Exploring the Antimicrobial Efficacy of Low-Cost Commercial Disinfectants Utilized in the Agro-Food Industry Wash Tanks: Towards Enhanced Hygiene Practices.

The increase in vegetable consumption has underlined the importance of minimizing the risks associated with microbiological contamination of fresh produce. The critical stage of the vegetable washing process has proven to be a key point for cross-contamination and the persistence of pathogens. In this context, the agri-food industry has widely adopted the use of disinfectants to reduce the bacterial load in the wash water. Therefore, we conducted laboratory-scale experiments in order to demonstrate the antimicrobial activity of disinfectants used in the wash tank of agro-food industries. Different wash water matrices of shredded lettuce, shredded cabbage, diced onion, and baby spinach were treated with sodium hypochlorite (NaClO), chlorine dioxide (ClO2), and per-oxyacetic acid (PAA) at recommended concentrations. To simulate the presence of pathogenic bacteria, a cocktail of E. coli O157:H7 was inoculated into the process water samples (PWW) to determine whether concentrations of disinfectants inhibit the pathogen or bring it to a viable non-culturable state (VBNC). Hereby, we used quantitative qPCR combined with different photo-reactive dyes such as ethidium monoazide (EMA) and propidium monoazide (PMA). The results indicated that concentrations superior to 20 ppm NaClO inhibit the pathogen E. coli O157:H7 artificially inoculated in the process water. Concentrations between 10-20 ppm ClO2 fail to induce the pathogen to the VBNC state. At concentrations of 80 ppm PAA, levels of culturable bacteria and VBNC of E. coli O157:H7 were detected in all PWWs regardless of the matrix. Subsequently, this indicates that the recommended concentrations of ClO2 and PAA for use in the fresh produce industry wash tank do not inhibit the levels of E. coli O157:H7 present in the wash water.

Psychosocial dysfunction of children and adolescents during the COVID-19 lockdown in Ecuador: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: Although the risk of morbidity and mortality of children and adolescents was lower during the COVID-19 pandemic, it appears that their mental health was strongly impacted. The goal of this study is to document psychological dysfunction among children and adolescents who underwent confinement due to COVID-19 in Ecuador. DESIGN: A cross-sectional, internet-based questionnaire. SETTING: Ecuador. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1077 caregivers of children and adolescents (4-16 years old). OUTCOME MEASURES: Caregivers responded to Pediatric Symptom Checklist-35 to assess psychosocial dysfunction. RESULTS: The prevalence of psychosocial dysfunction was 20.8%, with internalising symptoms being the most common (30.7%). The prevalence of psychosocial dysfunction was higher in children who had a poor family relationship during confinement (prevalence ratio (PR) 2.23; 95% CI 1.22 to 4.07), children who never helped with housework (PR 2.63; 95% CI 1.13 to 6.14) and those whose caregivers were worried about children's need for emotional therapy (PR 2.86; 95% CI 1.97 to 4.15). Never playing video games (PR 0.34; 95% CI 0.17 to 0.69) or playing video games infrequently (PR 0.39; 95% CI 0.20 to 0.79) was a protective factor for the psychosocial problems of children and adolescents. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that children and adolescents have experienced a deterioration of mental health due to the pandemic. Family factors played an important role in the mental health of children during the lockdown. When a public crisis occurs, supportive mental health policies should be developed and implemented to promote children's psychological welfare.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices on influenza vaccination during pregnancy in Quito, Ecuador.

BACKGROUND: Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent infection and severe outcomes caused by influenza viruses in pregnant women and their children. In Ecuador, the coverage of seasonal influenza vaccination in pregnant women is low. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of pregnant women toward influenza vaccination in Quito-Ecuador. METHODS: A cross-sectional study enrolled 842 women who delivered at three main public gynecological-obstetric units of the Metropolitan District of Quito. A questionnaire regarding demographics, antenatal care, risk conditions and knowledge, attitudes and practices related to influenza vaccination was administered. We examined factors associated with vaccination using log-binomial regression models. RESULTS: A low vaccination rate (36.6%) against influenza was observed among pregnant women. The factors associated with vaccination included the recommendations from health providers (adjusted PR: 15.84; CI 95% 9.62-26.10), belief in the safety of the influenza vaccine (adjusted PR: 1.53; CI 95% 1.03-2.37) and antenatal care (adjusted PR: 1.21; CI 95% 1.01-1.47). The most common reasons for not vaccinating included the lack of recommendation from health care providers (73.9%) and lack of access to vaccine (9.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Health educational programs aimed at pregnant women and antenatal care providers have the most potential to increase influenza vaccination rates. Further studies are needed to understand the barriers of health care providers regarding influenza vaccination in Ecuador.

Consideraciones generales para estudiar el síndrome anémico Revisión descriptiva / General considerations for studying anemia syndrome. Descriptive review

Introducción: la anemia es un problema de salud pública en países desarrollados y no desarrollados; esta entidad tiene repercusiones en el desarrollo socioeconómico de las comunidades y, especialmente, en la salud de embarazadas, niños y jóvenes. Objetivo: describir los aspectos generales del síndrome anémico, sus presentaciones más frecuentes y el estado del arte de dicha problemática en el suroccidente colombiano. Método: se realizó una búsqueda bibliográfica con un lapso de 30 años (1990-2020) en Medline, Google Scholar, Lilacs y Redalyc, para revisar los conceptos generales del síndrome anémico, anemia por déficit de hierro, anemia megaloblástica, anemia hemolítica y anemia de células falciformes, en función de la etiología, epidemiología, manifestaciones clínicas, diagnóstico y pronóstico. Resultados: el síndrome anémico es una entidad frecuente en varias regiones de Colombia, con alta carga epidemiológica, complicaciones y pronóstico importantes. Se realizó la descripción general de las presentaciones más frecuentes del síndrome anémico. Conclusión: hacen falta estudios para todas las regiones del país, particularmente, en el suroccidente colombiano..Au

Introduction: anemia is a public health problem both in developed and undeveloped countries; this entity has repercussions in socioeconomic development of communities and, especially, compromises pregnant women, children and young people health. Objective: to describe the general aspects of anemia syndrome, its most frequent presentations and the state of the art of this problem in southwestern Colombia. Methods: a literature search with a span of 30 years (1990-2020) was performed in Medline, Google Scholar, Lilacs and Redalyc databases, in order to describe the general concepts of anemic syndrome, iron deficiency anemia, megaloblastic anemia, hemolytic anemia and sickle cell anemia, regarding on its etiology, epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and prognosis. Results: anemic syndrome is a frequent entity in several Colombian regions, with high epidemiological burden, complications and important prognoses. The general description of the most frequent presentations of anemia syndrome was made. Conclusion: additional studies are required for each region, particularly in southwestern Colombia..Au

A single seed treatment mediated through reactive oxygen species increases germination, growth performance, and abiotic stress tolerance in Arabidopsis and rice.

Hydroxyl radical (•OH) is considered to be the most damaging among reactive oxygen species. Although afew studies have reported on its effects on growth and stress adaptation of plants, no detailed studies have been performed using •OH in germination and early seedling growth under abiotic stresses. Here we report a single seed treatment with •OH on germination and seedling growth of Arabidopsis and rice under non-stressed (ambient) and various abiotic-stressed conditions (chilling, high temperature, heat, and salinity). The treatment resulted in faster seed germination and early seedling growth under non-stressed conditions, and, interestingly, these effects were more prominent under abiotic stresses. In addition, Arabidopsis seedlings from treated seeds showed faster root growth and developed more lateral roots. These results show apositive and potential practical use for •OH in model and crop plants for direct seeding in the field, as well as improvement of tolerance against emerging stresses. Abbreviations: AUC: area under curve; MGT: mean germination time; t50: time to reach 50% germination; U7525: time for uniform germination from 25% to 75%; ROS: reactive oxygen species; GSI: germination speed index; SI: stress index; DI: dormancy index.

Cuerpo extraño en uretra. Reporte de caso / Foreign body in the urethra. Report of a case

El hallazgo de cuerpo extraño uretral es una de las patologías menos comunes reportadas en la bibliografía médica y, por tanto, es de gran sorpresa para el especialista de urología. Debido a que no hay suficiente documentación, este tema despierta gran interés para el manejo futuro y en la instrucción a médicos de esta especialidad. Comúnmente, en estos casos hay un componente psicológico/psiquiátrico, sexual, autoerotismo o de abuso de sustancias psicotrópicas. De acuerdo a las características del cuerpo extraño, su localización y tipo de paciente, el tratamiento variará y su resultado final dependerá de estos factores. Presentamos el caso de un paciente varón de 52 años que acude a Emergencia con sintomatología respiratoria y dificultad urinaria de varios días de evolución, con antecedente de uso de drogas como base de cocaína y marihuana durante largo tiempo, además de prácticas sexuales grupales; se logra evidenciar de manera incidental un cuerpo extraño en la uretra. (AU)

The finding of foreign urethral body is one of the less common pathologies reported in medical literature, and therefore of great surprise to the Urology Specialist. In the absence of sufficient literature on the subject, this is an issue that arouses great interest for the future management and training doctors in this specialty. Typically, such cases have basic psychological / mental, sexual, and/or substance abuse component. According to the characteristics of the foreign body, its location and type of patient, treatment will vary and the outcome will depend on these factors; it is why a multidisciplinary assessment should be performed. We report the case of a 52-year-old male patient who came to Emergency Department with respiratory symptoms and urinary difficulty of several days duration, as background there was a history of long-term drug abuse as cocaine base and marihuana, also group sex activities; incidentally a foreign body in urethra was found. (AU)

Tuberculosis and living conditions in Salvador, Brazil: a spatial analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate spatial tuberculosis (TB) distribution patterns and the association between living conditions and incidence of the disease in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. METHODS: An ecological study with neighborhood as the unit of analysis. Data was collected from the Notifiable Diseases Information System (Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação, SINAN) and the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística, IBGE). Rates of TB incidence were transformed and smoothed. Spatial analysis was applied to identify spatial auto-correlation and "hotspot" areas of high and low risk. The relationship between TB and living conditions was confirmed by spatial linear regression. RESULTS: The incidence of TB in Salvador displayed heterogeneous patterns, with higher rates occurring in neighborhoods with poor living conditions in 1995 - 1996. Over the study period, disease occurrence declined, particularly in less-privileged strata. In 2004 - 2005, the association between living conditions and TB was no longer observed. CONCLUSIONS: The heterogeneous spatial distribution of TB in Salvador previously reflected inequalities related to living conditions. Improvements in such conditions and health care for the less privileged may have contributed to observed changes.

Tuberculosis and living conditions in Salvador, Brazil: a spatial analysis / Tuberculosis y condiciones de vida en Salvador, Brasil: un análisis espacial

OBJECTIVE: To investigate spatial tuberculosis (TB) distribution patterns and the association between living conditions and incidence of the disease in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. METHODS: An ecological study with neighborhood as the unit of analysis. Data was collected from the Notifiable Diseases Information System (Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação, SINAN) and the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística, IBGE). Rates of TB incidence were transformed and smoothed. Spatial analysis was applied to identify spatial auto-correlation and "hotspot" areas of high and low risk. The relationship between TB and living conditions was confirmed by spatial linear regression. RESULTS: The incidence of TB in Salvador displayed heterogeneous patterns, with higher rates occurring in neighborhoods with poor living conditions in 1995 - 1996. Over the study period, disease occurrence declined, particularly in less-privileged strata. In 2004 - 2005, the association between living conditions and TB was no longer observed. CONCLUSIONS: The heterogeneous spatial distribution of TB in Salvador previously reflected inequalities related to living conditions. Improvements in such conditions and health care for the less privileged may have contributed to observed changes.

OBJETIVO: Investigar las pautas de distribución espacial de la tuberculosis (TB) y la asociación de las condiciones de vida con la incidencia de esta enfermedad en Salvador, estado de Bahía (Brasil). MÉTODOS: Estudio ecológico que tomó el vecindario como unidad de análisis. Se recopilaron datos del Sistema de Información de Enfermedades de Notificación Obligatoria (Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação, SINAN) y el Instituto Brasileño de Geografía y Estadística (Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística, IBGE). Se transformaron y suavizaron las tasas de incidencia de la TB. Se aplicó análisis espacial para establecer la autocorrelación espacial y las áreas "conflictivas" de alto y bajo riesgo. Se confirmó la relación entre la TB y las condiciones de vida mediante regresión lineal espacial. RESULTADOS: La incidencia de la TB en Salvador mostró modelos heterogéneos, con tasas mayores en los vecindarios cuyas condiciones de vida eran desfavorables en 1995 y 1996. A lo largo del período de estudio, disminuyó la aparición de nuevos casos de la enfermedad, en particular en los estratos menos privilegiados. En el 2004 y el 2005, ya no se observó la asociación entre TB y condiciones de vida. CONCLUSIONES: La distribución espacial heterogénea de la tuberculosis en Salvador reflejaba anteriormente las desigualdades relacionadas con las condiciones de vida. Las mejoras de dichas condiciones y la atención de salud dirigida a los menos privilegiados pueden haber contribuido a los cambios observados.