Schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis morbidity control in selected communities in Eastern Visayas, Philippines: Post-Haiyan

Objective@#As part of the evaluation of control programs recommended by WHO, this study describes the local implementation of schistosomiasis (SCH) and soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) morbidity control as well as water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions post calamity. It likewise determines the challenges, areas for improvement, and good practices in SCH and STH morbidity control strategies in Haiyan-stricken areas in Eastern and Western Samar, the Philippines. @*Methods@#Twenty key informant interviews and eight focus group discussions documented the implementation of SCH and STH control strategies in Eastern Visayas. Data analysis was done manually by a multi-disciplinary team. @*Results@#Mass drug administration (MDA) in schools and communities was conducted for morbidity control. MDA for STH for pre-school-age children was integrated into the Garantisadong Pambata program, while a schoolbased teacher-assisted approach was used for school-age children. WASH facilities, such as sanitary toilets, were constructed through the initiatives of the local government units (LGUs) and other private sectors. Partnerships with Plan International Philippines helped in the implementation of WASH through the conduct of Community-led Total Sanitation. Health advocacies helped instill behavioral change in the community. SCH surveillance was conducted annually while STH surveillance was irregularly implemented. Data on MDA coverage were validated through Rapid Coverage Assessment before final reporting. Discrepancies were observed due to typographical errors and the inclusion of teachers and transient migrants in the reports submitted. Challenges in the implementation of MDA include delays in drug delivery, lack of human resources, non-compliance of participants, and drug unpalatability. Challenges in WASH included the lack of hand washing facilities, inaccessibility to safe water, as well as non-utility of sanitary toilets. Strengthening health advocacy and education may help address these challenges.@*Conclusion@#The involvement and partnership of various stakeholders such as LGUs, WASH, and veterinary sectors, together with the academe are needed to strengthen and enhance the implementation of SCH and STH control activities. An integrated approach may contribute to improvements in SCH and STH prevention and control of the communities in selected Haiyanstricken areas.

Combination antifungals as an effective means of salvage in paediatric leukaemia patients with invasive fungal infections

Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in paediatric leukaemias. Antifungal combinations to treat these patients are being explored. Fourteen children with leukaemias and IFIs were treated with a combination of antifungal agents at our centre. The first antifungal was amphotericin-B in 13 children and voriconazole in one child. In view of no improvement and clinical deterioration, in nine patients, voriconazole was added as the second antifungal agent and in four, it was caspofungin. All patients completed 4�weeks of antifungal therapy. The overall mortality attributable to IFI for the cohort was 4/14 (28%).

Prevalence, clinical & biochemical correlates of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in overweight adolescents

Background & objectives: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) characterized by excessive accumulation of fat in the liver, which can progress to inflammation, and cirrhosis, has emerged as an important complication of obesity in adults as well as children. This study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of NAFLD and its correlation with clinical and biochemical parameters in overweight Indian adolescents. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 218 overweight adolescents aged 10 to 16 yr and their parents were included. Measurements included anthropometry, ultrasonography to diagnose NAFLD, fasting glucose, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and lipids for adolescents and parents, and additional parameters of blood pressure, body fat percentage (BF%), fasting insulin, apolipoprotein C3, tumour necrosis factor-? and adiponectin for adolescents. The variables were compared between adolescents with and without NAFLD, and logistic regression analysis was performed. Results: Mean age and body mass index (BMI)SD score (SDS) were 11.9±1.6 yr and 2.3±1.1, respectively. NAFLD was seen in 62.5 per cent of the adolescents. The prevalence of NAFLD in the parents was similar among the adolescents with and without NAFLD, while BMI and waist circumference SDS, BF per cent, blood pressure (BP), ALT, AST, insulin and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were significantly higher in the adolescents with NAFLD. On multiple logistic regression, abdominal obesity, HOMA-IR and BF per cent were independently associated with NAFLD with odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of 2.77 (1.40-5.47), 2.21 (1.16-4.21) and 2.17 (1.12-4.22), respectively. Interpretation & conclusions: NAFLD was noted among nearly two-thirds of the overweight adolescents. An independent association was observed between abdominal obesity, HOMA-IR and body fat percentage and NAFLD in overweight adolescents.

Role of adjuvant radiation in the management of central neurocytoma: Experience from a tertiary cancer care center of India.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Neurocytoma (NC) is a rare benign neuronal tumor. A complete excision remains curative for most of these tumors, but atypical histology and extra‑ventricular location often necessitates adjuvant therapy. We intended to explore the clinico‑pathological features and treatment outcome in patients of NC in our institute. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records were reviewed and data collected on NC over a 6‑year period (2006‑2012) from the departmental archives. Disease free survival (DFS) was analyzed by Kaplan‑Meier method. RESULTS: A total of 18 patients met the study criteria. Fourteen patients had intra‑ventricular neurocytoma (IVNC), right lateral ventricle being the most common site of origin. Gross total resection and near total resection were achieved in eight cases each whereas tumor decompression and biopsy could be done in two cases. On post‑operative histopathological examination, eight patients were found to have atypical NC while 10 patients had typical NC. All patients underwent adjuvant radiation. The median dose of post‑operative radiation was 56 Gy. All patients were alive at their final follow‑up. One patient had both clinical and radiological evidence of local relapse. In the evaluable patients (n = 18), after a median follow‑up of 35 months the DFS rate at 2 years and 3 years are 100% and 83% respectively. CONCLUSION: Use of adjuvant radiation to a total dose of 56 Gy enhances the local control and achieves superior survival in patients of NC. Use of 3D conformal planning techniques may help us to achieve better therapeutic ratio in patients with NC.

Impact of post‑operative radiation on coronary arteries in patients of early breast cancer: A pilot dosimetric study from a tertiary cancer care center from India.

BACKGROUND: The significant impact of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) on cardiac morbidity in patients of early breast cancer (EBC) undergoing breast‑conserving surgery has been shown in different studies. The present study was conducted to assess the impact of surgery and the side of involvement on radiation dose to left anterior descending artery (LAD) and Left circumflex coronary artery (LCx). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Totally, 58 patients of EBC were randomly chosen for this dosimetric study and planned with tangential field technique without intensity modulation (IM). Heart, LAD, and LCx (n = 55) were contoured. Dose volume histograms were analyzed to determine the Dmax (maximum dose) and Dmean (mean dose) of LAD and LCx. Student’s t‑test was used for comparative analysis of the means. RESULTS: The mean Dmax of LAD for left (L) EBC was 3.17 Gray (Gy) while for right (R) EBC it was 0.86 Gy (P = 0.007; 95% C.I, 1.14–3.48). The mean Dmean of LAD for L‑EBC and R‑EBC were 1.97 Gy and 0.79 Gy, respectively (P = 0.029; 95% C.I, 0.77–1.60). The mean‑Dmax of LCx for patients with L‑EBC (2.9 Gy; range: 1.2–4.35 Gy) was statistically higher than that for R‑EBC (1.3 Gy; range: 0.7–3.2 Gy) (P = 0.045). The mean‑Dmean of LCx for L‑EBC (2.1 Gy; range: 0.6–3.6 Gy) was also significantly higher than that of L‑EBC (0.9 Gy; range: 0.7–2.1 Gy) (P = 0.03). There was no significant impact of the pattern of surgery on LAD dose, but significance was noted for LCx dose parameters (P = 0.04 and 0.08 for m‑Dmax and m‑Dmean of LCx). CONCLUSION: This pilot dosimetric study confirms the assumption that patients with left‑sided EBC are at higher risk of developing long‑term cardiac morbidity when treated with PORT due to increased dose to LAD.

Prevalencia de sobrepeso y factores asociados. Municipio Matanzas 2009-2010 / Overweight prevalence and associated factors. Matanzas Municipality 2009-2010

La obesidad constituye uno de los problemas más comunes asociado al estilo de vida. Desde 1998 la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) considera la obesidad una epidemia global. En la infancia y adolescencia constituye el trastorno metabólico más frecuente, así como la principal enfermedad no declarable. En Cuba la prevalencia ha variado de 32% aun 42.6% según investigaciones nacionales. El municipio Matanzas en la última encuesta nacional de factores de riesgo en el 2001, la prevalencia fue de 40.4 por 100 habitantes. La presente investigación se realizó con el objetivo de determinar la prevalencia de sobrepeso e identificar los factores asociados al mismo en personas de 15 y más años de edad en la población del municipio Matanzas en el período 2009-2010. Para esto se realizó un estudio observacional analítico de tipo transversal. La muestra fue aleatoria estratificada por grupos de edad decenales por sexo, 2640 personas dieron su consentimiento para participar en el estudio y fueron encuestados. El análisis fue por la metodología para muestras complejas. Se utilizó el enfoque de riesgo en análisis bivariado, con cálculo de Odds Ratio con intervalos de confianza del 95%. Dentro de los principales resultados encontrados fueron: la prevalencia de sobrepeso fue de 54.9% por 100 personas, los factores asociados fueron: no practicar ejercicios físicos sistemáticos, el sexo, la escolaridad, edad, ocupación, antecedentes de hipertensión arterial, antecedentes de colesterol elevado y los antecedentes de diabetes mellitus.

Obesity is one of the most common problems associated to life style. Since 1998, the World Health Organization considers obesity a global epidemic. It is the most frequent metabolic disorder in childhood and adolescence, and also the main non-declarable disease. According to national research, its prevalence have changed from 32 % to 42,6 %. In the last risk factors national enquiry of 2001, the municipality of Matanzas presented 40.4 % prevalence per 100 inhabitants. This research was carried out with the aim of to determine overweight prevalence and identifying the associated factors in persons aged 15 and more years among the population of the municipality of Matanzas in the period 2009-2010. For that we developed a cross-sectional analytic observational study. The analysis was made using the methodology for complex samples. The sample was randomized, stratified for every decennial age bracket per gender; 2 640 persons gave their consent for participating and were questioned. We used the risk approach and bi-variable analysis, calculating the odd ratio with 95 % confidence intervals. Among the main results was 54.9 % overweight prevalence per 100 persons; the associated factors found were: lack of systematical physical exercising, gender, scholarship, age, occupation, arterial hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes mellitus antecedents.

Prevalencia del hábito de fumar y factores asociados. Municipio Matanzas 2009-2010 / Prevalence of smoking habit and associated factors. Municipality of Matanzas. 2009-2010

La Organización Mundial de la Salud considera al tabaquismo como una epidemia, constituyendo uno de los principales problemas de la salud pública mundial, además de las enfermedades, la pérdida de años de vida, las muertes que indiscutiblemente provoca y los gastos sanitarios que ocasiona, el tabaco representan una carga asistencial adicional para la salud pública. Cuba se sitúa entre los primeros países en el consumo per cápita de cigarrillos y tabaco, por lo que se le atribuye al tabaquismo carácter de epidemia. El municipio Matanzas en la última encuesta nacional de factores de riesgo en el 2001, presentaba una prevalencia de 29,1%. Esta problemática conllevó a la presente investigación. Los objetivos de la misma fueron cuantificar la prevalencia de tabaquismo e identificar los factores asociados al mismo en personas de 15 y más años en el municipio Matanzas de 2009-2010. Para esto se realizó un estudio observacional analítico de tipo transversal. Para la selección de la muestra se tuvo en cuenta el protocolo de la Iniciativa de la OPS conocida por las siglas de CARMEN. Se realizó el análisis para muestras complejas utilizando el enfoque de riesgo con cálculo de Odds Ratio y con intervalos de confianza del 95%. Dentro de los principales resultados, se obtuvo una prevalencia de tabaquismo de 24,3, más frecuente en el sexo masculino y con otras enfermedades asociadas como el alcoholismo, la hipertensión, diabetes mellitus e hipercolesterolemia. El inicio del hábito de fumar se destaca en edades tempranas de la vida. La mayoría de los fumadores quieren dejar de fumar y lo han intentado con anterioridad. Pocos fumadores solicitaron ayuda para dejar de fumar. Los profesionales de la salud no siempre recomiendan dejar el hábito, ni prestan ayuda cuando se les solicita.

The World Health Organization considers smoking an epidemics, being one of the main problems of the world´s public health; besides the diseases, life year lost, the deceases unquestionably provoked and the sanitary expenses caused, smoking represents an additional charge for the public health care. Cuba is among the first countries in the consumption of cigarettes and cigars per capita, so in our country an epidemic character is attributed to smoking. In the last risk factors national enquiry in 2001, the municipality of Matanzas presented a 29,1 % prevalence. This problem led us to this research. Its aims were quantifying smoking prevalence and identifying smoking associated factors in persons aged 15 years and more in the municipality of Matanzas in 2001-2010. For that we carried out a cross-sectional analytical observational study. For the selection of the sample we took into account the protocol of the Pan-American Heath Organization known as CARMEN. We developed the analysis for complex samples using the risk approach with Odd ratio and confidence intervals of 95 %. Among the main results obtained were 24,3 % prevalence of smoking, more frequent in male gender and associated to other diseases like alcoholism, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and hypercholesterolemia. The beginning of the smoking habit stood out in early ages. Most of the smokers want to quit smoking and had intended it before. Few smokers ask for help to quit smoking. Health care professionals do not always recommend quitting smoking nor help the people asking for it.

Prevalencia y factores asociados a la hipertensión arterial en menores de 19 años. Municipio Matanzas. 2010 / Prevalence and factors associated to the arterial hypertension in persons younger than 19 years old. Municipality of Matanzas. 2010

Se realizó un estudio epidemiológico observacional, analítico de tipo transversal (prevalencia), para identificar la prevalencia y los factores asociados a la hipertensión arterial en menores de 19 años, en el municipio de Matanzas, en el año 2010. El universo estuvo constituido por todos los menores de 19 años pertenecientes al mencionado municipio, residentes en zona urbana y matriculados en los diferentes niveles de enseñanza del sistema de educación, los cuales representan un total de 19 756. La muestra quedó conformada por 892 personas, a las cuales se le aplicó un cuestionario. Los datos obtenidos fueron procesados en el programa EpiInfo 3.4.3 2007. Para el análisis de los datos se emplearon medidas de frecuencias absolutas y relativas; se utilizó el enfoque de riesgo en el análisis bivariado, con cálculo de Odds Ratio (OR) con sus intervalos de confianza (IC), considerándose significativo cuando no incluyera el valor 1, y el valor de p fuera menor de 0,05. Además, se calculó el riesgo atribuible en aquellas en el que el análisis bivariado fueron significativas. Las 8 variables que resultaron significativas en el análisis bivariado, al analizarlas en el multivariado, se mostraron como verdaderos factores asociados al hipertenso en la edad pediátrica mediante el modelo de regresión logística: El antecedente patológico familiar de hipertensión arterial, el estado nutricional (obeso y sobrepeso), las glomerulopatías, la sepsis urinaria a repetición y las uropatías obstructivas, además de la cefalea y la epistaxis se hallaron como síntomas asociados a la hipertensión arterial en la edad pediátrica.

We carried out an observational, epidemiologic, analytic-transversal study (prevalence) to identify the prevalence and the factors associated to hypertension in persons aged less than 19 years old, in the municipality of Matanzas, in 2010. The universe was formed by all the patients aged less than 19 years old living in the urban regions of the before mentioned municipality and studying in the different levels of educational system. They were a total of 19 756 patients. The samplo was formed by 892 people, who applied a questionnaire. Data obtained were processed in the program EpiInfo 3.4.3 2007. For the data analysis we used measures of absolute and relative frequencies; we used the risk approach in the bi-variable analysis, with Odds Ration calculation and confidence intervals, considering it significant when the value 1 was not included. And the p value was less than 0.05. We also calculated the attributable risk when the bi-variable analysis was significant. The 8 variables significant in the bi-variable analysis, when submitted to the multivariable analysis showed themselves as true factors associated to the hypertensive patients in the pediatric age through the model of logic regression. Familiar pathologic antecedent of arterial hypertension, nutritional status (obese or overweight), glomerulopathies, repetitive urinary sepsis and obstructive uropathies, and also headache and epistaxis were present as symptoms associated to hypertension at the pediatric age.

Resistencia microbiana de gérmenes aislados en pacientes de las unidades de cuidados intensivos e intermedios. Hospital Universitario Clínico Quirúrgico Comandante Faustino Pérez. 2010 / Microbial resistance of isolated germs in patients of the intermediate and intensive care units. University Clinico-Surgical Hospital Comandante Faustino Pérez. 2010

Para contribuir al uso racional de los antibióticos se necesita disponer de un diagnóstico rápido que permita determinar el agente etiológico y su sensibilidad en el momento de iniciar la atención al paciente. Es indispensable, por tanto, la existencia de un programa de vigilancia, que permita conocer los patrones locales de susceptibilidad y resistencia. Se realizó un estudio observacional descriptivo transversal, con el objetivo de analizar el nivel de resistencia a los antimicrobianos en los gérmenes aislados en las unidades de cuidados intensivos e intermedios del Hospital Universitario Clínico Quirúrgico Comandante Faustino Pérez, de Matanzas, durante el año 2010. Se trabajó con el total de cepas positivas obtenidas de los pacientes ingresados en las unidades de cuidados intensivos e intermedio. Para la recogida de la información se revisaron los libros de los registros microbiológicos existentes en el laboratorio. Para la determinación de resistencia y susceptibilidad de los gérmenes se aplicó el método de difusión en agar en placa de Mueller-Hinton, interpretándose los resultados según el National Commite for Clinical Laboratory Standar. Los principales resultados obtenidos mostraron que los gérmenes Gram negativos representaron el mayor por ciento de aislamiento en el estudio. Dentro de los gérmenes gram positivos que más frecuentemente fueron aislados están: Staphyloccocus coagulasa negativo y el Staphylococcus aureus. Los gérmenes gram negativos mostraron elevada resistencia frente a cefalosporinas. Mientras que los gram positivos mostraron elevada resistencia a la penicilina, oxacillina y kanamicina. Los gérmenes aislados con mayor frecuencia en cultivo de secreción endotraqueal fueron BNF, enterobacter, y pseudomona aeruginosa, quienes mostraron marcada resistencia a las cefalosporinas.

For contributing to the antibiotics rational usage we need a fast diagnosis allowing determining the etiologic agent and its sensibility at the moment of beginning the patient’s attention. Thus, it is unavoidable the existence of a surveillance program allowing to know the local patterns of susceptibility and resistance. We carried out the current cross-sectional observational descriptive study with the objective of analyzing the antimicrobial resistance level of the germs isolated in the intermediate and intensive care units of the University Clinico-Surgical Hospital Comandante Faustino Pérez, of Matanzas, during 2010. We worked with the total of the positive strains obtained from the in-patients of the before mentioned units. To collect the information we reviewed the microbiological records kept in the laboratory. To determine the germs resistance and susceptibility, we applied the method of agar diffusion in a plate of Mueller-Hinton, reading the results according to the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standard. The main obtained results showed that Gram negative germs represented the highest percent of isolation in the study. Among the Gram positive germs that were isolated are the negative Staphylococcus coagulasa and the Staphylococcus aureus. The Gram negative germs showed a high resistance to the cephalosporin, while the Gran positive ones showed a high resistance to the penicillin, the oxacillin and the kanamycin. The germs isolated more frequently in a culture of endotracheal secretion were the BFN, the enterobacter and the pseudomona aeruginosa, and showed a remarked resistance to the cephalosporin.

Mortalidad por influenza y neumonía en el adulto mayor. Impacto de la vacunación anti influenza en este grupo poblacional: matanzas 2001-2008 / Mortality for influenza and pneumonia in elder people. Impact of the anti-influenza vaccination in this population group: matanzas 2001-2008

Taking into account the gradual ageing of the Cuban population and therefore Matanzas population, there are more and more persons over passing the chronologic barriers human being has set as elderliness, making of the population ageing a challenge for the modern societies. Acute respiratory infections (influenza and pneumonia) are one of the first causes of medical care around the world, and the data of morbidity and the high rates of mortality they cause are remarkable, mainly in underdeveloped countries. A highly vulnerable group to these diseases is the one formed by persons that are 60 years old or more, but we only know the contribution of the influenza and pneumonia as basic causes, according with the vital statistics, because there is a hidden, non quantified mortality that would be important to know for the adequately evaluation of control and prevention measures like vaccination, implemented in this population group. We carried out a descriptive study to deeply know not only what is the magnitude of influenza and pneumonia as a basic cause of death in elder people, but also in what measure death is hidden behind other causes. We reviewed the death certificates of 32 179 people who died in the province since 2001 to 2008. We found 8 473 persons who died with this disease, 4 659 of them were hidden deaths, a higher number than the number of deaths for a basic cause. The disease, as a basic death cause, takes place in the houses in more cases. The main causes of death behind which influenza and pneumonia hide were cerebrovascular diseases, the cardiovascular ones and malign tumors. We arrived to the conclusion that 1 of every 4 elder people in the province had pneumonia when he died. The total mortality by influenza and pneumonia in elder people in the province is slightly decreasing in correspondence with the increase of the vaccine coverage during the last years...

Calidad de vida asociada a salud en el Círculo de Abuelos. Amigos del Deporte”. Municipio de Matanzas. 2006 / Life quality associated with health in the Elder's Club Sports Friends. Municipality of Matanzas 2006

Se realizó un estudio descriptivo para valorar la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud en las personas de la tercera edad que integran el círculo de abuelos Amigos del Deporte, de la ciudad de Matanzas, durante el año 2006. Para esto se utilizó como muestra el total de integrantes del círculo. Para la obtención de la información fue utilizada una encuesta diseñada por el Centro Nacional de Prevención y Control de Enfermedades de Estados Unidos (CDC), la misma fue aplicada a cada uno de los integrantes. Se estudiaron las siguientes variables: edad, sexo, estado civil, nivel de escolaridad, antecedentes patológicos personales, tiempo de pertenecer al círculo de abuelos, percepción de la salud, promedio de días en que los problemas físicos o mentales impidieron gozar de una buena salud ya fuera física o mental, y el promedio de días en que estos problemas impidieron realizar las actividades diarias. Estos elementos nos permitieron realizar el cálculo de los días no saludables, siendo una estimación del número de días durante los 30 días precedentes en los cuales el encuestado consideró que su salud física o mental no fue buena. Los días saludables fueron la forma complementaria positiva de días no saludables. Obtuvimos como resultados que el promedio de edad de los integrantes del círculo es de 69 años, el sexo femenino predomina con respecto al masculino, el color de la piel blanco es el de mayor por ciento, el estado civil casado y el nivel de escolaridad secundario terminado predominaron en sus categorías. La hipertensión arterial fue la enfermedad más prevalente entre estos abuelos. El promedio de días en que estas personas no gozaron de una buena salud física y mental fue de 6 y 5 días en una y otra respectivamente. Sólo un día como promedio en estas personas el mal físico o mental repercutió en sus actividades diarias. El promedio de días saludables fue de 20 días.

We carried out a descriptive study to evaluate the life quality related with health in old people integrating the elder's club “Sports Friends”, from Matanzas, during the 2006 year. For that reason, we took all the members of the club as sample. To obtain the information, we used a survey created by the National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention of the United Stated. The survey was applied to every of the members of the club. We studied the following variables: age, sex, marital status, scholarship, personal pathologic records, time assisting to the elder's club, health perception, average of days in which mental or physical problems did not allow to enjoy a good physical or mental health, and the average of days in which this problems did not allow them to do their daily activities. These elements allowed us to calculate non-healthy days, being an estimation of the quantity of days during the 30 precedent days in which the enquired considered their physical and mental health was not good. As a result we concluded that the mean age of the club members is 69 years old, female sex predominates over male, white people are the biggest percent, and the finished secondary level of scholarship and married marital status predominated in their categories. The most predominant disease among these old people was blood hypertension. The average these people did not enjoy a good physical and mental health was 6 and 5 respectively. On average, only one day the physical or mental discomfort reflected in their daily activities. The average of healthy days was 20 days.