Construction and Validation of an Occupational Risks Scale for Intra-hospital Nursing Staff / Construcción y validación de una escala de riesgos laborales del personal de enfermería intrahospitalario / Construção e validação de escala de risco ocupacional para equipe de enfermagem intra-hospitalar

Objective. To construct and evaluate initial validity indicators of an instrument on occupational risks for hospital nursing staff. Methods. A methodological study was conducted in four Chilean hospitals. The study was carried out in three stages: (i) integrative literature review on risk assessment instruments for nursing; (ii) descriptive qualitative study on 113 health professionals to identify their work conditions and experiences regarding occupational risks and construct three instruments proposals for nursing managers, clinical nurses, and technicians; and (iii) validity and reliability study of the three instruments in 503 nurses and nursing technicians. To collect the data from the qualitative study, individual interviews, focal groups, and non-participant observation were conducted. The data were analyzed thematically into predefined risk categories. Content validation was performed through expert judgment, and exploratory factor analysis of principal components was conducted for the preliminary construct validity study. Cronbach's alpha was used as an indicator of internal consistency. Results. A total of 128 items were identified, distributed across 11 categories and 25 subcategories of occupational risks for the three instruments derived from the original proposal. After expert validation, pilot study, and instrument administration, Cronbach's alpha values between 0.88 and 0.93 were obtained. Exploratory factor analysis distinguished eight to eleven components, with unsatisfactory goodness-of-fit indicators. Conclusion. The instruments demonstrated good parameters of content validity and reliability, although their construct validity needs further improvement.

Objetivo. Construir y evaluar indicadores de validez inicial de un instrumento sobre riesgos laborales del personal de enfermería intrahospitalario. Métodos.Estudio metodológico, participaron cuatro hospitales chilenos. Se desarrolló en tres etapas: (i) revisión integradora de la literatura sobre instrumentos de evaluación de riesgos en enfermería; (ii) estudio cualitativo descriptivo en 113 profesionales de salud para identificar sus condiciones laborales y vivencias respecto a los riesgos laborales y construir tres propuestas de instrumentos para jefaturas de enfermería, enfermeros clínicos y técnicos; y (iii) estudio de validez y confiabilidad de los tres instrumentos en 503 enfermeros y técnicos en enfermería. Para la recolección de datos del estudio cualitativo se realizaron entrevistas individuales, grupos focales y observación no participante. Los datos fueron analizados temáticamente en categorías de riesgos predefinidas. La validación de contenido se realizó a través del juicio de expertos y para el estudio preliminar de validez de constructo se hizo análisis factorial exploratorio de componentes principales. Como indicador de la consistencia interna se aplicó Alfa de Cronbach. Resultados. Se identificaron 128 ítems para 11 categorías y 25 subcategorías de riesgos laborales para tres instrumentos derivados del originalmente propuesto. Luego de la validación por expertos, el estudio piloto y la aplicación de los instrumentos, se obtuvieron valores alfa de Cronbach entre 0.88 y 0.93. El análisis factorial exploratorio distinguió ocho a once componentes, no lográndose buenos indicadores de bondad de ajuste. Conclusión. Los instrumentos presentan buenos parámetros de validez de contenido y confiabilidad, debiéndose perfeccionar su validez de constructo.

Objetivo. Construir e avaliar indicadores de validade inicial de um instrumento sobre riscos ocupacionais da equipe de enfermagem intra-hospitalar. Métodos. Estudo metodológico, quatro hospitais chilenos participaram. Foi desenvolvido em três etapas: (i) revisão integrativa da literatura sobre instrumentos de avaliação de risco em enfermagem; (ii) estudo descritivo qualitativo em 113 profissionais de saúde para identificar suas condições de trabalho e experiências em relação aos riscos ocupacionais e construir três propostas de instrumentos para chefes, enfermeiros assistenciais e técnicos de enfermagem; e (iii) estudo de validade e confiabilidade dos três instrumentos em 503 enfermeiros e técnicos de enfermagem. Para a coleta de dados do estudo qualitativo, foram realizadas entrevistas individuais, grupos focais e observação não participante. Os dados foram analisados tematicamente em categorias de risco pré-definidas. A validação de conteúdo foi realizada por meio de julgamento de especialistas e para o estudo preliminar de validade de construto foi realizada uma análise fatorial exploratória de componentes principais. Como indicador de consistência interna, foi aplicado o Alfa de Cronbach. Resultados. Foram identificados 128 itens para 11 categorias e 25 subcategorias de riscos ocupacionais para três instrumentos derivados do originalmente proposto. Após a validação por especialistas, o estudo piloto e a aplicação dos instrumentos, foram obtidos valores de alfa de Cronbach entre 0.88 e 0.93. A análise fatorial exploratória distinguiu de oito a onze componentes, não alcançando bons indicadores de qualidade de ajuste. Conclusão. Os instrumentos apresentam bons parâmetros de validade de conteúdo e confiabilidade, e sua validade de construto deve ser aprimorada.

Valor de la resonancia magnética cardíaca para el diagnóstico diferencial en pacientes con sospecha de infarto agudo de miocardio con elevación del segmento ST y arterias coronarias normales

Background: Patients hospitalized with suspected ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who have normal coronary arteries (CAs) on invasive coronary angiography (ICA) may have an AMI or another acute cardiac disease that mimics it. Aim: To evaluate the usefulness of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) for diagnosing conditions resembling AMI with normal CAs. Material and Methods: We studied 424 consecutive patients admitted with suspected STEMI who underwent ICA. Those with normal CAs underwent CMRI involving cine-CMRI sequences to evaluate segmental wall motion, T2-weighted short-tau inversion-recovery imaging to detect oedema and delayed contrast enhancement (DCE) after gadolinium administration to identify necrosis/fibrosis. Patients with previous myocardial infarction were excluded. Results: Twenty-six patients (6.1%) had normal CAs. Definitive diagnosis after CMRI was acute myocarditis in 11 patients (42.3%) whose DCE was localized in the subepicardium or intramyocardially but not in the endocardium, AMI in nine patients (34.6%) who had subendocardial or transmural DCE, and Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) in six patients (23.1%), whose CMRI showed regional contractility abnormalities of the left ventricle and myocardial oedema but not DCE. Conclusions: Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging allows a precise diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction in patients with angiographically normal coronary arteries.

Epanorin, a lichen secondary metabolite, inhibits proliferation of MCF-7 breast cancer cells

BACKGROUND: Epanorin (EP) is a secondary metabolite of the Acarospora lichenic species. EP has been found in lichenic extracts with antimicrobial activity, and UV-absorption properties have been described for closely related molecules; however, its antiproliferative activity in cancer cells has not yet been explored. It has been hypothesized that EP inhibits cancer cell growth. MCF-7 breast cancer cells, normal fibroblasts, and the non-transformed HEK-293 cell line were exposed to increasing concentrations of EP, and proliferation was assessed by the sulforhodamine-B assay. RESULTS: MCF-7 cells exposed to EP were examined for cell cycle progression using flow cytometry, and DNA fragmentation was examined using the TUNEL assay. In addition, EP's mutagenic activity was assessed using the Salmonella typhimurium reverse mutation assay. The data showed that EP inhibits proliferation of MCF-7 cells, and it induces cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 through a DNA fragmentation-independent mechanism. Furthermore, EP's lack of overt cytotoxicity in the normal cell line HEK-293 and human fibroblasts in cell culture is supported by the absence of mutagenic activity of EP. CONCLUSION: EP emerges as a suitable molecule for further studies as a potential antineoplastic agent.

Patient Safety Incidents and Nursing Workload / Ocorrência de incidentes de Segurança do Paciente e Carga de Trabalho de Enfermagem / Ocurrencia de Incidentes de Seguridad del Paciente y Carga de Trabajo de Enfermería

ABSTRACT Objective: to identify the relationship between the workload of the nursing team and the occurrence of patient safety incidents linked to nursing care in a public hospital in Chile. Method: quantitative, analytical, cross-sectional research through review of medical records. The estimation of workload in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) was performed using the Therapeutic Interventions Scoring System (TISS-28) and for the other services, we used the nurse/patient and nursing assistant/patient ratios. Descriptive univariate and multivariate analysis were performed. For the multivariate analysis we used principal component analysis and Pearson correlation. Results: 879 post-discharge clinical records and the workload of 85 nurses and 157 nursing assistants were analyzed. The overall incident rate was 71.1%. It was found a high positive correlation between variables workload (r = 0.9611 to r = 0.9919) and rate of falls (r = 0.8770). The medication error rates, mechanical containment incidents and self-removal of invasive devices were not correlated with the workload. Conclusions: the workload was high in all units except the intermediate care unit. Only the rate of falls was associated with the workload.

RESUMO Objetivo: identificar a relação entre a carga de trabalho da equipe de enfermagem e a ocorrência de incidentes de segurança dos pacientes ligados aos cuidados de enfermagem de um hospital público no Chile. Método: pesquisa transversal analítica quantitativa através de revisão de prontuários médicos. A estimativa da carga de trabalho em Unidade de Terapia Intensiva (UTI) foi realizada utilizando o Índice de Intervenções Terapêuticas-TISS-28 e para os outros serviços, foram utilizados os cocientes enfermeira/paciente e auxiliar de enfermagem/ paciente. Foram feitas análises univariada descritiva e multivariada. Para a análise multivariada utilizou-se análise de componentes principais e correlação de Pearson. Resultados: foram analisados 879 prontuáriosclínicos de pós-alta e a carga de trabalho de 85 enfermeiros e 157 auxiliares de enfermagem. A taxa global de incidentes foi de 71,1%. Foi encontrada uma alta correlação positiva entre as variáveis de carga de trabalho (r = 0,9611 para r = 0,9919) e a taxa de quedas (r = 0,8770). As taxas de erro de medicação, incidentes de contenção mecânica e auto remoção de dispositivos invasivos não foram correlacionadas com a carga de trabalho. Conclusões: a carga de trabalho foi elevada em todas as unidades, exceto na unidade de cuidados intermédios. Apenas a taxa de quedas foi associada com a carga de trabalho.

RESUMEN Objetivo: identificar la relación entre la carga laboral del equipo de enfermería y la ocurrencia de incidentes de seguridad del paciente relacionados con los cuidados de enfermería en un hospital público de Chile. Método: investigación cuantitativa, analítica, transversal, realizada por revisión de fichas clínicas. La estimación de carga laboral en las Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos (UCI) se realizó utilizando el Índice de Intervenciones Terapéuticas (TISS-28) y, para el resto de los servicios, por la relación enfermera/paciente y auxiliar/paciente. Se realizó análisis descriptivo univariado y multivariado. Para el análisis multivariado se utilizó análisis de componentes principales y el test de correlación de Pearson. Resultados: se revisaron 879 fichas clínicas posteriores al alta y la carga laboral de 85 enfermeras y 157 auxiliares de enfermería. La tasa global de incidentes fue 71,1%. Se encontró correlación positiva alta entre las variables de carga laboral (r = 0,9611 a r = 0,9919) y tasa de caídas (r = 0,8770). Las tasas de error de medicación, incidente por contención mecánica y auto retiro de invasivos no se correlacionaron con la carga laboral. Conclusiones: la carga laboral fue elevada en todas las unidades a excepción de la unidad de cuidados intermedios. Sólo la tasa de caídas se asoció a la carga laboral.

Búsqueda de la mutación delta F508 y análisis de dos polimorfismos de nucleótido único en el gen CFTR, en una muestra de población general de Valparaíso, Chile / Screening of the delta-F508 mutation and analysis of two single nucleotide polymorphism of the CFTR gene, in a sample of the general population of Valparaíso, Chile

Background: The Cystic Fibrosis (CF) carrier rate in Chile was estimated to be 1/40. CF is caused by mutations in the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) gene. Delta F508 mutation is the most common in CF patients in Chile and worldwide. Delta F508 has linkage disequilibrium with two Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNP), often used to define the haplotypic frameworks of CF mutations. Aim: To know the frequency of the delta F508 mutation and to establish the SNPs, M470V and T854T, haplotypic frequency, in a Valparaiso general population sample. Subjects and Methods: Fifty subjects were studied. Genetic material was obtained from blood samples, amplified by PCR and analyzed by restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results: Two of the 100 chromosomes analyzed, carried the delta F508 mutation. Therefore, the observed frequency carrier rate (0.02) was higher than the expected (0.01). Both carrier chromosomes had the same SNPs haplotypic framework (1-2). In normal chromosomes, the haplotype 2-1 was the most common. Discussion: These results suggest that the chromosomes that bear delta F508 mutation have most likely a Mediterranean European origin, since this haplotypic framework has been reported in that region. We suggest that CF could be more common in Valparaiso than it was previously estimated.

Software estadístico / Statistical software

Se mencionan los software estadísticos comunmente utilizados en Chile, tanto para computadores como para computadores personales. Además, se comunican las diferentes etapas que se deben tener presente en las investigaciones, ya que los software suponen que el investigador no ha omitido tales etapas. Se enfatiza que la estadística debe ser considerada desde la planificación de las investigaciones. Por último, se manifiesta la necesidad de que exista un Departamento de Estadística que asesore las investigaciones médicas que se generen