ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers, and melanoma is a highly preventable cancer. In Ecuador, few studies have evaluated the awareness levels of the population about the disease. For this reason, the objective of this study was to measure the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding skin cancer and its determining factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis using an online self-assessment questionnaire containing 40 questions was delivered. A total of 537 participants were included in this study. Knowledge, attitude, and practice scores were assigned to each participant based on the number of correct or appropriate responses. Logistic regression analysis was used to calculate crude and adjusted odds ratios. RESULTS: In total, 75% of participants referenced knowledge of the harmful effects related to noncontrolled solar exposure. Concerning sunscreen, 76.7% knew the reason for using it. The female group was 1.68 times more likely to get a higher score than the male group, and the groups between 61-70 and 71-80 years were 0.30 and 0.17 times less likely to get a higher score compared with the less than 20-years-old group, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study indicate the requirement to increase the population's knowledge about skin cancer and possible protection measures. For this reason, the prevention and health promotion programs at a national level from primary healthcare centers are recommended. Due to the limitation of the representativeness of the sample, the use of more studies among Ecuadorian residents of the low socioeconomic level and replication in different provinces of Ecuador is justified.
ABSTRACT
Despite the widespread use of multidrug therapy for treatment, delays in clinical recognition and under-reporting of leprosy indicate that Mycobacterium leprae transmission is continuing. Thus, leprosy is likely to persist as a significant burden on health systems in many regions. In this study, we combined 2 previously characterized leprosy antigens, leprosy IDRI diagnostic-1 (LID-1) and ND-O, into the single fusion complex (ND-O-LID) and determined the serum antibody responses of leprosy patients from Colombia and the Philippines. Following confirmation that antibodies recognized each component within the conjugate, we assessed the performance of a rapid enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system (Leprosy Detect(TM) fast ELISA; InBios International, Inc., Seattle, WA, USA) based on ND-O-LID capable of generating results within 1.5hours of sample addition. We found ELISA results correlated with the bacteriological index and Ridley-Jopling categorization, with lepromatous leprosy patients having the highest responses, while those of borderline tuberculoid patients were lower. Multibacillary (MB) leprosy patients were distinguished with a high degree of sensitivity (95.7%) and specificity (93.2%), suggesting that this ELISA could potentially replace invasive and insensitive skin slit smear procedures that require expert microscopic examinations. Due to the speed and robustness of this assay, we believe this is an excellent tool for detecting MB leprosy patients in a simple and highly-quantitative manner.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Bacterial/blood , Bacterial Proteins , Diagnostic Tests, Routine/methods , Glycolipids , Leprosy, Multibacillary/diagnosis , Mycobacterium leprae/immunology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Child , Colombia , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/methods , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Philippines , Sensitivity and Specificity , Young AdultABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Reviewing the available literature regarding prognosis for first psychotic episode for developing schizophrenia. METHOD: A systematic review of studies which have evaluated prognostic determinants for the first psychotic episode and its relationship to schizophrenia was made. RESULTS: 161 articles were reviewed which fulfilled the search criteria and which were adjusted to the purpose of the study. CONCLUSIONS: Duration of untreated psychosis (DUP), pre-morbid functioning level, the presence or predominance of negative symptoms, co-morbid consumption of psychoactive substances and psychosocial state were the most influential characteristics for developing schizophrenia in patients presenting a first psychotic episode.
Subject(s)
Psychotic Disorders/epidemiology , Schizophrenia/epidemiology , Humans , PrognosisABSTRACT
Objetivo: Revisar la literatura disponible sobre el pronóstico del primer episodio psicótico para el desarrollo de esquizofrenia. Método: Una revisión sistemática de los estudios que han evaluado los determinantes pronósticos para el primer episodio psicótico y su relación con esquizofrenia. Resultados: Se revisaron 161 artículos que cumplían con los criterios de búsqueda y que se ajustaban con el propósito del estudio. Conclusiones: El tiempo de psicosis no tratada (DUP), el nivel del funcionamiento premórbido, la presencia o predominio de síntomas negativos, el consumo comórbido de sustancias psicoactivas y el estado psicosocial fueron las características mas influyentes para el desarrollo de la esquizofrenia, en los pacientes que presentaban un primer episodio psicótico.
Objective: Reviewing the available literature regarding prognosis for first psychotic episode for developing schizophrenia. Method: A systematic review of studies which have evaluated prognostic determinants for the first psychotic episode and its relationship to schizophrenia was made. Results: 161 articles were reviewed which fulfilled the search criteria and which were adjusted to the purpose of the study. Conclusions: Duration of untreated psychosis (DUP), pre-morbid functioning level, the presence or predominance of negative symptoms, co-morbid consumption of psychoactive substances and psychosocial state were the most influential characteristics for developing schizophrenia in patients presenting a first psychotic episode.
Subject(s)
Humans , Psychotic Disorders/epidemiology , Schizophrenia/epidemiology , PrognosisABSTRACT
El primer episodio psicótico, en muchas ocasiones, es la forma en que comienza la esquizofrenia. Identificar potenciales indicadores de su desenlace es uno de los temas de investigación más novedosos en la psiquiatría actual. Objetivo: Establecer los factores que predicen la gravedad de la presentación clínica en los pacientes que presentan un primer episodio psicótico. Métodos y materiales: Se incluyeron todos los pacientes que fueron atendidos en tres centros de atención psiquiátrica en Bogotá, entre el 1° de febrero de 2004 y el 1º de agosto de 2006. Previa toma de consentimiento informado con los familiares, se hizo una descripción de las características demográficas, el cuadro clínico, el nivel de calidad de vida y el funcionamiento social y laboral de los pacientes en la primera visita. También se caracterizaron los antecedentes personales y familiares, el consumo de sustancias psicoactivas, el tiempo de evolución del pródromos y la duración de los síntomas psicóticos antes del inicio del tratamiento. Los datos se analizaron con el software SPSS haciendo uso de la estadística descriptiva; la exploración de factores asociados con la severidad del cuadro se hizo por medio de estadística inferencial. Resultados: Se incluyeron 82 pacientes en el periodo descrito; la edad media fue de 21,6 años; 57,3% de los pacientes eran afiliados al régimen subsidiado y 57,3% habían cursado secundaria. Más del 75% de los pacientes fueron clasificados de acuerdo con la experiencia del clínico como marcada o gravemente enfermos. Ninguna de las variables exploradas se encontró significativamente asociada con la gravedad del cuadro...
Introduction: First Episode Psychosis (FEP) many times is the beginning of schizophrenia. Identifying potential indicators of its outcome are one of the most novel themes in psychiatry. Objective: To establish predictive factors within the clinical presentation of patients with First Episode Psychosis. Methods: Patients attending three different psychiatric facilities in Bogotá were included between February 1, 2004 and August 1, 2006. Prior written informed consent was obtained from relatives. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were described, as were quality of life and occupational functioning. Some other relevant conditions were also described, such as personal and family history, psychoactive substance use, duration of prodromal symptoms and duration of untreated psychosis (DUP). Data were analyzed using SPSS by means of descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: 82 patients were included in the described period. Mean age was 21,6 years and 57,3% had an intermediate educational level. Over 75% of the patients were classified by the treating doctor according to his/her experience as markedly or extremely ill. None of the explored variables were associated with the severity of the first psychotic episode...
