Evaluation and Future Challenges in a Self-Guided Web-Based Intervention With and Without Chat Support for Depression and Anxiety Symptoms During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on mental health worldwide. Low- and middle-income countries were largely affected by it. Mexico was one of the most affected countries. Extended periods of lockdowns, isolation, and social distancing, among other factors, highlighted the need to introduce web-based psychological interventions to the Mexican population. In this context, Mental Health COVID-19 emerged as a self-guided web-based intervention (SGWI) aimed at adults to improve mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the efficacy of 2 modalities of a self-guided intervention (with and without chat support) in reducing depression symptoms, generalized anxiety, community posttraumatic stress, widespread fear, anxiety, sleep quality, physiological and affective coping, and suicide ideation. In addition, it aimed to compare the moderating role of coping strategies, acceptance, and satisfaction in participants' symptom reduction. We hypothesize that the self-guided, chat-supported modality will show higher efficacy than the modality without chat support in achieving clinical change and better performance as a moderator of depression symptoms, generalized anxiety, community posttraumatic stress, widespread fear, anxiety, sleep quality, physiological and affective coping, and suicide ideation, as well as an increase in participants' satisfaction and acceptability. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted. Data were collected from May 2020 to June 2022. We performed intrasubject measures at 4 evaluation periods: pretest, posttest, and follow-up measurements at 3 and 6 months. Differences between intervention groups were assessed through the Mann-Whitney U test for continuous variables and the chi-square test for categorical variables. Changes due to intervention were analyzed using Wilcoxon W test. Moderated regression analysis was performed to test the hypothesized moderating role of coping strategies, usability, and opinion about treatment on clinical change. RESULTS: A total of 36 participants completed the intervention; of these, 5 (14%) were part of the SGWI group, and 31 (86%) were on the SGWI plus chat support (SGWI+C) group, which included a chat service with therapists. The perceived high complexity of the system for the SGWI group had a moderating effect associated with a lack of efficacy of the intervention regarding depression, but not when controlled for sociodemographic variables. A perception of lower helpfulness of the intervention was associated with poorer outcomes. Coping strategies did not show moderating effects. CONCLUSIONS: Enhancing the utility of web-based interventions for reducing clinical symptoms by incorporating a support chat to boost treatment adherence seemed to improve the perception of the intervention's usefulness. Web-based interventions face several challenges, such as eliminating complexities in platform use and increasing the users' perceived utility of the intervention, among other issues identified in the study. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04468893; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04468893?tab=results. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): RR2-10.2196/23117.

Genetic variants in triglyceride metabolism genes among individuals with hypertriglyceridemia in Colombia.

BACKGROUND: The genetic substrate of severe hypertriglyceridemia (sHTG) in Latin America is insufficiently understood. OBJECTIVE: To identify genetic variants in genes related to triglyceride (TG) metabolism among adults with sHTG from Colombia. METHODS: In individuals with plasma TG≥880 mg/dL at least once in their lifetime, we amplified and sequenced all exons and intron/exon boundaries of the genes LPL, APOC2, APOA5, GPIHBP1 and LMF1. For each variant we ascertained its location, zygosity, allelic frequency and pathogenicity classification according to American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) criteria. RESULTS: The study included 166 participants (62 % male, mean age 50), peak TG levels ranged between 894 and 11,000 mg/dL. We identified 92 variants: 19 in LPL, 7 in APOC2, 11 in GPIHBP1, 38 in LMF1, and 17 in APOA5. Eighteen of these variants had not been reported. We identified a new pathogenic variant in LMF1 (c.41C>A; p.Ser14*), a new likely pathogenic variant in LMF1 (c.1527 C > T; p.Pro509=, also expressed as c.1447C>T; p.Gln483*), and a known pathogenic variant in LMF1 (c.779G>A; p.Trp260*). Four participants were heterozygous for variant c.953A>G; p.Asn318Ser in LPL, a known risk factor for hypertriglyceridemia. Participants with variants of unknown significance (VUS) in LMF1 had significantly higher peak TG than those with VUS in other genes. Peak TG were 4317 mg/dL in participants with a history of pancreatitis, and 1769 mg/dL in those without it (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our study identified variants associated with sHTG among Latinos, and showed that genetic variation in LMF1 may be frequently associated with sHTG in this population.

Tracing the Scientific Legacy: Bibliometric Analysis of LATAM Research in Bariatric Surgery for 33 Years.

INTRODUCTION: Metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) has experienced considerable growth, addressing the challenges of obesity and its complications. The lack of a comprehensive bibliometric analysis in Latin America motivates this study, highlighting the need to understand the evolution of research in this area and its impact on clinical decision-making and health policies. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional bibliometric study was carried out using the Scopus database. A structured search strategy was designed to identify articles related to bariatric surgery with authors affiliated with Latin American countries. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, followed by a descriptive and bibliometric analysis of the scientific production found. RESULTS: A total of 3553 documents published between 1991 and 2024 were included. There was an annual growth of 11%, with an average age of documents of 7.5 years. A concentration was observed in some countries, notably Brazil, Mexico, and Chile. Although scientific output increased, the average number of citations per article showed a downward trend since 2003. DISCUSSION: Despite the growth in scientific production, the quality and relevance of research is questioned, especially given the decrease in the impact received. It highlights the lack of meaningful regional collaboration, which could limit the sharing of knowledge and resources. Questions are raised about gaps in research capacity and the economic and development implications are discussed. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides valuable information to strengthen future research in bariatric surgery in Latin America. It highlights the importance of promoting regional and international collaboration and improving research training in countries with less participation. Clinical intervention strategies can benefit from better understanding research trends and adopting evidence-based practices in a more informed manner.

Cumulative lifetime stressor exposure impairs stimulus-response but not contextual learning.

Greater exposure to stressors over the life course is believed to promote striatum-dependent over hippocampus-dependent learning and memory processes under stressful conditions. However, little research in this context has actually assessed lifetime stressor exposure and, moreover, it remains unknown whether greater cumulative lifetime stressor exposure exerts comparable effects on striatum-dependent learning and hippocampus-dependent learning in non-stressful contexts. To investigate this issue, we used the Stress and Adversity Inventory for Adults (Adult STRAIN) and Multicued Search Task to investigate the relation between cumulative lifetime stressor exposure and striatum-dependent stimulus-response learning and hippocampus-dependent contextual learning under non-stressful conditions among healthcare professionals (N = 205; 157 females, 48 males; Age: M = 34.23, SD 9.3, range 20-59 years). Individuals with moderate, but not low, cumulative lifetime stressor exposure exhibited impaired learning for stimulus-response associations. In contrast, learning for context associations was unrelated to participants' lifetime stressor exposure profiles. These results thus provide first evidence that cumulative lifetime stressor exposure may have negative consequences on human striatum-dependent stimulus-response learning under non-stressful environmental conditions.

Study of pH and Thermodynamic Parameters via Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy of a Recombinant Human Lactoferrin.

The production of human recombinant proteins to be used for therapeutic or nutritional purposes must focus on obtaining a molecule that is as close as possible to the native human protein. This biotechnological tool has been documented in various studies published in recent decades, with lactoferrin being one of those that has generated the most interest, being a promising option for recombinant technology. However, stability studies including thermodynamic parameters have not been reported for recombinant lactoferrin (Lf). The objective of this work was to obtain the human recombinant protein using the yeast Komagataella phaffii to study structural changes modifying pH and temperature using circular dichroism spectroscopy (CD). Thermodynamic parameters such as ΔH, ΔS and Tm were calculated and compared with commercial human lactoferrin. We propose the potential use of CD and thermodynamic parameters as a criterion in the production of recombinant proteins to be used in the production of specialized recombinant proteins.

A Study on the Efficacy and Safety of Pipeline Shield Stents and Nonmodified Surface Flow-Diverting Stents in Patients with Intracranial Aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have compared the Pipeline Shield stents with previous generations of flow-diverting stents (FDSs) for the treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Pipeline Shield stents and FDSs without modified surfaces. METHODS: The present evaluation is a retrospective cohort study of patients endovascularly treated with Pipeline Shield stents or FDSs without modified surfaces for unruptured intracranial aneurysms between January 2014 and June 2022. The data analyzed were obtained from the anonymized database of our institution's interventional radiology service. RESULTS: A total of 147 patients with 155 unruptured intracranial aneurysms were included. Of the 155 aneurysms, 96 were treated with Pipeline Shield stents and 59 with FDSs without modified surfaces. The aneurysms treated with Pipeline Shield stents had higher 6-month (O'Kelly-Marotta [OKM] D; 87.5% vs. 71.4%; P = 0.025) and 1-year (OKM D; 82.5% vs. 63.0%; P = 0.047) occlusion rates than the aneurysms treated using FDSs without modified surfaces. No differences between the devices were found at the 1-year follow-up in the incidence of ischemic stroke (P = 0.939) or hemorrhagic complications (P = 0.559). CONCLUSIONS: Pipeline Shield stents demonstrated superior complete occlusion rates (OKM D) at both the 6-month and the 1-year follow-up assessments compared with nonmodified surface FDSs. No significant differences were found in the safety profiles between the 2 types of stents with regard to thromboembolic complications and ischemic events. Further research with larger study populations is necessary to validate these findings.

Design and evaluation of a mobile-based intervention for Maya adults during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a direct impact on mental health. Inter national organisations have emphasised the vulnerability of indigenous people. Digital Mental Health approaches deliver online therapy as an evidence-based, effective, and accessible treat ment option for common mental health problems. However, the evidence regarding these ap proaches is limited in indigenous populations. The objective of this study is to describe the design, development, and evaluation of the efficacy of a self-applied online intervention regarding the psychological symptoms of depression, anxiety, and fear of COVID-19 in a sample of the Maya population. Method: A prospective longitudinal quantitative study was designed, where a single group was measured before and after receiving the online intervention. This study took place from April to September 2021 and consisted of six sessions delivered via WhatsApp in Spanish and Mayan. Results: The initial assessment was implemented with 82 participants who were evaluated using the Patient Health Questionnaire, Scale for Generalised Anxiety Disorder and the Fear of COVID-19 Scale; 18 participants remained in the intervention for the post-as sessment. Statistical differences were observed in PRE and POST measures of depression and anxiety, but not in fear of COVID-19. Conclusions: This study produced positive results for the first online mental health intervention implemented in the Latin American indigenous pop ulation. Future studies might consider developing similar interventions for other indigenous communities in Latin America.

Introducción: La pandemia de COVID-19 tuvo impacto directo en la salud mental. Organizaciones internacionales han enfatizado la vulnerabilidad de los pueblos indígenas. Los enfoques de salud mental digital brindan terapia en línea como una opción de tratamiento basada en evidencia, efectiva y accesible; sin embargo, los datos son limitados en población indígena. El objetivo de este estudio fue describir el diseño, desarrollo y evaluación de la eficacia de una intervención en línea autoaplicada sobre síntomas psicológicos de depresión, ansiedad y miedo al COVID-19 en una muestra de población maya. Método: Se diseñó un es tudio cuantitativo longitudinal prospectivo, donde se midió a un solo grupo antes y después de recibir la intervención en línea, implementada de abril a septiembre de 2021, que constó de seis sesiones impartidas vía WhatsApp, en español y maya. Resultados: La evaluación inicial se implementó con 82 participantes que fueron evaluados mediante el Cuestionario de Salud del Paciente, Escala para el Trastorno de Ansiedad Generalizada y Escala de Miedo al COVID-19; 18 participantes permanecieron para la evaluación posterior. Se observaron di ferencias estadísticas en las medidas pre- y post- de depresión y ansiedad, pero no miedo al COVID-19. Conclusiones: Este estudio arrojó resultados positivos de la primera intervención de salud mental en línea implementada en la población indígena latinoamericana. Estudios futuros podrían considerar el desarrollo de intervenciones similares para otras comunidades indígenas en América Latina.

How our population is aging. Factors associated with the functional capacity of older adults in Bucaramanga-Colombia: The ARENA Study / Como está envejeciendo nuestra población. Factores asociados a la capacidad funcional de adultos mayores en Bucaramanga-Colombia: Estudio ARENA / Como nossa população está envelhecendo. Fatores associados à capacidade funcional de idosos em Bucaramanga-Colômbia: Estudo ARENA

Introduction. As a demographic aging result, societies have experienced effects such as the increase of functional limitations in older adults and high demand for social and health care. The objective is to analyze factors associated with the functional level of daily life activities and socio-family risk factors of older adults in an urban population in Bucaramanga-Colombia. Methodology. Analytical cross-sectional secondary data study. 196 older adults were studied after excluding individuals with incomplete records. The Barthel and the Lawton Index were used for functional status, and Socio-Family Assessment Scale for social risk. The STATA software was used for doing the logistic regression that helped to determine association between variables. Results. Above half of older adults presented functional limitations when performing daily life activities (59.69%). The prevalence of a socio-family risk was 47.45%. Functional limitation was associated with age, cognitive dysfunction and falls risk. Discussion. The study demonstrated lower scores in the Barthel Index and high scores in risk and social problematic situations compared to other studies. Moreover, results support that high blood pressure is a risk factor for functional limitations situations. Conclusion. It is important to continue interventions about health status in older people to identify risk factors, such as cognitive dysfunction, high Falls risk and chronic diseases control

Introducción. Como consecuencia del envejecimiento demográfico las sociedades han experimentado efectos tales como, el aumento de adultos mayores con limitaciones funcionales y la alta demanda de atención socio sanitaria. El objetivo es analizar los factores asociados al nivel funcional para las actividades de la vida diaria y los factores de riesgo sociofamiliares de los adultos mayores en una población urbana de Bucaramanga, Santander-Colombia. Método. Estudio transversal analítico de datos secundarios, se estudiaron 196 adultos mayores después de excluir a los individuos con registros incompletos. Se utilizó el Índice de Barthel y Lawton para evaluar el estado funcional y la Escala de Evaluación Sociofamiliar para el riesgo social. Se utilizó el software STATA para realizar la regresión logística que ayudó a determinar la asociación entre variables. Resultados. Más de la mitad de los adultos mayores presentaron limitaciones funcionales para realizar actividades de la vida diaria (59.69%). La prevalencia de riesgo sociofamiliar fue 47.45%. La limitación funcional se asoció con la edad, la disfunción cognitiva y el riesgo de caídas. Discusión. El estudio demostró puntajes bajos en el Índice de Barthel y puntajes altos en situaciones de riesgo y problemática social en comparación con otros estudios. Además, los resultados apoyan a la hipertensión arterial como un factor de riesgo para el deterioro funcional. Conclusión. Es importante continuar con intervenciones sobre la salud de los adultos mayores con el fin de identificar factores de riesgo, como la disfunción cognitiva, el riesgo de caídas y el control de enfermedades crónicas.

Introdução. Como consequência do envelhecimento demográfico, as sociedades têm experimentado efeitos como o aumento de idosos com limitações funcionais e elevada procura de atendimento sócio-sanitário. O objetivo é analisar os fatores associados ao nível funcional para atividades de vida diária e os fatores de risco sociofamiliares de idosos em uma população urbana de Bucaramanga, Santander-Colômbia. Método. Estudo transversal analítico de dados secundários, foram estudados 196 idosos após exclusão dos indivíduos com prontuários incompletos. Foi utilizado o Índice de Barthel e Lawton para avaliar o estado funcional e a Escala de Avaliação Sociofamiliar para risco social. O software STATA foi utilizado para realizar a regressão logística que ajudou a determinar a associação entre as variáveis. Resultados. Mais da metade dos idosos apresentou limitações funcionais na realização das atividades de vida diária (59.69%). A prevalência de risco sociofamiliar foi de 47.45%. A limitação funcional foi associada à idade, à disfunção cognitiva e ao risco de queda. Discussão. O estudo demonstrou pontuações baixas no Índice de Barthel e pontuações altas em situações de risco e problemas sociais em comparação com outros estudos. Além disso, os resultados apoiam a hipertensão arterial como fator de risco para deterioração funcional. Conclusão. É importante dar continuidade às intervenções sobre a saúde dos idosos, a fim de identificar fatores de risco, como disfunção cognitiva, risco de quedas e controle de doenças crônicas

Descripción del nivel de conocimientos y actitudes de enfermeras y auxiliares respecto al dolor en una institución de salud de Santander, Colombia / Description of the level of knowledge and attitudes of nurses and assistants regarding pain in a health institution in Santander, Colombia / Descrição do nível de conhecimento e atitudes de enfermeiras e auxiliares em relação à dor em uma instituição de saúde em Santander, Colômbia

Introducción. El dolor es definido por la Asociación Internacional para el Estudio del Dolor (IASP, por su sigla en inglés) como una experiencia sensorial y emocional desagradable. Por tanto, la función que cumple la enfermería en esta quinta constante vital es fundamental. El objetivo de este estudio fue describir el nivel de conocimientos y actitudes de enfermeras profesionales y auxiliares respecto al dolor en una institución asistencial de tercer nivel de atención de Bucaramanga, Colombia. Metodología. Estudio descriptivo de corte transversal, con una muestra conformada por 162 participantes. Se utilizó el cuestionario Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain. Criterios de inclusión: enfermeras profesionales y auxiliares de enfermería con mínimo tres meses en el servicio; criterios de exclusión: estudiantes de enfermería y enfermeras con labores formativas y no clínicas. Resultados. El promedio de edad fue de 31 años, sexo femenino 86.4%, la media de años de experiencia en el servicio fue de 1.54 años. El porcentaje de respuestas correctas de conocimientos fue de 30.7% para enfermeras profesionales y 25.6% para auxiliares. Discusión. Aunque se han realizado a nivel internacional estudios que han evaluado el conocimiento y actitudes del dolor haciendo uso del mismo cuestionario, este estudio es el primero en Colombia que compara enfermeras y auxiliares, evidenciando mejores porcentajes de respuestas correctas y mayor número de preguntas con resultados clasificados como "satisfactorios". Conclusiones. El nivel de conocimientos y actitudes respecto al dolor obtenidos de las enfermeras es mayor que en los auxiliares; sin embargo, se identificaron en ambas poblaciones debilidades específicas en estas áreas.

Introduction. Pain is defined by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience. Therefore, the role of nursing in this fifth vital constant is fundamental. The objective of this study was to describe the level of knowledge and attitudes of professional nurses and nursing assistants regarding pain in a tertiary health care institution in Bucaramanga, Colombia. Methodology. A descriptive cross-sectional study, with a sample of 162 participants. The Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain was used. Inclusion criteria: Professional nurses and assistants with at least three months in service. Exclusion criteria: Nursing students and nurses with formative and non-missional tasks. Results. The average age was 31 years, 86.4% female, and the average number of years of experience in service was 1.54 years. The percentage of correct answers in knowledge was 30.7% for professional nurses and 25.6% for assistants. Discussion. Although some international studies have evaluated knowledge and attitudes regarding pain using the same survey, this study is the first in Colombia that compares nurses and assistants, showing better percentages of correct answers and a greater number of questions with results classified as "satisfactory." Conclusions. The level of knowledge and attitudes regarding pain obtained from the nurses is higher than that of assistants. However, specific weaknesses in these areas were identified in both populations.

Introdução. A dor é definida pela Associação Internacional para o Estudo da Dor (IASP, sigla em inglês) como uma experiencia sensorial e emocional desagradável. Portanto, o papel que a enfermagem desempenha neste quinto sinal vital é fundamental. O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever o nível de conhecimento e atitudes de enfermeiras e auxiliares em relação à dor em uma instituição de atendimento terciário de Bucaramanga, Colômbia. Metodologia. Estudo descritivo, transversal, com uma amostra de 162 participantes. Foi utilizado o questionário Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain. Critérios de inclusão: enfermeiras e auxiliares com no mínimo três meses no serviço. Critérios de exclusão: estudantes de enfermagem e enfermeiras com funções de formação e não missionárias. Resultados. A idade média foi de 31 anos, sexo feminino 86,4%, a média de anos de experiência no serviço foi de 1,54 anos. O percentual de respostas corretas de conhecimento foi de 30,7% para enfermeiras e 25,6% para auxiliares. Discussão. Embora tenham sido realizados estudos internacionais que avaliaram conhecimentos e atitudes sobre a dor usando o mesmo questionário, este estudo é o primeiro na Colômbia que compara enfermeiras e auxiliares, mostrando melhores percentuais de respostas corretas e maior número de perguntas com resultados classificados como "satisfatórios". Conclusões. O nível de conhecimento e atitudes em relação à dor, obtido das enfermeiras é superior ao dos auxiliares. No entanto, foram identificadas fragilidades específicas nestas áreas em ambas as populações.

Agreement and Reproducibility of Anterior Chamber Angle Measurements between CASIA2 Built-In Software and Human Graders.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the agreement and reproducibility of ACA measurements obtained using the built-in software of the CASIA2 (Version 3G.1) and the measurements derived from expert clinicians. METHODS: Healthy volunteers underwent ophthalmological evaluation and AS-OCT examination. ACA measurements derived from automated and manual SS location were obtained using the CASIA2 automated software and clinician identification, respectively. The intraobserver, interobserver reproducibility, CASIA2-human grader reproducibility and CASIA2 repeatability were assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). RESULTS: The study examined 58 eyes of 30 participants. The CASIA2 software showed excellent repeatability for all ACA parameters (ICC > 0.84). Intraobserver, interobserver, and CASIA2-human grader reproducibility were also excellent (ICC > 0.87). Interobserver agreement was high, except for nasal TISA500, differing between observers 1 and 2 (p < 0.05). The agreement between CASIA2 measurements and human graders was high, except for nasal TISA500, where observer 1 values were smaller (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The CASIA2 built-in software reliably measures ACA parameters in healthy individuals, demonstrating high consistency. Although a small difference was observed in nasal TISA500 measurements, interobserver and CASIA2-human grader reproducibility remained excellent. Automated SS detection has the potential to facilitate evaluation and monitoring of primary angle closure disease.

Development of a national proficiency test for SARS-CoV-2 detection by PCR in Colombia.

Background: Proficiency testing (PT) is a tool for ensuring the validity of results of testing laboratories and is essential when laboratories are working with assays authorised for emergency use or implementing novel techniques for detecting emerging pathogens. Methods: In collaboration with the National Health Institute of Colombia and with international support, we developed a qualitative PT for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). A proficiency test item (PTI) based on reference material (research grade) produced by the National Institute of Standards and Technologies (NIST) was prepared and characterised using three positive samples with varying concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 ribonucleic acid (RNA) and two negative (control) samples. Tests were distributed to 121 laboratories across the national network of public health laboratories in Colombia. Results: Positive samples had varying concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 RNA and were quantified by digital PCR (RT-ddPCR) assays for the E gene of SARS-CoV-2. We tested the ability of laboratories to detect low and high levels of viral RNA using samples with SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations of 1417 ± 216, 146 ± 28, and 14 ± 10 copies /uL (expanded uncertainty, k = 2, 95% confidence level) We also performed a semiquantitative analysis of instrumental responses (Ct values) reported by participating laboratories and homogeneity, stability, and characterisation studies of the produced materials to determine the adequacy of these materials and methods for use in the qualitative PT scheme. The PT evaluated reports for individual target genes from each laboratory; 98.3% of laboratories had satisfactory performance and the remaining 1.7% of laboratories had unsatisfactory performance for the detection of at least one of the reported genes. Conclusions: This PT scheme identified the potential metrological weaknesses of laboratories in the detection of SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR and may facilitate improvements in the quality of measurements from the perspective of public health surveillance.

Factores asociados a baja agudeza visual en una población escolar de la ciudad de Bucaramanga, Colombia / Factors Associated with Low Visual Acuity in a School Population in the City of Bucaramanga, Colombia / Fatores associados à baixa acuidade visual em uma população escolar da cidade de Bucaramanga, Colômbia

Introducción. La baja agudeza es un problema de salud pública en el mundo, que aumenta año tras año, relacionada con factores comportamentales poco saludables como el sedentarismo. La baja agudeza afecta especialmente a escolares, en quienes la visión representa uno de los sistemas más importantes para su desarrollo, tanto para el aprendizaje como para las relaciones sociales. El objetivo es establecer asociación entre baja agudeza visual y características sociodemográficas y comportamentales en una población escolar de la ciudad de Bucaramanga, Colombia. Metodología. Estudio observacional de corte transversal basado en datos recolectados de encuestas a estudiantes de una institución educativa de Bucaramanga entre los años 2006 y 2017, sobre las cuales se realizó un análisis bivariado entre características sociodemográficas y comportamentales con baja agudeza visual. Resultados. La prevalencia de baja agudeza visual fue de 33.57%, con mayor prevalencia de baja agudeza visual en mujeres y aquellos con mayor índice de masa corporal. La agudeza visual baja no tuvo asociación estadísticamente significativa con las otras variables estudiadas. Discusión. Las mujeres tienen una mayor prevalencia de baja agudeza visual. Parece existir una relación entre la actividad física y la agudeza visual. Conclusiones. Las diferencias encontradas según el sexo pueden deberse a patrones comportamentales diferentes entre hombres y mujeres, como la actividad física y el sedentarismo. Hacen falta estudios que evalúen la causalidad de la asociación entre los problemas de agudeza visual y los hábitos de vida poco saludables. Palabras clave: Agudeza Visual; Adolescente; Conducta Sedentaria; Visión Ocular; Baja Visión.

Introduction. Low visual acuity is a public health problem worldwide, which is increasing year by year, and it is associated with unhealthy behavioral factors such as sedentary lifestyle. Low visual acuity particularly affects schoolchildren, whom eyesight is one of the most important abilities for their development, both in terms of learning and social interactions. The objective of this study is to establish an association between low visual acuity, sociodemographic, and behavioral characteristics of a student population in Bucaramanga, Colombia. Methodology. This was a cross-sectional observational study based on data collected from surveys of students within an educational institution sited in Bucaramanga between 2006 and 2017. A bivariate analysis was conducted between sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics and low visual acuity. Results. The prevalence of low visual acuity was 33.57%, with a higher prevalence of low visual acuity in women and those with a higher body mass index. However, low visual acuity didn't have a statistically significant association with the other variables studied. Discussion. Women have a higher prevalence of low visual acuity. There appears to be an association between physical activity and visual acuity. Conclusions. The encountered differences according to sex may be due to different behavioral patterns between males and females, such as physical activity and sedentary lifestyle. Further studies are needed to assess the causality of the association. Keywords: Visual Acuity; Adolescent; Sedentary Behavior; Vision, Ocular; Vision, Low.

Introdução. A baixa acuidade é um problema de saúde pública no mundo, que aumenta a cada ano, relacionada a fatores comportamentais pouco saudáveis, como o sedentarismo. A baixa acuidade atinge especialmente as crianças em idade escolar, para as quais a visão representa um dos sistemas mais importantes para o seu desenvolvimento, tanto para a aprendizagem quanto para as relações sociais. O objetivo é estabelecer uma associação entre baixa acuidade visual e características sociodemográficas e comportamentais em uma população escolar na cidade de Bucaramanga, Colômbia. Metodologia. Estudo observacional transversal baseado em dados coletados em pesquisas com estudantes de uma instituição de ensino de Bucaramanga entre 2006 e 2017, nos quais foi realizada uma análise bivariada entre características sociodemográficas e comportamentais com baixa acuidade visual. Resultados. A prevalência de baixa acuidade visual foi de 33.57%, com maior prevalência de baixa acuidade visual em mulheres e naqueles com maior índice de massa corporal. A baixa acuidade visual não teve associação estatisticamente significativa com as demais variáveis estudadas. Discussão. As mulheres apresentam maior prevalência de baixa acuidade visual. Parece haver uma relação entre atividade física e acuidade visual. Conclusões. As diferenças encontradas segundo o sexo podem ser decorrentes de diferentes padrões comportamentais entre homens e mulheres, como atividade física e sedentarismo. Estudos são necessários para avaliar a causalidade da associação entre problemas de acuidade visual e hábitos de vida pouco saudáveis. Palavras-chave: Acuidade Visual; Adolescente; Comportamento Sedentário; Visão Ocular; Baixa Visão.

Angiographic outcomes of embolization in patients with intracranial aneurysms with coil- assisted Laser cut stent versus braided stents.

INTRODUCTION: Intracranial aneurysms (IA) are a focal dilatation of the vessel wall, the rupture of these, causes subarachnoid hemorrhage. Until now, endovascular management is the ideal treatment, providing the interventionist a range of options among which the stent and coils embolization stands out because of its occlusion rate. This study presents the results of a retrospective cohort comparing the effectiveness, morbidity, and mortality of IA treatment with laser-cut stent-assisted coils versus braided stents. METHODOLOGY: Retrospective cohort of patients diagnosed with unruptured intracranial aneurysms treated with coil-assisted laser-cut stents or braided stents between January 2014 and December 2021. RESULTS: In total, 138 patients with 147 intracranial aneurysms were analyzed, 91 of them were treated with laser-cut stent and 56 with braided stents. The main antecedent was arterial hypertension (48.55%). In the immediate angiographic control, a Raymond Roy scale (RRO) I was obtained in 86.81% of the patients with laser-cut stents and 87.50% of the patients with braided stents. In the angiographic follow-up at 12 months, an RRO I occlusion rate of 85.19% was reported in both groups. Perioperative complications occur in 16 patients treated with laser-cut stents and 12 patients treated with braided stents. Three patients presented bleeding complications during the 12-month follow-up, of which two correspond to patients treated with braided stents and one with a laser-cut stent. CONCLUSION: Treatment of patients with intracranial aneurysms with laser-cut stents or braided stents and coils is just as safe and effective.

Reproducibilidad del cuestionario POIBA-¿Cómo nos movemos?, en escolares colombianos de tercer grado de primaria / Reproducibility of the "POiBA-How do we Move?" Questionnaire in Colombian Third-Grade Elementary Schools / Reprodutibilidade do questionário POiBA-(como nos movemos?) em estudantes colombianos da terceira série do ensino fundamental

Introducción: disponer de instrumentos reproducibles que midan la actividad física y los comportamientos sedentarios es una prioridad para la vigilancia y promoción de estilos de vida saludables en niños y niñas. En esta investigación se evaluó la reproducibilidad prueba-reprueba del cuestionario POIBA-¿Cómo nos movemos? en escolares colombianos. Materiales y métodos: participaron 125 estudian- tes de tercer grado de primaria de una institución educativa colombiana. En dos ocasiones se aplicó el cuestionario POIBA-¿Cómo nos movemos?, que evalúa la actividad física realizada para transportarse a la institución educativa y desde esta, durante el tiempo escolar (clases de educación física y recreo), extraescolar (deportiva, con entrenador) y libre. Se emplearon índices kappa y kappa ponderado en los ítems categóricos y el coeficiente de correlación intraclase con modelo de efectos mixtos en los ítems con escala cuantitativa. Resultados: en los ítems sobre actividad física en el ámbito escolar y deportivo predominaron kappas superiores a 0.70. Las preguntas sobre el transporte a la institución educativa y desde esta tuvieron coeficientes kappa cercanos a 0.90. Los ítems de tiempo frente a pantallas alcanzaron coeficientes kappa alrededor de 0.5, y los correspondientes a la hora de acostarse y levantarse obtuvieron coeficientes de correlación intraclase entre 0.40 y 0.72. Conclusiones: el cuestionario POIBA-¿Cómo nos movemos? es una opción para evaluar la actividad física de escolares en el contexto latinoamericano. Los ítems sobre actividad física de transporte, en el ámbito escolar y deportivo, tuvieron los mayores índices de reproducibilidad.

Introduction: Reproducible instruments measuring physical activity and sedentary behaviors are a priority for monitoring and promoting healthy lifestyles for boys and girls. This study evaluated the test-retest reproducibility of the "Prevención de la Obesidad Infantil en Barcelona (Childhood Obesity Prevention in Barcelona) [POIBA]-How do we move?" questionnaire in Colombian school children. Materials and methods: One hundred twenty-five third-grade primary students from a public educational institution in Colombia participated in the "POIBA-How do we move?" questionnaire, which was conducted twice. The survey measured physical activity during travel to and from school, school hours (physical education classes and recess), extracurricular activities (sports with a coach), and leisure time. To assess reproducibility, categorical questions and questions with a quantitative scale were evaluated using kappa and weighted kappa indices and an intraclass correlation coefficient with a mixed-effects model. Results: In the questions about physical activity at school and sports practice, kappas higher than 0.70 predominated. The questions about commuting to and from school had kappa coefficients close to 0.90. The kappa coefficients for the screen-time questions were around 0.5, and the intraclass correlation coefficients for questions about going to bed and getting up were between 0.40 and 0.72. Conclusions: The "POIBA-How do we move?" questionnaire is a valuable tool for evaluating the physical activity of school children in a Latin American context. The questions concerning physical activity during commuting to and from school, school hours, and sports environment had the highest reproducibility indices.

Introdução: dispor de instrumentos reprodutíveis que meçam a atividade física e os comportamentos sedentários é uma prioridade para a monitorização e promoção de estilos de vida saudáveis em meninos e meninas. Nesta pesquisa, a reprodutibilidade teste-reteste do Questionário POIBA ­ (como nos movemos?) foi avaliada em estudantes colombianos. Materiais e métodos: participaram do estudo 125 alunos da terceira série do ensino fundamental de uma instituição educacional colombiana. Foi aplicado o questionário POIBA ­ (como nos movemos?) em dois momentos, que avalia a atividade física realizada para o transporte de e para a instituição de ensino, no horário escolar (aulas de educação física e recreio), extracurricular (esportes, com treinador) e no tempo livre. Para avaliar a reprodutibi- lidade, foram utilizados os índices Kappa e Kappa ponderado para itens categóricos e o coeficiente de correlação intraclasse com modelo de efeitos mistos para itens com escala quantitativa. Resultados: nos itens sobre atividade física no ambiente escolar e esportivo predominaram Kappas superiores a 0.70. As questões sobre transporte de ida e volta para a instituição de ensino apresentaram coeficientes Kappa próximos a 0.90. Os itens tempo de tela atingiram coeficientes Kappa em torno de 0.5, e os correspondentes a hora de dormir e acordar obtiveram coeficientes de correlação intraclasse entre 0.40 e 0.72. Conclusões: o questionário POIBA ­ (como nos movemos?) é uma opção para avaliação da atividade física de estudantes no contexto latino-americano. Os itens sobre atividade física de transporte, no ambiente escolar e esportivo apresentaram os maiores índices de reprodutibilidade

Mental Health Disorders and Coping Strategies in Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Analytical Cross-Sectional Study in Southeastern Mexico.

Mental health disorders are relatively common in the general population and were already an important issue for the healthcare sector before COVID-19. COVID-19, being a worldwide crucial event and evidently a great stressor has increased both the prevalence and incidence of these. Therefore, it is evident that COVID-19 and mental health disorders are closely related. Moreover, several coping strategies exist to endure said disorders such as depression and anxiety, which are used by the population to confront stressors, and healthcare workers are not the exception. This was an analytical cross-sectional study, conducted from August to November 2022, via an online survey. Prevalence and severity of depression, anxiety, and stress were assessed via the DASS-21 test, and coping strategies were assessed via the CSSHW test. The sample consisted of 256 healthcare workers and of those, 133 (52%) were males with a mean age of 40.4 ± 10.35, and 123 (48%) were females with a mean age of 37.28 ± 9.33. Depression was prevalent in 43%, anxiety in 48%, and stress in 29.7%. Comorbidities were a significant risk factor for both depression and anxiety with an OR of 10.9 and 4.18, respectively. The psychiatric background was a risk factor for depression with an OR of 2.17, anxiety with an OR of 2.43, and stress with an OR of 3.58. The age difference was an important factor in the development of depression and anxiety. The maladaptive coping mechanism was prevalent in 90 subjects and was a risk factor for depression (OR of 2.94), anxiety (OR of 4.46) and stress (OR of 3.68). The resolution coping mechanism was a protective factor for depression (OR of 0.35), anxiety (OR of 0.22), and stress (OR of 0.52). This study shows that mental health disorders are highly prevalent among healthcare workers in Mexico and that coping strategies are associated with their prevalence. It also implies that not only occupations, age, and comorbidities might affect mental health, but also the way patients confront reality and the behavior and decisions they take towards stressors.

The effect of bariatric surgery on metabolic syndrome: A retrospective cohort study in Colombia.

Introduction and Objective: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) represents a group of metabolic abnormalities. It is currently a pandemic, and its prevalence is on the rise. MetS has a direct relationship with obesity, for this reason, bariatric and metabolic surgery has been proposed as a method to simultaneously control obesity and MetS. However, in Colombia the results of this intervention are unknown. This study aims to compare metabolic syndrome before and after bariatric surgery in a Colombian population. Methods: Retrospective cohort study conducted in a highly complex institution in Colombia, where comparing the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients who underwent bariatric surgery during a 1-year follow-up period, between January 2015 and December 2019. Of these patients, 48 underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, and 32 underwent sleeve gastrectomy by laparoscopic technique. Results: A total of 80 patients were included, of which 67.5% were women and the mean age was 42.8 ± 12.9 years. The most frequent preprocedure comorbidities were arterial hypertension (36.2%), dyslipidemia (32.4%), and sleep apnea (20%). After bariatric surgery, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome decreased from 66.2% to 3.7% (p < 0.05). In addition, a reduction in the Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance score from 77.5% to 22.5% was observed during the follow-up period. HbA1c, creatinine, and thyroid-stimulating hormone, were the only parameters without significant changes. Conclusions: Metabolic and bariatric surgery is an effective treatment for weight reduction, with a high impact in reducing the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance in the short and medium term in the Colombian population.

Comprehensive Automated Routine Implementation, Validation, and Benchmark of the Anisotropic Force Field (AUA4) Using Python and GROMACS.

Molecular simulation users are sometimes discouraged from using specific molecular models because of the inconvenience of finding the force field parameters and preparing and validating the topology files. To facilitate this process and make the accurate anisotropic force field AUA4 available to molecular dynamics users, we have created and validated an automated topology and coordinate file creation routine for the GROMACS molecular simulation software. In the present work, we describe the AUA4, explain its particularities and how it was implemented, thoroughly validating the implementation, and for the first time, perform a molecular dynamics benchmark for this transferable force field. Several properties were computed, namely, liquid density, vapor pressure, and vaporization enthalpy by conducting explicit vapor-liquid interface simulations. The results evidence the correct implementation showing slight deviations from the parametrization studies. The benchmark shows the superior predictive capability of the AUA4 in recreating liquid density (RMSD equal to 17.0 kg/m3) and vaporization enthalpy (RMSD equal to 1.3 kJ/mol) compared to other transferable force fields. In addition, its superior computational time performance doubles or even triples compared to an all-atom force field such as the OPLS, depending on whether the workstation counts with GPU.

Flow Diverter Treatment for Non-Ruptured Carotid Aneurysms: Efficacy and Safety.

PURPOSE: Internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysm treatment with a flow diverter (FD) has shown an adequate efficacy and safety profile, presenting high complete occlusion or near occlusion rates with low complications during follow-up. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of FD treatment in non-ruptured internal carotid aneurysms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective, single-center, observational study evaluating patients diagnosed with unruptured ICA aneurysms treated with an FD between January 1, 2014, and January 1, 2020. We analyzed an anonymized database. The primary effectiveness endpoint was complete occlusion (O'Kelly-Marotta D, OKM-D) of the target aneurysm through 1-year follow-up. The safety endpoint was the evaluation of modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 90 days after treatment, considering a favorable outcome an mRS 0-2. RESULTS: A total of 106 patients were treated with an FD, 91.5% were women; the mean follow- up was 427.2±144.8 days. Technical success was achieved in 105 cases (99.1%). All patients included had 1-year follow-up digital subtraction angiography control; 78 patients (73.6%) completed the primary efficacy endpoint by achieving total occlusion (OKM-D). Giant aneurysms had a higher risk of not achieving complete occlusion (risk ratio, 3.07; 95% confidence interval, 1.70 - 5.54]). The safety endpoint of mRS 0-2 at 90 days was accomplished in 103 patients (97.2%). CONCLUSION: Treatment of unruptured ICA aneurysms with an FD showed high 1-year total occlusion results, with very low morbidity and mortality complications.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Adverse Effects and Allergic Reactions after COVID-19 Vaccines in a Mexican Population: An Analytical Cross-Sectional Study.

Vaccinations have helped to control the COVID-19 pandemic; however, few studies focus on the adverse effects and allergic reactions of these vaccines and fewer have a scope in the Latin American population. The objective of this study was to assess the associations between vaccinations, sex, age, allergic reactions, and adverse effects. This was an analytical cross-sectional study conducted between 1 July and 1 October 2022. The sample consisted of 443 surveyed participants, with a total of 1272 COVID-19 vaccine doses. Seven vaccines (Pfizer BioNTech, Oxford-AstraZeneca, CanSino, Moderna, Johnson and Johnson, Sinovac, and Sputnik V) were evaluated. A total of 12.6% of those surveyed had at least one allergic reaction posterior to vaccination, and females had a greater chance of developing one (p < 0.001, OR 3.1). The most common allergic reaction was chest pain, and Pfizer-BioNTech and Oxford-AstraZeneca were associated with the onset of allergic reactions (p < 0.005). A total of 54.6% of those surveyed developed adverse effects, the most common of which were myalgia, fever, cephalea, asthenia or adynamia, and arthralgia; moreover, older age was associated with the onset of adverse effects (p < 0.5). This study concludes that the BNT162b2 (Pfizer BioNTech) and ChAdOX1 nCOV-19 (Oxford-AstraZeneca) vaccines are strongly associated with the onset of allergic reactions, with ORs of 1.6 (CI 95%, 1.18 to 2.3) and 1.87 (CI 95%, 1.35 to 2.6), respectively. In addition, females have a greater chance of developing allergic reactions associated with COVID-19 vaccinations, and there was a relation found between older age and a greater prevalence of comorbidities, adverse effects after vaccination, and COVID-19 infection after vaccination.

Study of brine-halite phase separation through optical constringence and molecular dynamics.

This work presents a study of the reciprocal dispersive power, also known as constringence or Abbe number of an aqueous solution of NaCl in a wide range of concentrations. The constringence exhibited a distinct behavior in the region close to the phase transition between a phase containing exclusively brine and a phase containing brine+halite. Molecular dynamics simulations of this system indicated the existence of halite formation below the known saturation curve, which agreed with the experimental measurements, indicating a crystal growth in the unsaturated region.