ABSTRACT
Polyquaternium polymers are polycationic polymers that are contained in many hair shampoos and conditioners and are also often added to water to remove organic and inorganic anions by floc formation. While polyquaternium analysis is not trivial, electroanalytical methods have been proposed for their detection using either irreversible emf responses or reversible potential-driven extraction into and out of polymeric sensing membranes. We present here an alternative technique for the determination of a representative polyquaternium polymer, poly(dimethylamine-co-epichlorohydrin) chloride, by equilibrium binding with a singly charged anionic surfactant, 1-dodecyl sulfate. Binding of an anionic surfactant to the polyquaternium polymer simplifies electrochemical detection as the concentration of unbound surfactant can be monitored using the equilibrium Nernstian emf response of ion-exchanger membranes. The latter can be used to determine the nature of the binding interaction and allows for the straightforward determination of polyquaternium polymer concentrations by titration.
ABSTRACT
El complejo volcánico Cayambe esta constituido por tres edificios: a) un antiguo edificio efusivo, el "Viejo Cayambe"; b) el volcán joven "Nevado Cayambe" caracterizado por una historia mucho mas compleja y dinamismos eruptivos más explosivos; c) un cono satélite construido en el extremo oriental del complejo, el "Cono de la Virgen". La actividad reciente del Nevado Cayambe (últimos 4000, aBP) ha presentado trees ciclos de actividad de 300, 600 y 900 años de duración, separados por periodos de calma de 600 y 1000 años respectivamente. El último periodo eruptivo, iniciado hace 100 años, se ha caracterizado por el crecimiento de domos de lava, la generación de flujos piroclásticos de colapso de domo, la producción de lahares asociados a la fusión del casquete glaciar y una limitada distribución de piroclastos. Una síntesis de estos de estos datos permite proponer un primer mapa de peligros volcánicos asociados a este volcán. (AU)
Subject(s)
Volcanoes , Volcanic Eruptions , Hazards , 34628 , Lava Flow , Pyroclastic FlowABSTRACT
This study analyzed the efficiency of cholera treatment in three hospitals representative of the Ecuadorian public health system in order to provide hospital directors and administrators and health service policy-makers with information to plan responses to future epidemics and to reduce the costs of cholera treatment in general. For the study, total and excess cholera treatment costs were calculated using hospital files and statistics and an in-hospital surveillance system of the cholera cases. The type and quantity of each input used for each treatment were analyzed, as well as the number of days hospitalized, according to the severity of the illness. With this process, excess costs were determined in relation to a "treatment norm" that would have been appropriate for each patient. The researchers found that 45 per cent of the cholera treatment costs were excessive. The most important contributor was excess recurrent costs (90 per cent), including extended hospital stays, disproportionate use of intravenous rehydration solutions, and unnecessary laboratory tests. Excess capital costs, from land, buildings, and hospital equipment, represented 10 per cent of the total excess treatment costs. No significant relationship was found between treatment costs and the severity of the illness, nor between costs and a patient's age. A patient's sex appeared to be an important variable, with the cost of treating women being notably higher than for men. An inverse relationship was found between treatment costs and the complexity of the hospital. The reserchers concluded there was an inefficient use of resources in the treatment of cholera in the three hospitals where the research was performed
Subject(s)
Cholera , Treatment Outcome , Hospitals , Ecuador , Health Care CostsABSTRACT
This study analyzed the efficiency of cholera treatment in three hospitals representative of the Ecuadorian public health system in order to provide hospital directors and administrators and health service policy-makers with information to plan responses to future epidemics and to reduce the costs of cholera treatment in general. For the study, total and excess cholera treatment costs were calculated using hospital files and statistics and an in-hospital surveillance system of the cholera cases. The type and quantity of each input used for each treatment were analyzed, as well as the number of days hospitalized, according to the severity of the illness. With this process, excess costs were determined in relation to a "treatment norm" that would have been appropriate for each patient. The researchers found that 45 per cent of the cholera treatment costs were excessive. The most important contributor was excess recurrent costs (90 per cent), including extended hospital stays, disproportionate use of intravenous rehydration solutions, and unnecessary laboratory tests. Excess capital costs, from land, buildings, and hospital equipment, represented 10 per cent of the total excess treatment costs. No significant relationship was found between treatment costs and the severity of the illness, nor between costs and a patient's age. A patient's sex appeared to be an important variable, with the cost of treating women being notably higher than for men. An inverse relationship was found between treatment costs and the complexity of the hospital. The reserchers concluded there was an inefficient use of resources in the treatment of cholera in the three hospitals where the research was performed
En este estudio se examinó la eficiencia del tratamiento del cólera en tres hospitales representativos del sistema público de salud ecuatoriano, a fin de ofrecer a los directores y administradores de hospitales y a las autoridades que dictan las políticas de los sistemas de salud información de utilidad para planificar la respuesta frente a futuras epidemias y reducir los costos del tratamiento del cólera en general. Para los fines del estudio se calcularon los costos totales y excesivos del tratamiento del cólera usando como fuente los archivos y estadísticas de hospitales y un sistema intrahospitalario para la vigilancia de casos de cólera. Se examinaron el tipo y la cantidad de los recursos usados para tratar a cada paciente, así como el número de días de hospitalización, de acuerdo con la gravedad de la enfermedad. Mediante este proceso se determinaron los costos excesivos en relación con la "norma terapéutica" que hubiera sido la apropiada para cada paciente. Los investigadores encontraron que 45% de los costos del tratamiento del cólera eran excesivos. El componente que más contribuyó al exceso fue el de costos recurrentes (90%), entre los cuales se contemplan las hospitalizaciones largas, el uso desproporcionado de las soluciones rehidratantes para uso intravenoso y las pruebas de laboratorio innecesarias. Los costos de capital excesivos, desde el terreno y los edificios, hasta la indumentaria del hospital, representaron 10% del total de los costos excesivos en tratamientos. No se halló ninguna asociación significativa entre los costos del tratamiento y la gravedad de la enfermedad, ni entre estos costos y la edad del paciente. El sexo del paciente fue una variable de importancia, ya que el costo de tratar a las mujeres fue notablemente mayor que el de tratar a los hombres. Se encontró una relación inversa entre los costos en tratamientos y la complejidad del hospital. Los investigadores llegaron a la conclusión de que en el tratamiento del cólera se hizo un uso ineficiente de los recursos en los tres hospitales donde se realizó el estudio
