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[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/ijph.2025.1607246.].

During the COVID-19 pandemic, women disproportionately assume more unpaid activities, affecting their employment. Describe the influence of COVID-19 on the employment of caregivers of children and adolescents from a gender perspective. Cross-sectional study in three high-complexity hospitals in Bogotá, Colombia from April 2020 to June 2021. A subsample of the FARA cohort was taken, including those patients with a positive test for SARS-COV2. We took as our analysis category children older than 8 years and younger than 18 years who had a positive SARS-COV2 test, as well as, caregivers of all children with a positive SARS-COV2 test. This subsample was drawn from the FARA cohort. A survey was applied to them. We carried out a descriptive and stratified analysis by age group, educational, and socioeconomic level. We included 60 surveys of caregivers and 10 surveys of children. The main caregiver in 94.8% of the cases was a female. At the beginning of the pandemic, 63.3% of the caregivers were employed, and 78.9% of those lost their employment. The vast majority of these caregiver were women (96.6%,  = 29). A predominance of loss of work activity was documented in caregivers of children in early childhood 66.6% (  = 20), with lower education 66.6% (  = 20), and from lower strata 56.6% (  = 17). Caregivers of children with COVID-19 with low educational levels and lower socioeconomic conditions, as well as those with children under 5 years showed greater likelihood of employment loss between the interviewed subsample.

To characterize the clinical phenotypes of SARS-CoV-2 infection in hospitalized children as part of the EPICO multicenter cohort study. We included hospitalized children with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection from Colombian and Spanish institutions to assess disease evolution and outcomes. Cluster analysis was performed to identify clinical phenotypes. A total of 2318 patients were included (55% male, 36% infants). Five phenotype clusters emerged: Cluster 1 (26.5%): infants without comorbidities, low PICU admissions and mortality; Cluster 2 (18.5%): respiratory comorbidities, high microorganism co-detection and mortality; Cluster 3 (11.5%): fever, gastrointestinal symptoms, high PICU admissions; Cluster 4 (32%): mild unspecific symptoms, low mortality; Cluster 5 (11.3%): adolescents without comorbidities, low co-detection and hospitalization rates. Findings were consistent across both countries. Identifying clinical phenotypes of SARS-CoV-2 in children may improve risk stratification and guide future management strategies.

Se presentan datos descriptivos de tres especies de peces óseos colectados en La Guajira por el crucero Invemar-Macrofauna II, que se constituyen en primeros registros para el Caribe colombiano. Las especies examinadas son Ophichthus cruentifer (Goode y Bean) (Ophichthidae), un espécimen de 301 mm longitud total capturado a 493 m, Anchoa cubana (Poey) (Engraulidae), un individuo de 58,07 mm longitud estándar (LE) colectado a 22 m, y Trichopsetta melasma Anderson y Gutherz (Bothidae), un espécimen de 144,82 mm LE capturado a 152 m.

El trabajo consistió en un plan de monitoreo que contó con una red de diez estaciones distribuidas en Bahía Málaga, y que fue realizado por muestreos trimestrales entre los años 2005 y 2006. En esos muestreos se evaluó la calidad de las aguas superficiales mediante la medición de las variables físicoquímicas, microbiológicas, tóxicos orgánicos, hidrocarburos y organoclorados. La cercanía a la Bahía de Buenaventura y la influencia de algunos esteros como Luisico, Valencia, Los Monos y La Sierpe favorece el aporte de materiales biogénicos (N, P, Si) que sostienen la productividad primaria de Bahía Málaga, en la que aún no se evidencian riesgos ambientales por procesos de eutroficación. Los resultados muestran un buen estado la calidad de sus aguas y aportan elementos útiles para las autoridades locales, regionales y nacionales que actualmente gestionan el proceso de declaratoria de la bahía como Área Marina Protegida.

Crystalline TiO2 films were synthesized on hydrophilic glass substrates by Peroxo sol–gel and sedimentation (S1–S4) and compared with conventional sol–gel protocols (S5–S10). The films were deposited on soda-lime glass and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and UV–Vis absorption. Photocatalytic activity was evaluated through the inactivation of multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli and Salmonella Typhimurium, and the removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) from greywater under UV irradiation. The obtained films exhibited anatase crystallinity, crystallite sizes of ~60 nm, and grain sizes between 1.5 and 3.0 µm. S1 films showed a bandgap of 3.26 eV (380 nm). Under UV exposure, S1 reduced E. coli and S. Typhimurium by 4.78 and 3.00 Log10 units, respectively, at pH 5.0 after 30 min, while COD decreased to 380 mg L−1 compared to 433 mg L−1 with UV photolysis alone. Increasing TiO2 loading and extending irradiation to 120 min further enhanced bacterial inactivation (93 and 78% for E. coli and S. Typhimurium), COD (33%), NH4+ (90%), and H2S (89%) oxidation, outperforming UV-light controls. These results indicate that S1 films exhibited superior crystallinity, photocatalytic performance, and bacterial inactivation compared to other protocols, although complete mineralization was not achieved.

Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) are among the most common global parasitic infections, represent a significant worldwide public health burden, and remain a source of considerable morbidity in Latin America. Nematophagous fungi (NF), such as Arthrobotrys oligospora, naturally inhabit many soil types and are known for their ability to trap and kill nematodes using specialized hyphal structures or secreted enzymes and metabolites. As they prey on different developmental stages of helminths in soil, they may represent an ecological factor influencing helminth persistence and transmission dynamics. Using an in vitro test, Toxocara cati eggs were exposed to A. oligospora. By using a flotation, filtration, and bead-beating disruption technique, parasite and fungal DNA were collected and detected by multi-parallel real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). Similar methods were used to extract DNA from soil samples outside built environments across seven Latin American countries, including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, and Peru. In vitro testing showed a 40.1% reduction in viable eggs in the presence of A. oligospora, as determined by qPCR (P = 0.0212). Comparing the impact of A. oligospora on T. cati over 14 days revealed a decrease in T. cati DNA concentration compared to control groups (P = 0.0039). Using qPCR to detect A. oligospora, there was a 62.4% decrease in the mean A. oligospora DNA at 14 days. The co-occurrence of NF and STH was evaluated in 805 soil samples from seven Latin American countries representing distinct geoclimatic settings. We observed a significant reduction in helminth abundance (P < 0.05), including Ascaris, Strongyloides, Toxocara, and any helminth. The ubiquitous presence of A. oligospora in soils and inverse association with STH parasite detection suggest a potential role in environmental helminth transmission patterns.

By means of ultrasonic and cationic treatment, the surface of the fiber was adapted to maximize the support of the nanocomposite rGO@TiO2; which had a previous preparation and subsequent anchoring to the fibers by chemical reduction in times of immersion. The fibers were subjected to characterization by FTIR spectroscopy, while in the nanomaterial obtained was verified the deposition of the nanocomposite by means of scanning electron microscopy SEM, as well as the change in the value of the bandgap for TiO2 by UV-spectroscopy. In order to evaluate the photo-degradative activity of the rGO@TiO2 / Fique catalyst, we used Methylene Blue (MB). The experiments were carried out using sunlight that allowed obtain a degradation efficiency of approximately 99 % in two hours.

We discuss the potential usefulness of molecular testing of soil, dust, and water samples to detect medically important parasites, and where such testing could be used to supplement stool sam- pling in humans. A wide variety of parasites including protozoa and helminths, many of which are zoonotic, have an important infection reservoir in the environment. In some cases, this environmental period is essential for further parasite development. We describe the progress in implementing methods for the molecular detection of these parasites in soil across eight collaborating centers in Latin America and represent a variety of potential applications in improving our understanding of parasite epidemiology and mapping, surveillance, and control of these parasites. This methodology offers new opportunities for improving our understanding of a wide variety of parasites of public health importance and novel tools for their control.

Introduction: The adult hemogram values can vary according factors such as ethnic origin, age, sex and level above the sea, whereby it is essential to know the biological intervals associated to our own population. Therefore, the objective of our study was to determine biological reference intervals (BRI) for adults with the hematological equipment BC-5000. Methods: This is a transversal descriptive study with 111 blood bank donors from Medellín, between 18 and 62 years old. Hemogram, C reactive protein and ferritin were done. The BRI were calculated according to the recommendations of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry (IFCC), with the formula X ± (DS *1, 96). BRI comparison according sex was carried out with the t-student test. Results: Calculated BRI by X ± (DS * 1, 96) formula, showed statistically significant differences (P < 0, 05) between men and women for count in most of the parameters. Higher statistical means were obtain in women for the count of leukocytes and platelets, absolute counts of some white cells, VPN y PCT. Discussion: The presence of androgens in the male sex, inductors of the erythropoiesis system, as well as the estrogens and menstrual period, suppressor of this system, can explain the lower values in the female erythrocyte count, the hemoglobin, hematocrit and red cell lower ranges. The high estrogen and interleukins 6 and 1 loads in women, drive the extended half-life of some cells like lymphocytes, that can explain the difference in leucocyte count found in the present study.