Temporal variation of the PM2.5/PM10 ratio and its association with meteorological factors in a South American megacity: Metropolitan Area of Lima-Callao, Peru.

The Metropolitan Area of Lima-Callao (MALC) is a South American megacity that has suffered a serious deterioration in air quality due to high levels of particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10). Studies on the behavior of the PM2.5/PM10 ratio and its temporal variability in relation to meteorological parameters are still very limited. The objective of this study was to analyze the temporal trends of the PM2.5/PM10 ratio, its temporal variability, and its association with meteorological variables over a period of 5 years (2015-2019). For this, the Theil-Sen estimator, bivariate polar plots, and correlation analysis were used. The regions of highest mean concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 were identified at eastern Lima (ATE station-41.2 µg/m3) and southern Lima (VMT station-126.7 µg/m3), respectively. The lowest concentrations were recorded in downtown Lima (CDM station-16.8 µg/m3 and 34.0 µg/m3, respectively). The highest average PM2.5/PM10 ratio was found at the CDM station (0.55) and the lowest at the VMT station (0.27), indicating a predominance of emissions from the vehicular fleet within central Lima and a greater emission of coarse particles by resuspension in southern Lima. The temporal progression of the ratio of PM2.5/PM10 showed positive and highly significant trends in northern and central Lima with values of 0.03 and 0.1 units of PM2.5/PM10 per year, respectively. In the southern region of Lima, the trend was also significant, showcasing a value of 0.02 units of PM2.5/PM10 per year. At the hourly and monthly level, the PM2.5/PM10 ratio presented a negative and significant correlation with wind speed and air temperature, and a positive and significant correlation with relative humidity. These findings offer insights into identifying the sources of PM pollution and are useful for implementing regulations to reduce air emissions considering both anthropogenic sources and meteorological dispersion patterns.

Características de la infección en gestantes y puérperas por SARS-CoV-2, en el hospital nacional del Callao, Perú / Characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnant and puerperal women at Callao national hospital, Peru / Characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnant and puerperal women at Callao national hospital, Peru

RESUMEN Introducción . Se conoce que las gestantes son más susceptibles a infecciones respiratorias, pero el comportamiento en la infección por SARS-CoV-2 recién se está conociendo. Objetivo . Describir las características epidemiológicas de las gestantes y puérperas infectadas con SARS-CoV-2 en el Hospital Nacional Daniel Alcides Carrión, Callao, Perú. Métodos . Estudio descriptivo transversal. Se seleccionó todas las gestantes hospitalizadas entre el 1 de mayo y el 31 de julio del año 2020 con diagnóstico de infección por SARS-CoV-2, mediante la prueba rápida serológica o la prueba RT-PCR. Resultados . Durante el periodo de estudio se tamizó a 671 pacientes; 308 gestantes y 9 puérperas fueron diagnosticadas de infección por SARS-CoV-2. Los síntomas más comunes fueron tos (57%) y disnea (35%). El 95% fue asintomática, 2% tuvo enfermedad leve, 1% moderada y menos del 1% severa. Solo se registró una muerte materna. 69% de los partos fue por vía vaginal y 31% vía cesárea. Conclusiones . En nuestro hospital, el comportamiento de la infección por SARS-CoV-2 en la gestante no difirió mayormente de lo encontrado para la población general de la misma edad.

ABSTRACT Introduction: It is known that pregnant women are more susceptible to respiratory infections, but the behavior of the SARS-CoV-2 infection is yet to be known. Objective: To describe the epidemiological characteristics of pregnant and puerperal women infected with SARS-CoV-2 at Hospital Nacional Daniel Alcides Carrión, Callao, Peru. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study. All pregnant women hospitalized between May 1 and July 31, 2020 with diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection by either the rapid serological test or the RT-PCR test were selected. Results: During the study period, 671 patients were screened; 308 pregnant women and 9 puerperal women were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection. The most common symptoms were cough (57%) and dyspnea (35%). 95% were asymptomatic, 2% presented mild disease, 1% moderate, and less than 1% severe disease. Only one maternal death was registered. 69% of deliveries were vaginal and 31% were delivered by cesarean section. Conclusions: The behavior of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the pregnant women studied did not differ from that found in the general population of the same age.

HLA study in Amerindian Bolivia La Paz Aymaras.

Aymara people has been a relatively homogeneous group since Spanish Conquest by 1,532 CE, even if previously represented a group of various cultural defined populations who gave rise to them. They were and are established in Andean Altiplano around Titikaka Lake (Bolivia, Peru), Argentina and Chile neighborhood, speak Aymara language and have been maintained after Europeans arrival at a lower social status than Quechua (Inca) speaking people. However, both Aymara and Quechua populations acknowledge Titikaka Lake as center of their origins; both languages are also related. Specific high frequencies of HLA-A*02, -A*24 and -A*68, HLA-B*35, -B*39 and -B*48, HLA-DRB1*08:02, -DRB1*09:01, and -DRB1*14:02, and HLA-DQB1*04:02, -DQB1*03:02 and -DQB1*03:01 alleles are found in Aymaras and HLA class II haplotypes common to Andean Amerindians (DRB1*08:02-DQB1*04:02 and DRB1*04:03-DQB1*03:02), like Quechua, Aymara, Uros, Lamas and Mapuche are also found in Easter and other Pacific Islands. Giant human head stone statues at Tiwanaku (Titikaka Lake, Bolivia) are also found at Easter Island. Thus, it is possible a gene and cultural flow between Andean Amerindians and Easter and other Pacific Islands, as it was demonstrated by Thor Heyerdahl in his Kon-Tiki expedition which reached Pacific Islands sailing from El Callao Harbour (Lima, Peru).

Metabolic and Cardiovascular Comorbidities Among Clinically Stable HIV Patients on Long-Term ARV Therapy in Five Ambulatory Clinics in Lima-Callao, Peru.

BACKGROUND: There is scarcity of data about the prevalence of non-AIDS defining comorbidities among stable HIV-infected patients in Peru. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to describe the most frequent cardiometabolic comorbidities found among ambulatory adults on ARV in Peru. METHODS: A review of records for patients attending regular visits at 5 clinics in Lima-Callao in January-February 2016 is presented. Patients were adults on ARV for >6 months, with no recent AIDS-defining condition. RESULTS: Three hundred and five medical charts were reviewed. Most patients were male (73.1%, n=223) with a mean age of 46.0 years. Mean time from HIV diagnosis was 9.41 yrs. and mean duration of ARV was 7.78 yrs. Most patients were on an NNRTI-based first line regimen (76.4%, n=233), and 12.1% (n=37) were on rescue regimens. Median CD4 count was 614.2 cells/µL and the proportion of patients with viral load <40 c/mL was 90.8% (n=277). Most frequent metabolic diagnoses were dyslipidemia (51.5%, n=157), obesity (11.1%, n=34), and diabetes mellitus (7.2%, n=22). Hypertension was diagnosed in 8.9% (n=27). Other diagnoses of cardiovascular disease were documented in 3.3% (n=10). Pharmacologic treatment was prescribed in 91.3% of patients with diabetes or hypertension, but in only 29.3% of patients with dyslipidemia. CONCLUSION: A high proportion of metabolic comorbidities was found, with dyslipidemia being the most frequent, followed by obesity and diabetes. In contrast, cardiovascular disease was documented less frequently. Medical treatment was started for only a third of dyslipidemia patients. HIV care policies need to consider proper management of chronic comorbidities to optimize long-term outcomes.

Particulate matter levels in a South American megacity: the metropolitan area of Lima-Callao, Peru.

The temporal and spatial trends in the variability of PM10 and PM2.5 from 2010 to 2015 in the metropolitan area of Lima-Callao, Peru, are studied and interpreted in this work. The mean annual concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 have ranges (averages) of 133-45 µg m-3 (84 µg m-3) and 35-16 µg m-3 (26 µg m-3) for the monitoring sites under study. In general, the highest annual concentrations are observed in the eastern part of the city, which is a result of the pattern of persistent local winds entering from the coast in a south-southwest direction. Seasonal fluctuations in the particulate matter (PM) concentrations are observed; these can be explained by subsidence thermal inversion. There is also a daytime pattern that corresponds to the peak traffic of a total of 9 million trips a day. The PM2.5 value is approximately 40% of the PM10 value. This proportion can be explained by PM10 re-suspension due to weather conditions. The long-term trends based on the Theil-Sen estimator reveal decreasing PM10 concentrations on the order of -4.3 and -5.3% year-1 at two stations. For the other stations, no significant trend is observed. The metropolitan area of Lima-Callao is ranked 12th and 16th in terms of PM10 and PM2.5, respectively, out of 39 megacities. The annual World Health Organization thresholds and national air quality standards are exceeded. A large fraction of the Lima population is exposed to PM concentrations that exceed protection thresholds. Hence, the development of pollution control and reduction measures is paramount.