. It was found that CSNPs not subjected to centrifugation, freezing, and lyophilization retained their antimicrobial activity. In contrast, those that underwent these processes lost their efficacy, likely due to aggregation and destabilization of the system. This study presents a straightforward and effective protocol for encapsulating sensitive active agents and synthesizing chitosan nanoparticles, a potential system with significant implications in the fight against antibiotic resistance.

Squamous cell carcinomas with two or more coexisting clearly different histological subtypes of penile carcinomas are designated as mixed carcinomas in current classification models. They represent about 10% of all penile carcinomas. The aim of this study was to detect HPV genotypes in these unusual tumors. Tumors were selected from an international series of 1010 patients with penile carcinomas. Mixed carcinomas were grouped, according to WHO recommendations, as follows: 1. Carcinomas with warty/basaloid features mixed with HPV-independent carcinomas and 2. HPV-independent subtypes mixed with each other. HPV detection and p16 INK4a immunostaining were performed. For HPV detection, whole tissue section-PCR analyses were performed by SPF10-DEIA-LiPA25 (version 1). As expected, HPV was detected more frequently in HPV-associated mixed carcinomas than in HPV-independent mixed carcinomas. Carcinomas with basaloid or warty features mixed with other SCC subtypes showed an HPV positivity rate of 46% (33 of 72 tumors) compared with 7% found in tumors with nonwarty/basaloid morphology (2 of 29 tumors). Eleven high-risk HPV genotypes were identified and the most common was HPV16 (65%) usually associated with basaloid morphology. p16 INK4a immunostaining was positive in 76% of HPV-positive tumors. As in nonmixed carcinomas, although in lower proportion, a variable array of HPV genotypes was detected in mixed carcinomas. Apparently, the presence of a non-HPV component in an otherwise typical HPV-associated type tumor does adversely affect the prevalence of HPV positivity. Any amount of HPV-associated morphology superior to 20% in a mixed tumor is sufficient to classify them as HPV-associated, a WHO requirement.