Deficiencia de glucosa-6-fosfato-deshidrogenasa (G6PD) en individuos de la ciudad de Cartagena

Introducción: La deficiencia de glucosa-6-fosfato-deshidrogenasa (G6PD) es considerada un mecanismo genético de protección frente a las complicaciones más graves de la malaria humana. No obstante, también representa un problema de salud pública, al ser la primera causa de anemia hemolítica de origen metabólico según la OMS. Su verdadera prevalencia en la región Caribe colombiana sigue sin ser determinada con precisión. Con el objeto de obtener un panorama de esta condición en Cartagena de Indias, se realizó este estudio piloto para la identificación de individuos deficientes de G6PD en la comunidad estudiantil de la Universidad de Cartagena y sus familiares. Métodos: Estudio piloto con 434 donantes voluntarios sometidos a ensayos de tamizaje de actividad de G6PD eritrocitaria mediante la prueba de Beutler sobre papel (spot test) y confirmatorios basados en la actividad enzimática cuantitativa. Resultados: Del total de donantes, 25 resultaron sospechosos de padecer la deficiencia correspondiente, de los cuales, 20 fueron confirmados mediante la actividad enzimática cuantitativa; alcanzado una frecuencia de 4,6% para esta afectación eritrocitaria. Conclusiones: La frecuencia de individuos deficientes de G6PD determinada en la muestra poblacional estudiada se ubica dentro los valores de prevalencia estimados para la población colombiana y ponen de manifiesto la necesidad de realizar estudios de tamizaje a mayor escala acompañados de pruebas de tamizaje molecular que permitan identificar las mutaciones con mayor penetrancia en la región Caribe colombiana.

Quantification of microplastics along the Caribbean Coastline of Colombia: Pollution profile and biological effects on Caenorhabditis elegans

The Caribbean Coast of Colombia has a flourishing plastic industry with weak and insufficient waste management policies and practices, leading to plastic pollution along its touristic beaches. In this work, primary and secondary microplastics (MPs) were surveyed at four different locations along the Colombian Caribbean Coast. Primary microplastics, specifically white new plastic pellets, represented the largest amount of MPs found, with densities decreasing in the order Cartagena > Coveñas > Puerto Colombia > Riohacha. This distribution was connected to the vicinity of MPs sources, marine currents and wind direction. The presence of secondary MPs was associated with urban centers and proximity to river mouths. The FTIR characterization showed polyethylene as the predominant resin type, with different degrees of surface oxidation. Aqueous extracts from sampled MPs were tested on Caenorhabditis elegans. Secondary MPs elicited greater toxicological responses than pellets, especially those from Cartagena Bay, suggesting MPs act as carriers for biologically-active pollutants.

Trace elements in microplastics in Cartagena: A hotspot for plastic pollution at the Caribbean

Microplastics are new pollutants considered a source of concern for the oceans worldwide. This research reports the concentrations of trace metals on microplastics collected on beaches from Cartagena, an industrialized city in the Caribbean. Mercury (Hg) was quantified using a Hg analyzer and forty-seven trace elements were assessed by ICP/MS. Most abundant microplastics in beaches were those with the lower degree of surface degradation features (SDF), categorized as white-new polyethylene pellets, followed by secondary microplastics (SM). Greater Hg levels were found in SM, white-degraded (WDP) and black pellets. Trace elements concentrations were linked to the degree of SDF registered in examined pellets, with larger concentrations in WDP. Compared to white-new pellets, Ba, Cr, Rb, Sr, Ce, Zr, Ni, Pb were the most accumulated elements in WDP, as their surface enhance the sorption processes. Microplastic pollution represents a toxicological hazard because its ability to accumulate and transport toxic elements.