Patient perceptions of advanced practice radiation therapists prescribing medication in radiation therapy.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to determine patient perceptions of an advanced practice radiation therapist (APRT) prescribing medication for radiation therapy treatment-related side effects. By comprehending patient perceptions, it is important to implement change in order to improve patients' quality of life. METHODS: A literature review was conducted on advanced practice (AP) roles in Canada and world-wide; the roles searched were: APRT, nurse practitioner and pharmacist. The search focused on evidence demonstrating improvements made to patient care due to the implementation of these roles. Based on this review and input from a team of experts a qualitative semi-structured interview survey was designed, and pilot tested. The survey consisted of five open-ended questions, which were designed to determine patient satisfaction of an APRT prescribing medication over the course of their radiation therapy treatments. Patients undergoing head and neck radiation therapy treatments at a large, academic cancer centre were invited to participate. Six patients who had a head and neck APRT involved in their treatment were interviewed. A comprehensive thematic analysis was then conducted using the transcripts created from these interviews, which was followed by two independent blinded analyses to ensure validity of the results. DISCUSSION: The thematic analysis produced four salient themes which were: side effect management, care provided by the APRT in comparison to other healthcare workers, patients' access to care, and overall patient satisfaction. Common medications for head and neck radiation therapy treatment related side effects were discussed and these were: Magic Mouthwash, Xylocaine, Nystatin, Benadryl, Advil, Tylenol, Dexamethasone, Tantum, Biotene, Mucaine, Flamazine, Hydrocortisone, Ondansetron, Senokot, and narcotics. CONCLUSION: This study was valuable to understand patient experiences and provide evidence to change processes in order to improve quality of patient centered care. The study revealed that although patients were happy with the process of prescribing medication, they all agreed that having an advanced practice radiation therapist prescribe would improve care. Patient responses further demonstrated the need for future research in regards to side effect management as a whole by APRTs as well as how role clarification can impact patient perceptions of APRTs.

Acute Chagas Disease Outbreak among Military Personnel, Colombia, 2021.

We report an acute Chagas disease outbreak among soldiers in Colombia. Trypanosoma cruzi infection was confirmed through parasitology, serology, and molecular methods. Among 9 affected soldiers, 2 died; 7 were hospitalized and received benznidazole treatment, which produced favorable outcomes. Personnel patrolling rural areas in Colombia could be at increased risk for Chagas disease.

A phase 2 study of stereotactic body radiation therapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SHINE): a single arm clinical trial protocol.

BACKGROUND: Cancers of the head and neck region are often characterized by locally advanced, non-metastatic disease. Standard treatments for advanced cervico-facial cancers of the skin or primary head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) include combinations of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, which are associated with high rates of acute toxicity and complications. Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) has been shown to be a promising modality of treatment for this patient population in retrospective studies; to our knowledge, there are no prospective clinical studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of SBRT in these patients. METHODS: This phase 2, single institution, single arm study aims to evaluate response rates to SBRT in older age patients with locally advanced HNSCC for whom primary surgery is not recommended or performed. The intervention is SBRT 45 Gy in 5 fractions given every 3-4 days. Toxicity, quality of life and patient outcomes will be recorded regularly up to 24 months after completion of SBRT. DISCUSSION: For this patient population, SBRT may offer a shorter and more effective treatment than the current standard of care palliative regimens. If the study demonstrates that SBRT is safe and effective, then this may lead to randomized studies comparing conventional radiotherapy to SBRT for selected head and neck cancer patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04435938 .  Date registered: June 17, 2020.

Hyperspectral imaging assessment for radiotherapy induced skin-erythema: Pilot study.

Skin cancer (SC) is a widely spread disease in the USA, Canada, and Australia. Skin cancer patients may be treated by many different techniques including radiation therapy. However, radiation therapy has side effects, which may range from skin erythema to skin necrosis. As erythema is the early evidence of exposure to radiation, monitoring erythema is important to prevent more severe reactions. Visual assessment (VA) is the gold standard for evaluating erythema. Nevertheless, VA is not ideal, since it depends on the observer's experience and skills. Digital photography and hyperspectral imaging (HSI) are optical techniques that provide an opportunity for objective assessment of erythema. Erythema indices were computed from the spectral data using Dawson's technique. The Dawson relative erythema index proved to be highly correlated (97.1 %) with clinical visual assessment scores. In addition, on the 7th session of radiation therapy, the relative erythema index differentiates with 99 % significance between irradiated and non-radiated skin regions. In this study, HSI is compared to digital photography for skin erythema statistical classification.

Medically inoperable Merkel cell carcinoma of the head and neck treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy: a case report.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare but aggressive neuroendocrine tumour of the skin. MCC is the second most common cause of death from non-melanoma skin cancer and the most aggressive cutaneous malignancy. An 88-year-old male presented with a large, bleeding skin tumour located on the right temple and pre-auricular region. A biopsy confirmed MCC; immunohistochemistry (IHC) was positive for synaptophysin and CK20. The patient was assessed by a head and neck surgical oncologist and not deemed to have operable disease due to medical co-morbidities and extent of disease. The patient underwent a single fraction of electron treatment, followed by stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) to a total dose of 40 Gy in 5 fractions over 2 weeks. Bleeding stopped and the patient tolerated treatment well with no reported side effects other than fatigue. There was symptomatic improvement within 2 weeks and a complete clinical response within 4 weeks of treatment. There are limited data on the use of radiotherapy in unresected/ inoperable MCC. For elderly, medically frail patients who cannot undergo surgery, SBRT may be an option to alleviate symptoms and control the tumour in a relatively short number of treatments; further study is warranted.

Tocolytic effect of the monoterpenic phenol isomer, carvacrol, on the pregnant rat uterus.

Despite the wide application of carvacrol (CAR) in different biological and medical areas, there is still insufficient electrophysiological data on the mechanisms of action of CAR, particularly in the pregnant uterine function. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro tocolytic effect of CAR on the contractility of isolated pregnant rat uterus in the presence of a calcium channel antagonist (nifedipine) and a cyclooxygenase inhibitor (indomethacin). The uteri were isolated from pregnant Wistar rats at 16-18 days of pregnancy and suspended in an isolated organ bath chamber containing a Ringer's physiological solution and aerated with 95% O2and 5% CO2. Samples were used in functional tests to evaluate the inhibitory effect of CAR at increasing concentrations on the rhythmic spontaneous, oxytocin-induced phasic, K+-induced tonic, and Ca2+-induced contractions. The differences in inhibitory concentration-50 and Emaxamong the compounds were determined using the one-way ANOVA followed by a post hoc Student-Newman-Keuls or Bonferroni test, in all casesP < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Nifedipine was used as positive controls where required. CAR caused a significant concentration-dependent inhibition of the uterine contractions induced by the pharmaco- and electro-mechanic stimuli. We showed that the inhibitory effects of CAR depends on the type of muscle contraction stimuli, and that it acts stronger in spontaneous rhythmic activity and in contractions of isolated rat uterus induced by Ca2+. Nifedipine was more potent than CAR and indomethacin on the uterine contractility (P < 0.05), but none of them was more effective than nifedipine. Therefore, the tocolytic effect induced by CAR was associated with the blockade of the calcium channels in the pregnant rat uterus. This property placed CAR as a potentially safe and effective adjuvant agent in cases of preterm labor, an area of pharmacological treatment that requires urgent improvement.

Saturación de oxígeno/fracción inspirada de oxígeno como predictor de mortalidad en pacientes con exacerbación de EPOC atendidos en el Hospital Militar Central / Oxygen saturation / fraction of inspired oxygen as a predictor of mortality in patients with exacerbation of COPD treated at the Central Military Hospital

Resumen Introducción: la validez de la relación saturación arterial de oxígeno y fracción inspiratória de oxígeno (SaO2/FiO2), calculada por oximetría de pulso y por gases arteriales en pacientes con exacerbación de la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (E-EPOC) a la altitud de Bogotá no son conocidos, los pacientes con EPOC pueden presentar alteraciones en el intercambio de gases que pueden empeorar con los episodios de broncoespasmo, obtener valores de la SaO2 por oximetría y FiO2 puede brindar información valiosa sobre el curso de la exacerbación. Objetivo: determinar la validez de la relación SaO2/FiO2 calculada por oximetría de pulso y por gases arteriales con relación a los desenlaces de ventilación mecánica (VM) y mortalidad a siete y 30 días. Métodos: se realizó un estudio de cohorte prospectivo con análisis de prueba diagnóstica calculando los puntajes DECAF, BAP-65, CURB-65, gases arteriales y oximetría de pulso al ingreso de pacientes con E-EPOC, se evaluó el desenlace de mortalidad a los siete y 30 días de ingreso y el requerimiento de VM durante su hospitalización, se calculó la relación SaO2/FiO2 utilizando la SaO2 obtenida en los gases arteriales y de manera independiente la relación SaO2/FiO2 con la SaO2 obtenida por oximetría de pulso, con los datos obtenidos se calculó los valores de sensibilidad (S), especificidad (E), valor predictivo positivo (VPP), valor predictivo negativo (VPN), razón de verosimilitud positiva (LR+), razón de verosimilitud negativa (LR-) y área bajo la curva de características operativas del receptor (ACOR). Resultados: se analizaron 462 E-EPOC, el requerimiento de VM fue de 14.3% y mortalidad a 30 días de 5.71%, la sensibilidad de la relación SaO2/FiO2 calculada por oximetría de pulso para desenlace de VM fue de 84.6% (IC95%:75-94.2), especificidad 42% (IC95%:37- 47), VPP: 19.6% (IC95%:14.8-24.4), VPN: 94.3% (IC95%:90.5-98), LR+: 1.46 (IC95%:1.28-1.67), LR: 0.37(IC95%:0.20-1.67), ACOR: 0.779% (IC95%:0.711-0.847) p<0.0001, la sensibilidad de relación SaO2/FiO2 por gases arteriales para VM fue de 83% (IC95%:73.2-92.9), especificidad 57% (IC95%:51.9-62.2), VPP: 24.8% (IC95%:18.8-30.7), VPN: 95.2% (IC95%:92.2-98.2), LR+: 1.94 (IC95%:1.65-2.27), LR-: 0.30 (IC95%:0.17-0.51), ACOR: 0.799% (IC95%:0.737-0.861) p<0.0001, la sensibilidad de la relación SaO2/FiO2 por oximetría para desenlace de mortalidad tiene una sensibilidad del 76.8% (IC95%:58.8-95), especificidad de 39.2% (IC95%:34.4-43.9), VPP: 7.1% (IC95%:3.9-10.3), VPN: 96.5% (IC95%:93.5-99.5), LR+: 1.26 (IC95%:1.01-1.58), LR-: 0.59 (IC95%:0.29-1.20), ACOR: 0.689% (IC95%:0.568-0.810) p<0.0001, la sensibilidad de la relación SaO2/FiO2 por gases arteriales para mortalidad fue de 80.8% (IC95%:63.7-97.8), especificidad 53.2% (IC95%:48.3-58), VPP: 9.6% (IC95%:5.5-13.8), VPN: 97.8% (IC95%:95.7-99.9), LR+: 1.73 (IC95%:1.39-2.14), LR-: 0.36 (IC95%:0.16-0.80), ACOR: 0.732% (IC95%:0.617-0.846) p<0.0001. Conclusión: los valores de SaO2/FiO2 calculados por oximetría y por gases arteriales pueden ser útiles para predecir desenlaces de VM y mortalidad en pacientes con exacerbación de la EPOC. (Acta Med Colomb 2017; 42: 215-223).

Abstract Introduction: the validity of the ratio arterial oxygen saturation and inspiratory oxygen fraction (SaO /FiO2), calculated by pulse oximetry and by arterial gases in patients with exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (E-COPD) at the altitude of Bogotá are not known. Patients with COPD can present alterations in gas exchange that can worsen with bronchospasm episodes. Obtaining values of SaO2 by oximetry and FiO2 can provide valuable information on the course of the exacerbation. Objective: to determine the validity of the SaO2/ iO2 ratio calculated by pulse oximetry and by arterial gases in relation to mechanical ventilation (VM) outcomes and mortality at seven and 30 days. Methods: a prospective cohort study with diagnostic test analysis was performed, calculating DECAF, BAP-65, CURB-65, arterial blood gas and pulse oximetry scores on admission of patients with E-COPD, and the outcome of mortality was evaluated at seven and 30 days of admission and the MV requirement during hospitalization; the SaO2/FiO2 ratio was calculated using the SaO2 obtained in the arterial gases and independently the SaO2/FiO2 ratio with the SaO2 obtained by pulse oximetry. With the data obtained, the values of sensitivity (S), specificity (E), positive predictive value (VPP), negative predictive value (NPV), positive likelihood ratio (LR +), negative likelihood ratio (LR-) and low area the operating characteristics curve of the receiver (ACOR) were calculated. Results: 462 E-COPD were analyzed; the MV requirement was 14.3% and 30-day mortality of 5.71%, the sensitivity of the SaO2/FiO2 ratio calculated by pulse oximetry for MV outcome was 84.6% (95% CI : 75-94.2), specificity 42% (95% CI: 37-47), PPV: 19.6% (95% CI: 14.8-24.4), NPV: 94.3% (95% CI: 90.5-98), LR +: 1.46 (95% CI : 1.28-1.67), LR: 0.37 (95% CI: 0.20-1.67), ACOR: 0.779% (95% CI: 0.711-0.847) p <0.0001, sensitivity of SaO2/FiO2 ratio for arterial blood gases for MV was 83% (95% CI: 73.2-92.9), specificity 57% (95% CI: 51.9-62.2), PPV: 24.8% (95% CI: 18.8-30.7), NPV: 95.2% (95% CI: 92.2-98.2), LR +: 1.94 (IC95%: 1.65-2.27), LR-: 0.30 (IC95%: 0.17-0.51), ACOR: 0.799% (IC95%: 0.737-0.861) p <0.0001, the sensitivity of the SaO2/FiO2 ratio by oximetry for outcome of mortality has a sensitivity of 76.8% (95% CI: 58.895), specificity of 39.2% (95% CI: 34.4-43.9), PPV: 7.1% (95% CI: 3.9-10.3), NPV: 96.5% (95% CI : 93.5-99.5), LR +: 1.26 (IC95%: 1.01-1.58), LR-: 0.59 (CI 95%: 0.29-1.20), ACOR: 0.689% (IC95%: 0.568-0.810) p <0.0001, the sensitivity of the SaO2/FiO2 ratio for arterial blood gases was 80.8% (95% CI: 63.7-97.8), specificity 53.2% (95% CI: 48.3-58), PPV: 9.6% (95% CI: 5.5-13.8), NPV: 97.8% (95% CI: 95.7-99.9), LR +: 1.73 (95% CI: 1.39-2.14), LR-: 0.36 (IC95%: 0.16-0.80), ACOR: 0.732% (IC95%: 0.617-0.846) p <0.0001. Conclusion: SaO2/FiO2 values calculated by oximetry and arterial blood gases can be useful to predict MV outcomes and mortality in patients with exacerbation of COPD. (Acta Med Colomb 2017; 42: 215-223).

Developing a new diagnostic algorithm for human papilloma virus associated oropharyngeal carcinoma: an investigation of HPV DNA assays.

BACKGROUND: Human papilloma virus (HPV) has been implicated in the development of a large proportion of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). Current techniques used to diagnose HPV etiology require histopathologic analysis. We aim to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of a new application non-histopathologic diagnostic tests to help assist diagnosis of HPV-related oropharyngeal tumors. METHODS: Patients with OPSCC with nodal metastasis were consecutively recruited from a multidisciplinary cancer clinic. Appropriate samples were collected and analyzed. The various tests examined included COBAS® 4800, Cervista® HR and Genotyping. These tests were compared to p16 staining, which was used as the diagnostic standard. StataIC 14.2 was used to perform analysis, including sensitivity, specificity and receiver operator characteristic [ROC] curves. RESULTS: The COBAS® FNA (area under ROC 0.863) and saliva (area under ROC 0.847) samples performed well in diagnosing HPV positive and negative tumors. Samples tested with Cervista® did not corroborate p16 status reliably. We were able to increase the diagnostic yield of the COBAS® FNA samples by applying the results of the saliva test to negative FNA samples which correctly identified 11 additional p16 positive tumors (area under ROC 0.915). CONCLUSION: Surrogate testing for HPV using alternate methods is feasible and closely predicts the results of standard diagnostic methods. In the future, these could minimize invasive procedures for diagnosing HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer, but also help to diagnose and treat patients with unknown primaries.

An Evaluation of Two Approaches to Skin Bolus Design for Patients Receiving Radiotherapy for Head and Neck Cancers.

PURPOSE: This radiation treatment planning study compares two approaches to designing a bolus for patients with head and neck cancer. Our current approach, based on clinical examination, is compared with an alternative approach, based on the patient's computed tomographic image data set, to investigate potential improvements in delivering the prescribed dose to the superficial regions of the clinical target volume (CTV) while limiting the dose to normal skin. METHODS: Twelve consecutive head and neck radiotherapy plans requiring a bolus were selected. A clinically placed bolus was designed by a radiation oncologist through physical examination of the patient. A virtual bolus was designed using an algorithm that configured it to overlay only the superficial CTV delineated on the patient's CT data set. These two approaches were compared on the basis of dose-volume histograms of normal skin and the superficial CTV, as well as the total bolus area. RESULTS: Of 12 patients, the virtual bolus plan resulted in a decrease in the bolus area of at least 4 cm2 for nine patients, an increase in the bolus area of at least 30 cm2 for three patients, and an improvement in the minimum dose to the superficial CTV in six patients. Of these six patients, half had a reduction in the bolus area with a corresponding modest 2% improvement in the minimum dose to the superficial CTV, whereas the other half had an increase in the bolus area with a corresponding dramatic 10%-57% improvement in the minimum dose to the superficial CTV. CONCLUSIONS: Basing bolus design on computed tomography image data rather than on clinical examination reduced the area of normal skin under the bolus in 9 patients (75%) and improved dose coverage of the superficial CTV in 3 patients (25%). All plans benefited from the virtual bolus approach because it has been shown to be more appropriate for balancing skin sparing with target coverage.

Calidad de vida en mujeres con síndrome de ovario poliquístico / Quality of life in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

El Síndrome de Ovario Poliquístico [SOPI] es una enfermedad crónica de relevancia debido a sus complicaciones y a la disminución de la calidad de vida en las mujeres afectadas. OBJETIVO: conocer el efecto del SOP en la calidad de vida de un grupo de mujeres chilenas. METODOLOGÍA: estudio descriptivo de corte transversal, con una muestra intencionada de 80 mujeres. La calidad de vida se mide con el instrumento Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire for women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome [PCOSQ]. Para el análisis de los datos se utilizan medidas de tendencia central. RESULTADOS: la edad promedio es 24.2 + 6.3 años. Un 62.5 0/0 reporta regular a mala calidad de vida. Los dominios de calidad de vida más afectados son las alteraciones menstruales (98.75%) y las emociones (98.75%); seguidas del vello corporal (90%), peso (86.25 0/0) e infertilidad (73.75%). CONCLUSIONES: el SOP afecta la calidad de vida de las mujeres en sus distintos dominios. Conocer la calidad de vida de las mujeres con SOP contribuye al manejo adecuado de este síndrome, así como a disminuir la probabilidad de desarrollo de la morbilidad asociada.

The Polycystic Ovary Syndrome [PCOS] is a chronic disease of relevance due to its complications and to decrease of the quality of life among affected women. AIM: to identify the effect of PCOS on the quality of life among Chilean women. METHODOLOGY: descriptive study with purposive sample of 80 females. The quality of life was measured by Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire for women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome [PCOSQ]. Central tendency was used for the analysis of the data. RESULTS: the average age was 24.2 + 6.3 years. The most frequently domains of the quality of life were menstrual problems (98.75%) and emotions (98.75%); following by body hair (90%), weight (86.25%), and infertility (73.75%). CONCLUSIONS: the SOP affects the quality of life of women with PCOS in their different domains. To know the quality life of the women with SOP can contribute to have an adequate management of the SOP as well as to decrease the possibility to develop co morbidity associated with SOP.

Relación entre el estado nutricional de madres adolescentes y el desarrollo neonatal / Relationship between nutritional status of adolescent mothers and neonatal development

El retraso del crecimiento intrauterino y el bajo peso al nacer, factores que influyen notablemente en el desarrollo físico y mental del niño, se ven afectados por el estado nutricional de la madre durante el embarazo y, hasta cierto punto, por su estado nutricional progestacional. Las adolescentes embarazadas constituyen un grupo de alto riesgo en términos nutricionales debido a que aún se encuentran en etapa de crecimiento. Con el fin de examinar la correlación entre diversas variables relacionadas con la constitución corporal y el estado nutricional de un grupo de adolescentes embarazadas y ciertos indicadores de desarrollo neonatal, de septiembre de 1988 a mayo de 1992 se realizó en Valdivia, Chile, un estudio prospectivo longitudinal en una cohorte de 184 díadas compuestas de embarazadas menores de 17 años que asistían a un programa de control prenatal y sus recién nacidos. Los siguientes grupos de variables se sometieron a pruebas de correlacion: indicadores de la constitución corporal materna antes del embarazo (peso pregestacional recordado por la madre, talla medida en la primera visita al programa, e índice de masa corporal (peso pregestacional, talla al entrar en el programa); indicadores de la constitución corporal materna durante el embarazo (peso e índice de masa corporal al entrar en el programa y antes de dar a luz y aumento de peso semanal y total); e indicadores del desarrollo neonatal (peso y talla al nacer, edad gestacional y perímetro craneano). Al examinarse la correlación entre las distintas variables, el peso de la madre antes de dar a luz mostró una correlación estadísticamente significativa con la edad gestacional, la talla, el peso y el perímetro craneano del neonato. El índice de masa corporal antes de dar a luz mostró una correlación débil con el peso y la talla del recién nacido, y también se observo una correlación directa significativa entre el peso de la embarazada al entrar en el programa y el peso del niño al nacer. No hubo ninguna correlación entre los indicadores de desarrollo fetal y los de la constitución corporal o estado nutricional pregestacionales de la madre. Estos resultados resaltan que las intervenciones destinadas a obtener un buen incremento de peso materno durante el embarazo permiten prevenir la presencia de indicadores de mal pronóstico neonatal

Relación entre el estado nutricional de madres adolescentes y el desarrollo neonatal / Relationship between nutritional status of adolescent mothers and neonatal development

El retraso del crecimiento intrauterino y el bajo peso al nacer, factores que influyen notablemente en el desarrollo físico y mental del niño, se ven afectados por el estado nutricional de la madre durante el embarazo y, hasta cierto punto, por su estado nutricional progestacional. Las adolescentes embarazadas constituyen un grupo de alto riesgo en términos nutricionales debido a que aún se encuentran en etapa de crecimiento. Con el fin de examinar la correlación entre diversas variables relacionadas con la constitución corporal y el estado nutricional de un grupo de adolescentes embarazadas y ciertos indicadores de desarrollo neonatal, de septiembre de 1988 a mayo de 1992 se realizó en Valdivia, Chile, un estudio prospectivo longitudinal en una cohorte de 184 díadas compuestas de embarazadas menores de 17 años que asistían a un programa de control prenatal y sus recién nacidos. Los siguientes grupos de variables se sometieron a pruebas de correlacion: indicadores de la constitución corporal materna antes del embarazo (peso pregestacional recordado por la madre, talla medida en la primera visita al programa, e índice de masa corporal (peso pregestacional, talla al entrar en el programa); indicadores de la constitución corporal materna durante el embarazo (peso e índice de masa corporal al entrar en el programa y antes de dar a luz y aumento de peso semanal y total); e indicadores del desarrollo neonatal (peso y talla al nacer, edad gestacional y perímetro craneano). Al examinarse la correlación entre las distintas variables, el peso de la madre antes de dar a luz mostró una correlación estadísticamente significativa con la edad gestacional, la talla, el peso y el perímetro craneano del neonato. El índice de masa corporal antes de dar a luz mostró una correlación débil con el peso y la talla del recién nacido, y también se observo una correlación directa significativa entre el peso de la embarazada al entrar en el programa y el peso del niño al nacer. No hubo ninguna correlación entre los indicadores de desarrollo fetal y los de la constitución corporal o estado nutricional pregestacionales de la madre. Estos resultados resaltan que las intervenciones destinadas a obtener un buen incremento de peso materno durante el embarazo permiten prevenir la presencia de indicadores de mal pronóstico neonatal