Adherencia a las medidas higiénico dietéticas de adultos con diabetes mellitus de Asunción en 2022

Introducción: la adherencia al tratamiento no farmacológico de la diabetes mellitus es un factor clave para evitar o retrasar las complicaciones de esta enfermedad. El cumplimento terapéutico depende de múltiples factores. Objetivo: evaluar la adherencia al tratamiento higiénico dietético en pacientes con diabetes mellitus, sobre todo la nutricional y la actividad física. Se midieron además las variables demográficas y presencia de hipertensión arterial. Metodología: se realizó una entrevista a pacientes adultos de ambos sexos, portadores de diabetes mellitus, que residen en el barrio Sajonia de Asunción, Paraguay, entre mayo y octubre del 2022. Se midieron variables demográficas y clínicas. La adherencia se determinó con el cuestionario de Caro Bautista que consta de 7 preguntas que evalúan las prácticas terapéuticas de los pacientes en la última semana. El estudio contó con la aprobación del Comité de ética de la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Privada del Este, Paraguay. Resultados: fueron entrevistados 257 personas con el diagnóstico de diabetes mellitus, con predominio del sexo femenino (61,4%), 73,9% refería tener ingresos propios y 49% padecía también de hipertensión arterial. El cuestionario detectó que 20,1% seguía una dieta saludable toda la semana, 15,5% realizaba ejercicios físicos diariamente y 14,3% realizaba los monitoreos de sangre capilar regularmente. Conclusión: entre 10 y 22% de los pacientes con diabetes mellitus realiza dieta y ejercicios adecuados, así como monitoreo de la glucemia según las recomendaciones de sus médicos.

Introduction: Adherence to non-pharmacological treatment of diabetes mellitus is a key factor in avoiding or delaying the complications of this disease. Treatment compliance depends on multiple factors. Objective: To evaluate adherence to dietary hygienic treatment in patients with diabetes mellitus, especially nutrition and physical activity. Demographic variables and the presence of arterial hypertension were also measured. Methodology: An interview was conducted with adult male and female patients, carriers of diabetes mellitus, residing in the Sajonia neighborhood of Asunción, Paraguay, between May and October 2022. Demographic and clinical variables were measured. Adherence was determined with the Caro Bautista questionnaire, which consists of seven questions that evaluate the therapeutic practices of patients in the last week. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Medicine of the Universidad Privada del Este, Paraguay. Results: Two hundred fifty-seven people diagnosed with diabetes mellitus were interviewed, with a predominance of females (61.4%), 73.9% reported having their own income and 49% also suffered from arterial hypertension. The questionnaire detected that 20.1% followed a healthy diet all week, 15.5% performed daily physical exercises, and 14.3% performed capillary blood monitoring regularly. Conclusion: Between 10 and 22% of patients with diabetes mellitus perform adequate diet and exercise, as well as glycemia monitoring according to the recommendations of their physicians.

Social and environmental conditions related to Mycobacterium leprae infection in children and adolescents from three leprosy endemic regions of Colombia.

BACKGROUND: Leprosy is is still considered a public health issue and in Colombia 7-10% of new cases are found in children, indicating both active transmission and social inequality. We hypothesized that circulating antibodies against Natural Octyl Disaccharide-Leprosy IDRI Diagnostic (NDO-LID) (a combination of Mycobacterium leprae antigens) could reveal the social and environmental aspects associated with higher frequencies of M. leprae infection among children and adolescents in Colombia. METHODS: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted involving sampling from 82 children and adolescents (younger than 18 years of age) who had household contact with index leprosy patients diagnosed in the last 5 years. Data were analyzed through bivariate analysis made by applying a Pearson x2 test for qualitative variables, while quantitative variables, depending on their distribution, were analyzed using either a Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney U test. Multivariate analysis was performed using a multiple regression and binomial logistic approach. RESULTS: A bivariate analysis demonstrated that antibody titers against NDO-LID were significantly greater in children and adolescents with a low socioeconomic status that had: lived in vulnerable areas of the UAChR shared region; eaten armadillo meat; exposure of over 10 years to an index case and; not received BCG immunization. Moreover, a multivariate analysis showed that residing in the UAChR region has a strong association with a greater possibility of M. leprae infection. CONCLUSIONS: M. leprae transmission persists among young Colombians, and this is associated with social and environmental conditions. An intensification of efforts to identify new leprosy cases in vulnerable and forgotten populations where M. leprae transmission continues therefore appears necessary.

A novel service delivery model for infant hearing screening in developing countries.

Newborn hearing screening is the procedure of choice for ensuring optimal outcomes for infants with hearing loss, whether in a developed or developing country. Unfortunately, apart from a small number of recent exceptions, newborn hearing screening has been a practice reserved for the developed world. Despite the prevailing challenges towards implementing hearing screening in developing countries, there are existing structures in these countries that need to be investigated as possible platforms from which programs can be actualized. Immunization clinics, constituting part of a primary healthcare approach characteristic of developing countries, offer one such a platform. A novel service delivery model, based on initial results from a pilot study, was developed for infant hearing screening at immunization clinics in South Africa as an integrated part of primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of healthcare. This type of model is a first step toward ensuring that infants with hearing loss in developing communities are afforded opportunities for optimal development and societal integration through accountable and contextually relevant early hearing detection and intervention services.

High frequency immittance for neonates: a normative study.

CONCLUSION: High frequency immittance measurements demonstrate promise in clarifying middle ear status for neonates but age- and gender-specific norms should be consulted. OBJECTIVE: To describe high frequency immittance measurements using a 1000 Hz probe tone for a sample of 278 neonatal ears (0-4 weeks of age) in order to compile normative tympanometric and acoustic reflex criteria. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Assessment of neonatal ears included 1000 Hz probe tone immittance measurements (tympanograms and ipsilateral acoustic reflexes), and distortion product oto-acoustic emission (DPOAE) screening. Results were compared and normative values were compiled for immittance measures in ears controlled for normal middle ear functioning (n=250). RESULTS: Comparison of immittance results to OAE screening outcome provides estimates of sensitivity and specificity for middle ear fluid with tympanometry of 57% and 95%, and 57% and 90% for acoustic reflex presence, and 58% and 87% for combined tympanogram and acoustic reflex results, respectively. Normative data indicate that static peak admittance values differ significantly across gender and age with the 5th percentile cut-off value for the entire sample at 1.4 mmho. The 90% range of tympanic peak pressure normative values increases with increasing age from 140 daPa for neonates 1 week of age to 210 daPa for neonates 2-4 weeks of age. Acoustic reflexes were elicited at 93+/-9 dB with a 90% normality range of 80-105 dB.

Infant hearing screening at immunization clinics in South Africa.

OBJECTIVE: Benefits of early identification and subsequent intervention for hearing loss are not accessible to infants in developing countries like South Africa. There are no systematic screening programs and traditional platforms for newborn hearing screening, such as well-baby and intensive care nurseries, do not provide sufficient coverage due to the high incidence of births at home or in primary healthcare facilities. Primary healthcare structures, in the form of immunization clinics, have been proposed as an alternative screening platform. The current study, therefore, investigates a hearing screening program implemented at two immunization clinics in a representative South African community. METHODS: The two clinics in the current study were selected by a convenience sampling method in a community representative of large sections of the population. The hearing screening program was conducted over a 5-month period, and enrolled 510 infants (0-12 months of age). The screening protocol included Distortion Product Oto-Acoustic Emissions (DPOAE) and a high frequency probe tone (1000 Hz) tympanogram. Referral was based on one or both ears referring the DPOAE screen. Follow-up screening and diagnostic evaluations were scheduled for referred subjects. RESULTS: Coverage with DPOAE amounted to 95% of the sample ears (93% of sample subjects) compared to tympanogram coverage amounting to 94% (93% of sample subjects). OAE pass rates were 93% for the sample ears with neonatal ears indicating a higher pass rate of 95% compared to 92% for infant ears (5-52 weeks of age). Eighty-seven percent of the sample ears indicated peaked tympanograms indicative of normal middle-ear functioning and neonatal ears presented with an increased incidence of peaked tympanograms (92%). A highly significant association between the DPOAE and high frequency tympanometric result was found. Follow-up screening appointments were scheduled for 68 subjects (14% of screened sample). Only 40% returned for the second follow-up and 44% for the third follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Immunization clinics indicate promise as infant hearing screening platforms, but identification of only bilateral hearing losses may be warranted initially to keep referral rates acceptably low. In addition to this efficient tracking systems are necessary to ensure acceptably high follow-up return rates are reached over time.

Predicting pure-tone thresholds with dichotic multiple frequency auditory steady state responses.

The accuracy of dichotic multiple frequency auditory steady state in predicting pure-tone thresholds at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4.0 kHz compared to an ABR protocol (click and tone burst at 0.5 kHz) were explored in a group of 25 hearing-impaired subjects across the degree and configuration spectrum. Mean steady state thresholds were within 14, 18, 15, and 14 dB of the pure tones at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz, compared to the tone-burst ABR at 0.5 kHz pure-tone difference of 24 dB, and a click-evoked pure-tone (2-4 kHz) difference of 9 dB. Recording time for the steady state protocol was 28 minutes (+/- 11) compared to 24 minutes (+/- 9) of the ABR protocol. Degree of loss had a significant effect on steady state; configuration of hearing loss had a limited effect. Mf ASSR predicted thresholds with relative accuracy although some configurations showed discrepancies for low-frequency estimates.

[Young children's use of communication functions before and after cochlear implants]. / Jong kinders se gebruik van kommunikasiefunksies vóór en ná kogleêre inplanting.

This paper describes the communication functions of five young children with cochlear implants in order to study the influence of these children's early intentional communication on their individual communication skills after cochlear implantation. Video recordings of each of the five participants in unstructured free play interaction with their, caregivers, before cochlear implantation and twelve and eighteen months after cochlear implantation, were used to identify the type and occurrence of their communication functions over time. The Communicative Intention Inventory (Coggins & Carpenter, 1981) was used to classify the communicative behaviour of the participants according to the types of communication functions that were used. Results of the study show that the type and occurrence of the communication functions differed before and after cochlear implantation and demonstrated the participants' increased ability to participate in conversation. Individual differences amongst the participants in their use of informative and heuristic communication functions could possibly account for interclient variability in the rate of verbal communication development after cochlear implantation. The results are seen as meaningful in clinical decision-making regarding the suitability of young children under the age of three with a profound hearing loss for cochlear implantation and their therapeutic management. The results also contribute to the identification of an objective protocol for the evaluation of the early communication of young children with a profound hearing loss who are in a prelinguistic stage of language development.

Estimations of auditory sensitivity for young cochlear implant candidates using the ASSR: preliminary results.

This paper presents preliminary results obtained with the use of the auditory steady-state response (ASSR) technique as part of a cochlear implant candidacy assessment protocol for infants Fifteen infants (30 ears), between 10 and 60 months of age, with severe-to-profound hearing loss participated in the study. ASSR measurements were performed for 0.5, 1, 2 and 4kHz at intensities up to 120-128dB HL. The ASSR thresholds were obtained in 74%, of the measurements, and exceeded the maximum auditory brainstem response (ABR) intensity output in 91% of cases and the maximum free-field behavioral intensity output in 84% of cases. Eighty-seven per cent of ASSR threshold measurements were measured at intensities of 100dB HL or higher, and almost half (47%) were measured at intensities of 115 dB HL and higher. Preliminary results indicate that absent ABR and behavioral thresholds do not preclude the possibility of residual hearing, making the ASSR a primary source of information regarding profound levels of hearing loss.

Auditory steady-state responses for children with severe to profound hearing loss.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical usefulness of the dichotic single-frequency auditory steady-state response (ASSR) for estimation of behavioral thresholds in children with severe to profound congenital sensorineural hearing loss. DESIGN: A comparative experimental research design was selected to compare behavioral and ASSR thresholds for the sample. Behavioral pure-tone audiometry served as the criterion standard. SETTING: Hearing Clinic, Department of Communication Pathology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa. PATIENTS: A referred sample of 10 patients (20 ears), 5 girls and 5 boys aged 10 to 15 years (mean age, 13 years 4 months), with severe to profound sensorineural hearing impairment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The difference, and correlation, between 160 pure-tone behavioral and ASSR thresholds at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz. RESULTS: Mean differences between ASSR and behavioral thresholds were 6 dB for 0.5 kHz and 4 dB for 1, 2, and 4 kHz, with standard deviations varying between 8 and 12 dB. No significant differences (P<.05) were observed between ASSR and behavioral thresholds, except at 0.5 kHz, and Pearson correlation coefficients varied between 0.58 and 0.74 across the evaluated frequencies, with best correlation at 1 kHz and worst at 0.5 kHz. CONCLUSIONS: The ASSR thresholds provided reliable estimations of behavioral thresholds for children with severe to profound hearing loss and indicated an increased sensitivity for more profound hearing loss.

Establishing normal hearing with the dichotic multiple-frequency auditory steady-state response compared to an auditory brainstem response protocol.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical usefulness of the dichotic multiple-frequency (MF) auditory steady-state response (ASSR) technique for estimating normal hearing compared to a 0.5-kHz tone burst and broadband click auditory brainstem response (ABR) protocol in a sample of adults. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A comparative experimental research design was selected in order to compare estimations of normal hearing obtained with the dichotic ASSR technique at 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 kHz with a 0.5-kHz tone burst and broadband click ABR protocol. The recording times required for each procedure were also compared. Normal-hearing subjects (n = 28) were selected according to immittance values within normal limits and pure-tone behavioural thresholds of < 25 dB HL across frequencies. RESULTS: The dichotic MF ASSR estimated normal hearing to be, on average, 30-34 dB HL across the range 0.5-4 kHz. The mean estimate of normal hearing for 0.5 kHz using tone burst ABRs was 30 dB nHL and the mean click ABR threshold was 16 dB nHL, i.e. 14-18 dB better than the ASSR thresholds. The dichotic MFASSR technique recorded 8 thresholds (4 in each ear) in a mean time of 23 min. The ABR protocol recorded 4 thresholds (2 in each ear) in a mean time of 25 min. CONCLUSION: Both the dichotic MF ASSR and ABR protocols provided a time-efficient estimation of normal hearing. There was no significant difference between the tone burst ABR and MF ASSR techniques in terms of estimation of normal hearing at 0.5 kHz. The dichotic MF ASSR technique proved more time-efficient by determining more thresholds in a shorter time compared to the ABR protocol.

The needs of teachers of children with hearing loss within the inclusive education system.

In South Africa, the current movement towards the inclusion of children with disabilities, including children with hearing loss, is likely to have far-reaching consequences for both teachers and learners. Undoubtedly, needs will arise from teachers during the transition, especially in the areas pertaining to the audiological and educational management of children with hearing loss. Therefore, a descriptive research design was developed comprising of a questionnaire survey followed by focus group interviews to determine teachers' needs. The questionnaire survey explored the needs of 664 teachers while focus group interviews were conducted with 19 teachers of children with hearing loss. Teachers were mostly from special schools as only a very small number of children are educated outside these establishments. Findings revealed that, although participants realised the importance of various aspects of development of the child with hearing loss, they generally did not realise the importance of receiving support from an educational audiologist.

Predicting hearing loss from otoacoustic emissions using an artificial neural network.

Normal and impaired pure tone thresholds (PTTs) were predicted from distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) using a feed-forward artificial neural network (ANN) with a back-propagation training algorithm. The ANN used a map of present and absent DPOAEs from eight DPgrams, (2f1-f2 = 406-4031 Hz) to predict PTTs at 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 kHz. With normal hearing as < 25 dB HL, prediction accuracy of normal hearing was 94% at 500, 88% at 1000, 88% at 2000 and 93% at 4000 Hz. Prediction of hearing-impaired categories was less accurate, due to insufficient data for the ANN to train on. This research indicates the possibility of accurately predicting hearing ability within 10 dB in normal hearing individuals and in hearing-impaired listeners with DPOAEs and ANNs from 500-4000 Hz.

Factores de riesgo para infecciones nosocomiales: enero 1996 a diciembre de 1997, Hospital Roberto Calderón Gutiérrez

Las infecciones nosocomiales constituyen un grave problema hospitalario se estima afecta entre un 5 y un 10 de pacientes hospitalizados, y su etiología está dada por agentes patógenas sumamente agresivos. Objetivos:Determinar los factores de riesgo para infección nosocomial inherente al huéspedasí como los que se establecen en el proceso de la atención médica y la incidencia, tipos y agentes etiológicos de las infecciones nosocomiales en el hospital Roberto Calderón en el período de enero 1996-diciembre 1997. Material y Método: Estudio retrospectivo de casos y controles (304 cada grupo),los criterios de inclusión para los casos fueron estancia mayor de 72 horas, cultivo bacteriológico positivo, y manifestaciones clínicas de infección no presentes al ingreso. Los controles fueron seleccionados al azar pareados por mes y servicios. La información fue recolectada en fichas y se sometió a análisis de frecuencia y porcentaje aplicándose pruebas de significancia estadística para chi cuadrado y tes de studiantes. Resultados: El sexo femenino predominó en casos de infección nosocomial, y promedio de edad de los pacientes fue de 48.7+o-17.5 años. La estancia hospitalaria en los casos fue 28.9+o- 20.4 días. Los servicios quirúrgicos tuvieron mayor frecuencia de casos, y las infecciones mas frecuentes fueron heridas quirúrgicas y piel y tejidos blandos. Los princip[ales factores de riesgo observados fureon estancia hospitalaria prolongada, edad avanzada, procedimiento tales como cateterización uretral, uso de catéter IV, intubación endotraqueal, intervencionesquirúrgicas de urgencia, cirugías contaminadas y sucias y el afeitado de la zonaoperatoria y el pubis así como la cohabitación con pacientes infectados. El agente aislado con mayor frecuencia fue Pseudomonas aeruginosa, y el antibiótico de mayor eficacia en infecciones fue Ceftazidima...

Conocimientos, actitudes y fuentes de información sobre el SIDA, de trabajadores de la salud de atención primaria. Ocho centros de Salud Managua: Marzo - Agosto 1991

Estudio de tipo descriptivo, prospectivo y transversal, cuyo objetivos fueron determinar los conocimientos y actitudes sobre SIDA, así como fuentes de información y necesidad de información sobre SIDA, de los trabajadores de la salud de los Centros de Salud: Pedro Altamirano, Sócrates Flores, Altagracia, Morazán, Francisco Buitrago, Silvia Ferrufino, Carlos Rugama y Edgard Lang.