Influence of the geographic location and house characteristics on the concentration of microplastics in indoor dust.

Microplastics (MPs) are known for their ubiquity, having been detected in virtually any environmental compartment. However, indoor MPs concentrations are poorly studied despite being closely related to human exposure. The present study aims to evaluate the presence of MPs in settled atmospheric dust in 60 houses distributed in 12 districts of the metropolitan city of Lima, Peru, and investigate the influence of their geographical location and house characteristics. MPs concentration ranged from 0.01 to 33.9 MPs per mg of dust. Fibers and blue were the most frequent shape and color (98 % and 69 %, respectively). Also, 82 % of the particles were between 500 µm - 5 mm in size. A higher concentration of MPs was identified in the center-south of the city. The houses located on the highest floors (levels 4 to 13 to ground) displayed higher concentrations. MPs were primarily composed of polyester (PET), polypropylene (PP), and ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), among others. The polymers identified suggest that MPs derived from the fragmentation of components frequently found in houses, such as synthetic clothing, food storage containers, toys, carpets, floors, and curtains. The incorporation of MPs from the outside into dwellings is not ruled out. Future studies should evaluate the influence of consumption habits and housing characteristics on the abundance of MPs.

Microplastics in commercial seafood: Pleoticus muelleri as a case study in an estuarine environment highly affected by human pressure (Southwestern Atlantic).

Plastic pollution in seafood has become a worldwide safety concern due to its possible harm to humans. This is the first study which has investigated the length-weight relationship, growth patterns and condition factor, together with the concentrations of microplastics (MPs) and mesoplastics (MesoPs) in Pleoticus muelleri from the Bahia Blanca Estuary (BBE), Argentina. Forty-nine individuals were collected from three sampling stations in the BBE, and each abdominal muscle with the gastrointestinal tract was analyzed. P. muelleri showed an isometric growth pattern (b = 3.0054) with values of K similar among the individuals collected (ranged between 0.80 and 0.91), considering them in good condition compared to other crustacean species around the world. 96% of shrimp presented transparent or black synthetic fibers as prevalent types, with an abundance average of (3.0 ± 2.90) MPs/g w. w. And (0.053 ± 0.16) MesoPs/g w. w. as well as a dominant size range of 0.5-1.5 mm, in accordance with recent studies in the same area. The linear regression analysis showed that K was independent of the concentration of MPs ingested by P. muelleri, with R2 ranging between 0.024 and 0.194 indicating that MPs contamination does not affect the nutritional condition of shrimp. SEM/EDX detected the presence of elements like C, O, K, and Mg, tissue residues and fractures on the surface of the analyzed fibers. FTIR confirmed different types of polymers in shrimp related to textile fabrics probably from untreated sewage discharges from nearby cities. The results of this research provide useful information for a better understanding of MPs contamination in seafood, suggesting P. muelleri as a suitable species for monitoring MPs in estuarine ecosystems. Likewise, more research is required to know the effects of MPs on food safety in humans.

Satisfacción laboral de enfermeros de un servicio de cuidados intensivos pediátricos y neonatales / Job satisfaction of nurses of a pediatric and neonatal intensive care service / Satisfação no trabalho de enfermeiros de um serviço de terapia intensiva pediátrica e neonatal

Este es un estudio descriptivo transversal, cuyo objetivo es conocer el grado de satisfacción laboral de los enfermeros (licenciados y auxiliares) que trabajan en el CTI pediátrico y neonatal del hospital policial de Montevideo, Uruguay. La recolección de datos se realizó en Octubre de 2016. Sustentado en la teoría de las necesidades de Herzberg (1), la cual sugiere que la real satisfacción del hombre con su trabajo proviene del hecho de enriquecer su puesto para que de esta manera pueda desarrollar una mayor responsabilidad y experimente a su vez un crecimiento mental y psicológico, se elaboró la presente investigación; teniendo en cuenta que, como trabajadores, los enfermeros se ven continuamente expuestos a diversos factores que atentan contra su salud y contra el mencionado crecimiento y desarrollo. Para lo cual, a través del uso del cuestionario Font-Roja (2) más el agregado de variables sociodemográficas y laborales, se describen las características sociodemográficas y laborales de los funcionarios enfermeros del servicio, se determina su grado de satisfacción y relaciona la satisfacción laboral con las variables sociodemográficas y laborales de estos. Como resultado se observó que esta población comparte similares características con la población de enfermeros del resto del país; que las variables sociodemográficas y laborales estudiadas no guardan relación estadísticamente significativa con el grado de satisfacción laboral; y que el grado o nivel de satisfacción es medianamente satisfactorio, con una media de 82,15 (DE 7,31), en una escala que va del 24 (mínimo grado de satisfacción) al 120 (máximo grado de satisfacción).

This is a cross-sectional descriptive study, whose objective is to know the degree of job satisfaction of nurses (graduates and assistants) who work in the pediatric and neonatal CTI of the police hospital of Montevideo, Uruguay. Data collection was carried out in October 2016. Based on the Herzberg theory of the needs (1), which suggests that the real satisfaction of man with his work comes from the fact of enriching his position so that in this way he can develop a greater responsibility and in turn experience a mental growth and psychological, the present investigation was elaborated; taking into account that, as workers, nurses are constantly exposed to various factors that threaten their health and against the mentioned growth and development. For which, through the use of the Font-Roja questionnaire (2) plus the addition of sociodemographic and labor variables, the sociodemographic and labor characteristics of the nurses of the service are described, their degree of satisfaction is determined and the work satisfaction is related with the sociodemographic and labor variables of these. As a result, it was observed that this population shares similar characteristics with the population of nurses in the rest of the country; that the sociodemographic and labor variables studied do not have a statistically significant relationship with the degree of job satisfaction; and that the degree or level of satisfaction is moderately satisfactory, with an average of 82.15 (SD 7.31), on a scale ranging from 24 (minimum degree of satisfaction) to 120 (maximum degree of satisfaction).

Trata-se de um estudo descritivo transversal, cujo objetivo é conhecer o grau de satisfação no trabalho dos enfermeiros (graduados e auxiliares) que atuam no CTI pediátrico e neonatal do hospital de polícia de Montevidéu, Uruguai. A coleta de dados foi realizada em outubro de 2016. Com base na teoria das necessidades de Herzberg (1), que sugere que a verdadeira satisfação do homem com seu trabalho provém do fato de enriquecer sua posição para que, dessa maneira, ele possa desenvolver uma maior responsabilidade e, por sua vez, experimentar um crescimento mental e psicológica, a presente investigação foi elaborada; levando em consideração que, como trabalhadores, os enfermeiros estão constantemente expostos a vários fatores que ameaçam sua saúde e contra o crescimento e desenvolvimento mencionados. Para o qual, através do uso do questionário Font-Roja (2) mais a adição de variáveis sociodemográficas e laborais, são descritas as características sociodemográficas e laborais dos enfermeiros do serviço, é determinado seu grau de satisfação e relacionada à satisfação no trabalho com as variáveis sociodemográficas e trabalhistas. Como resultado, observou-se que essa população compartilha características semelhantes às da população de enfermeiros no restante do país; que as variáveis.

Early rehabilitation for severe acquired brain injury in intensive care unit: multicenter observational study.

BACKGROUND: The increased survival after a severe acquired brain injury (sABI) raise the problem of making most effective the treatments in Intensive Care Unit (ICU)/Neurointensive Care Unit (NICU), also integrating rehabilitation care. Despite previous studies reported that early mobilization in ICU was effective in preventing complications and reducing hospital stay, few studies addressed the rehabilitative management of sABI patients in ICU/NICU. AIM: To collect clinical and functional data about the early rehabilitative management of sABI patients during ICU/NICU stay. DESIGN: Prospective, observational, multicenter study. SETTING: Fourteen facilities supplied by intensive neurorehabilitation units and ICU/NICUs. POPULATION: Consecutive sABI patients admitted to ICU/NICU. METHODS: Patients were evaluated at admission and then every 3-5 days. Clinical, functional and rehabilitative data, including Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Disability Rating Scale (DRS), The Rancho Los Amigos Levels of Cognitive Functioning Scale (LCF), Early Rehabilitation Barthel Index (ERBI), Glasgow Outcome scale (GOS) and Functional Independence Measure (FIM) were collected. RESULTS: One hundred and two patients (F/M 44/58) were enrolled. The mean duration of ICU stay was 24.7±13.9 days and the first rehabilitative evaluation occurred after 8.7±8.8 days. Regular postural changes and multijoint mobilization were prescribed in 63.7% and 64.7% cases, respectively. The mean session duration was 38±11.5 minutes. Swallowing evaluation was performed in 14.7% patients, psychological support was provided to 12.7% of patients' caregivers, while 17.6% received a psycho-educational intervention, and 28.4% were involved in interdisciplinary team meetings. The main discharge destinations were Severe Acquired Brain Injury rehabilitation units for 43.7%, intensive neurorehabilitation units for 20.7%. CONCLUSIONS: Data showed that early rehabilitation was not diffusely performed in sABI subjects in ICU/NICU and rehabilitative interventions were variable; one-third of subjects were not referred to dedicated rehabilitation unit at discharge. CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT: The study stresses the need to spread and implement a rehabilitative culture also for critical ill patients due to neurological diseases.