Development and Implementation of a Preventive Intervention for Youth with Concerns About Their Sexual Thoughts and Behaviors: A Practitioner Narrative.

This practitioner narrative describes the development of an innovative, primary and secondary prevention resource to provide confidential resources to youth with questions about potentially problematic sexual interests and behaviors. WhatsOK is a website and free confidential helpline for youth who are potentially at risk to sexually harm or have harmed someone in the past. By encouraging self-efficacy, helpline counselors respond to these inquires in order to prevent harmful events or lessen the impact. This practitioner narrative begins with an explanation of the planning process, then describes the implementation, piloting and refining the resource, and, finally, explains how evaluation was incorporated. The development of the WhatsOK helpline services was conducted with the goal of creating an evidence-informed resource for youth with concerns about sexual thoughts and behaviors.

Parents' and professionals' perspectives on school-based maltreatment prevention education for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

BACKGROUND: Youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are at a significantly increased risk of experiencing maltreatment and abuse. Child maltreatment prevention education programs are effective at improving safety of children and youth, generally. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to understand challenges, benefits, and important considerations of developing an IDD-tailored prevention program. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: In total, we recruited 21 professionals and parents who have experience with a child with IDD from New York, Indiana, and Florida. METHODS: Participants were segmented into three focus groups, which were conducted through web-based videoconferencing. Focus groups were moderated by experts in child maltreatment prevention and recorded for data collection. Recordings were transcribed and subsequently coded using a qualitative content analysis approach. RESULTS: The analysis identified several challenges to implementing child maltreatment prevention to students with IDD and pedagogical strategies to overcome those, such as the use of visuals, standardized vocabulary, and relatable examples. Benefits of a prevention program were also mentioned, including feelings of empowerment that can be cultivated by providing opportunities where children with IDD practice being assertive. Considerations for program developers and staff were discussed to ensure that prevention programs are easily adaptable to suit the needs of students with IDD across the continuum. CONCLUSIONS: Previous research has indicated an unmet need for child maltreatment programs among children with IDD. Implementation of an IDD-tailored program must be preceded by gaining invaluable insight from professionals and parents. Findings provide insight into implementation challenges and methods to inform prevention programs.

School-based prevention education for children and youth with intellectual developmental disabilities.

Children with intellectual developmental disabilities (IDD) are at a heightened risk of experiencing child maltreatment (CM) when compared to their peers without IDD. Despite expanding evidence supporting the efficacy of school-based CM prevention programs, there are limited programs that tailor their lessons to the unique needs of children with IDD. This discussion first presents information regarding the prevalence and risk factors of CM among children with IDD. We then present existing peer-reviewed CM programs that have been developed for children with IDD. Finally, based on the latest research of CM prevention and special education, we present our considerations for a comprehensive school-based CM prevention program for children with IDD. Prevention programs for children with IDD may increase risk awareness among children with IDD and their parents, equip children with IDD with the protective skills necessary to navigate unsafe situations, and decrease the overall incidence of CM against this population.

Ancestral reconstruction and correlation of the frequencies of the hemoglobin S allele and the Duffy blood group alleles in human populations.

OBJECTIVES: Malaria is an important selective force for human genetic adaptation due to the sustained, lethal impact it has had on populations worldwide. High frequencies of both hemoglobin S and the null allele FYBES of the Duffy blood group have been found in areas where this disease is endemic, attributed to the protective action of the carriers of these variants against malaria infection. The objective of this work was to perform ancestral reconstruction and analyze the correlation of the frequencies of these alleles throughout the phylogeny of 24 human populations. METHODS: A tree topology and the allelic frequencies reported in the literature for the 24 populations were used. The ancestral frequencies for the two alleles were reconstructed using the maximum likelihood method and the Brownian model of evolution (CI = 95%), and the correlation analysis was performed using phylogenetically independent contrasts (PICs). Statistical analyses were performed with the statistical software R version 3.4.1. RESULTS: For both alleles, a correspondence was found in the reconstruction of the ancestral frequencies, and a significant statistical correlation (p = .001) was observed between the S and FYBES alleles. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide evidence of an epistatic relationship between the two alleles, which may influence the fitness of the individuals who present with them when they are subjected to a selective force such as malaria.

Moving school-based CSA prevention education online: Advantages and challenges of the "new normal".

One of the many outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic was a shift in the delivery of elementary (primary) education. Schools transitioned swiftly to e-learning and prioritized education that was already or could be easily adapted to virtual formats. Given the paucity of online content available, it is not likely that child sexual abuse (CSA) prevention education was prioritized. Given that CSA prevention education has demonstrated success in increasing knowledge, protective behaviors, and disclosures, and the potential long-term need for e-learning options, there is a demand for an exploration of how CSA prevention can be implemented using e-learning strategies. In the current discussion, we explore how school-based CSA prevention education could be implemented in a "new normal" context of e-learning. We first present the existing e-learning content for CSA prevention education. We then describe how best practices for prevention education can be applied to e-learning. Finally, we present considerations for the use of e-learning specifically for CSA prevention education. In short, implementing CSA prevention programs through e-learning offers many affordances for program accessibility and reach, flexibility in implementation and opportunities for greater exposure to content, and a wide range of ways to demonstrate effective skills and engage children in cycles of practice and feedback. E-learning, may also, however, limit important conversations between children and trained instructors that lead to disclosures. The extant literature leaves us unsure as to whether implementing CSA prevention programs through e-learning will result in better or worse outcomes for children. However, given the increasing demand for e-learning options, and the promise of some new e-learning programs, further research on the effectiveness of e-learning CSA prevention programs is warranted.

Polymorphisms of apolipoprotein E in the Afro-descendant population of Buenaventura, Colombia.

OBJETIVES: To estimate the frequency distribution, both allelic and genotypic, of the APOE gene in the Afro-descendant population of Buenaventura, Colombia. METHODS: Three hundred and forty-eight Afro-descendant individuals were analysed and the APOE locus was genotyped by PCR-RFLP. The allelic and genotypic frequencies were established by direct counting and the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was evaluated through χ2 test. The frequencies obtained in this study were compared with frequencies reported for other Colombian populations through the Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: The following allelic frequencies were observed: E3, 70.8%; E4, 21.4%, and E2, 7.8%. The genotypic frequencies were: E3/E3, 51.1%; E3/E4, 27.3%; E2/E3, 12.1%; E4/E4, 6%; E2/E4, 3.5%, and E2/E2, 0%. The entire examined population was found in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P=.074), and significant differences were found in the allele E4 when comparing this population with the Amerindian and mestizo populations of Bogotá, Quindío, Centro-Oriente, Valle del Cauca, Barranquilla and Medellín (P≤ 0.0345). CONCLUSIONS: The allelic frequencies observed in this study were significantly different from the frequencies reported in other Colombian populations. The high representativeness of the E4 and E2 alleles validates the hypothesis that there are micro-evolutionary processes that have been acting on their frequencies and could be associated with susceptibility to neuropsychiatric diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, metabolic alterations of fats and/or coronary artery disease.

Aislamiento y caracterización de bacterias productoras de biopolimeros a partir de efluentes industriales / Isolated and characterization of biopolymer producing bacteria from industrial effluents

RESUMEN Se realizó una caracterización físico-química de los efluentes procedentes de industrias del sector educación, metalmecánico, lácteos y confitería de la ciudad de Manizales, Caldas; posteriormente se obtuvieron aislamientos, en medios diferenciales suplementados, de bacterias con potencial para la producción de biopolímeros a los cuales se les aplicó pruebas para la caracterización morfológica, bioquímica y molecular. Los parámetros físico químicos obtenidos de los efluentes industriales demuestran diferencias entre ellos, ya que cada industria genera diferentes residuos aportando una determinada contaminación al efluente, se obtuvieron 73 aislamientos productores de exopolisacáridos (EPS) y 101 productores de polihidroxialcanoatos (PHA), con características morfológicas y bioquímicas variables. El estudio muestra que los efluentes industriales son una gran fuente de bacterias de interés para la producción de diversos polímeros microbianos; principalmente aquellos que producen polímeros tipo biopoliésteres intracelulares como PHA, debido a su variabilidad físico-química y nutricional permitiendo que los microorganismos se adapten a diversas características medioambientales y de composición.

ABSTRACT A physical-chemical characterization of effluents from industries in the education, metal-mechanic, dairy and confectionery sectors of the city of Manizales, Caldas; Later isolates were obtained, in differential media supplemented, from bacteria with potential for the production of biopolymers to which they were applied tests for morphological, biochemical and molecular characterization. The physical chemical parameters obtained from the industrial effluents show a difference between them, since each industry generates different waste contributing a certain contamination to the effluent, 73 isolates producing exopolysaccharides (EPS) and 101 producers of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) were obtained, with morphological characteristics and variable biochemistry. The study shows that industrial effluents are a great source of bacteria of interest for the production of various microbial polymers; mainly those that produce polymers like intracellular biopolyesters such as PHA, due to their physical-chemical and nutritional variability allowing the microorganisms to adapt to diverse environmental and compositional characteristics.

Polymorphisms of apolipoprotein E in the Afro-descendant population of Buenaventura, Colombia / Polimorfismos del gen de la apopoliproteína E en la población afrodescendiente de Buenaventura, Colombia

ABSTRACT Objetives: To estimate the frequency distribution, both allelic and genotypic, of the APOE gene in the Afro-descendant population of Buenaventura, Colombia. Methods: Three hundred and forty-eight Afro-descendant individuals were analyzed and the APOE locus was genotyped by PCR-RFLP. The allelic and genotypic frequencies were established by direct counting and the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was evaluated through X2 test. The frequencies obtained in this study were compared with frequencies reported for other Colombian populations through the Fisher's exact test. Results: The following allelic frequencies were observed: E3, 70.8%; E4, 21.4%, and E2, 7.8%. The genotypic frequencies were: E3/E3, 51.1%; E3/E4, 27.3%; E2/E3, 12.1%; E4/E4, 6%; E2/E4, 3.5%, and E2/E2, 0%. The entire examined population was found in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P = .074), and significant differences were found in the allele E4 when comparing this population with the Amerindian and mestizo populations of Bogotá, Quindío, Centro-Oriente, Valle del Cauca, Barranquilla and Medellín (P< 0.0345). Conclusions: The allelic frequencies observed in this study were significantly different from the frequencies reported in other Colombian populations. The high representativeness of the E4 and E2 alleles validates the hypothesis that there are micro-evolutionary processes that have been acting on their frequencies and could be associated with susceptibility to neuropsychiatric diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, metabolic alterations of fats and/or coronary artery disease.

RESUMEN Objetivos: Estimar la distribución de frecuencias tanto alélicas como genotípicas del gen APOE en la población afrodescendiente de Buenaventura, Colombia. Métodos: Mediante la técnica de PCR-RFLP's se analizaron 348 individuos no relacionados de esta ciudad. Se realizó el cálculo de frecuencias alélicas y genotípicas y se evaluó el equilibrio de Hardy-Weinberg mediante la prueba de la X2. Se compararon las frecuencias alélicas obtenidas en el presente estudio con otras poblaciones de Colombia mediante el test exacto de Fisher. Resultados: Se reportaron las siguientes frecuencias alélicas: E2, 7,8%; E3, 70,8%, y E4, 21,4%. Las frecuencias genotípicas fueron: E3/E3, 51,1%; E3/E4,27,3%; E4/E4,6%; E2/E3,12,1%; E2/E4, 3,5%, y E2/E2, 0%. La población total se encontró en equilibrio de Hardy-Weinberg (p = 0,074), y se hallaron diferencias significativas en el alelo E4 al comparar esta población con las amerindias y mestizas de Bogotá, Quindío, Centro-Oriente, Valle del Cauca, Barranquilla y Medellín (p < 0,0345). Conclusiones: Las frecuencias alélicas observadas fueron significativamente diferentes de las frecuencias reportadas en otras poblaciones de Colombia. La alta representatividad de los alelos E4 y E2 validan la hipótesis de que hay procesos microevolutivos que han venido actuando en sus frecuencias y pueden estar asociadas con susceptibilidad a enfermedades neuropsiquiátricas como la enfermedad de Alzheimer, alteraciones metabólicas de las grasas y/o enfermedad coronaria.

Road Safety Perception Questionnaire (RSPQ) in Latin America: A Development and Validation Study.

Background: Although public bodies need to know drivers' perception of road safety, in Latin America there are no valid and reliable instruments that propose an integral dimensionality. The objective of this study was to design and validate a Road Safety Perception Questionnaire (RSPQ). Methodology: The design included a review of the available evidence and expert knowledge to select the dimensional items for the instrument. A pilot test was carried out to determine possible corrections and adjustments to the questionnaire, after which a Confirmatory Factor Analysis was performed on a stratified sample of 736 Ecuadorian drivers to determine its reliability and construct validity. Results: The results suggest that the RSPQ has a clear factorial structure with high factorial weight items and good internal consistency. The results of the 41-item model grouped into six dimensions (human, vehicle, road infrastructure, regulatory framework and intervention measures, socioeconomic and driving precautions) obtained the best adjustment indexes at the absolute, incremental and parsimonious levels. Conclusions: The preliminary RSPQ evidence can be considered a valid and reliable instrument to assess drivers' perception of road safety.

Activity In Vitro of 2-Chloro-N-[4-(4-Chlorophenyl)-2-Thiazolyl]Acetamide Against Promastigotes of Leishmania mexicana: An Apoptosis Inducer.

PURPOSE: Leishmaniasis is an infectious disease transmitted by insects that proliferate mainly in impoverished environments of tropical climates. In the absence of an effective vaccine, pharmacological treatment is the main tool to combat this disease. The objective of this work was to analyze the anti-leishmanial activity of 2-chloro-N-[4-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-thiazolyl] acetamide (AT) in promastigotes of Leishmania mexicana. METHODS: The biological activity of the compound was evaluated using a sulphorhodamine B cytotoxicity test and the integrity of the erythrocytes was evaluated by a lysis test. The anti-trypanosomatid activity was evaluated in vitro, a cell death assay was performed by flow cytometry (IP/Annexin V stain) and a parasite growth recovery assay was performed. RESULTS: The AT showed a CC50 value of 0.031 µM for HeLa cells after 24 h of exposure, which did not induce erythrocyte lysis. On the other hand, the AT showed an IC50 value of 0.086 µM for L. mexicana (promastigote form) after 24 h of interaction. The compound was capable of inducing apoptosis in the parasites and did not allow recovery after 24 h of exposure. CONCLUSION: This study provides valuable information with the objective of developing new drugs for the treatment of this disease, although more research on this molecule is needed to improve its biological activity.

Joint selection for two malaria resistance mutations in a south-west Colombian population.

In regions with an Afro-descendant population and where malaria is endemic, high frequencies of polymorphisms have been found that confer resistance to this disease, such as the haemoglobin S (HbS) and Duffy genes, which provide resistance to P. falciparum and P. vivax infection, respectively. The objective of this study was to evaluate the individual and joint selection actions of these two genes in an Afro-descendant Colombian population. A total of 819 individuals were analysed using stratified random sampling. PCR-RFLP and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium deviation analysis (H-W eq.), linkage disequilibrium (LD), D'IS2 and D'ST2 indexes, neutrality tests, correlations and fitness were performed using Arlequin 3.5.2.2 and R 3.4.1 software. In general, the population showed neutrality and H-W eq. for the HbS gene but not for the Duffy gene (FYA/FYB, FYA/FYBES and FYB/FYBES genotypes were responsible for this deviation). LD between the HbS locus and the promoter region of the Duffy gene, a value D'IS2 = 0.001 and D'ST2 = 0.020 was found, an increase in fitness of the AS*FYBES/FYBES genotype combination (marked in adolescents and adults), and a strong correlation between these genotypes (Rho = 90%, p = .001) were found, evidencing a possible joint selection action for these two alleles. This work presents evidence of the action of natural selection, both individually and jointly, on malaria resistance genes, HbS and Duffy, in the Buenaventura population.

Polymorphisms of apolipoprotein E in the Afro-descendant population of Buenaventura, Colombia.

OBJETIVES: To estimate the frequency distribution, both allelic and genotypic, of the APOE gene in the Afro-descendant population of Buenaventura, Colombia. METHODS: Three hundred and forty-eight Afro-descendant individuals were analysed and the APOE locus was genotyped by PCR-RFLP. The allelic and genotypic frequencies were established by direct counting and the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was evaluated through χ2 test. The frequencies obtained in this study were compared with frequencies reported for other Colombian populations through the Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: The following allelic frequencies were observed: E3, 70.8%; E4, 21.4%, and E2, 7.8%. The genotypic frequencies were: E3/E3, 51.1%; E3/E4, 27.3%; E2/E3, 12.1%; E4/E4, 6%; E2/E4, 3.5%, and E2/E2, 0%. The entire examined population was found in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P=.074), and significant differences were found in the allele E4 when comparing this population with the Amerindian and mestizo populations of Bogotá, Quindío, Centro-Oriente, Valle del Cauca, Barranquilla and Medellín (P≤ 0.0345). CONCLUSIONS: The allelic frequencies observed in this study were significantly different from the frequencies reported in other Colombian populations. The high representativeness of the E4 and E2 alleles validates the hypothesis that there are micro-evolutionary processes that have been acting on their frequencies and could be associated with susceptibility to neuropsychiatric diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, metabolic alterations of fats and/or coronary artery disease.

Translocación cromosómica no balanceada t(5; 7)(q22; p15) en un niño con anomalías congénitas: reporte de caso clínico / Unbalanced chromosomal translocation t(5; 7)(q22; p15) in a child with congenital anomalies: clinical case report

Resumen Introducción: La incidencia de las anomalías congénitas es de 0,5% dentro de los cuales el 0,1-0,3% corresponden a anomalías cromosómicas estructurales, entre ellas están las translocaciones no balanceadas en las que hay pérdida o ganancia de información genética que da como resultado manifestaciones fenotípicas con compromiso en la salud de quienes las padecen. Reporte de caso: Se describe un paciente escolar con una translocación no balanceada t(5;7) (q22;p15) de origen paterno y sus repercusiones. Discusión: Cuando existen reordenamientos en el material genético, las manifestaciones clínicas están ligadas a la localización de los puntos de ruptura y como consecuencia a los genes que estén incluidos en estos segmentos, tal como se presentó en nuestro caso índice. Conclusiones: Es importante el estudio de estos pacientes ya que deben permanecer en vigilancia médica por el riesgo de desarrollar patologías relacionadas con alteraciones en los genes implicados en el reordenamiento genético.

Abstract Introduction: The incidence of congenital anomalies is 0,5%, wich 0,1 to 0,3% belong to structural chromosomic anomalies, between these are unbalanced translocations in which there are loss or gain of genetic information that results in phenotypic manifestations with health compromise of whom suffer it. Case report: A scholar patient with an unbalanced translocation t(5;7) (q22;p15) of paternal origin and its repercussions is described. Discussion: When there are rearrangements in genetic material, the clinical manifestations are linked to breakpoints localizations and as consequence to the genes included in this segments, as presented in our index case. Conclusions: The study of these patients is important because they must remain under medical surveillance due the risk of developing pathologies related with gene alterations implicated in the genetic rearrangement.

Uso de cánula de alto flujo en niños menores de 24 meses en salones de pediatría / Use of high flow nasal cannula in infants younger than 24 months in general pediatric rooms

Resumen Justificación y objetivo: la patología respiratoria más frecuente y la principal causa de hospitalización en niños menores de 2 años en Costa Rica y el mundo, es la bronquiolitis. La terapia no invasiva de alto flujo se introdujo en Costa Rica en 2008. El objetivo de este trabajo fue demostrar la utilidad de la cánula de alto flujo en niños menores de 2 años con patología respiratoria. Métodos: estudio transversal observacional en pacientes menores de 2 años que requirieron la colocación de cánula de alto flujo, de julio a octubre de 2015, en el Hospital Nacional de Niños. Resultados: se realizó un análisis de 63 pacientes, con una media de edad de 10 meses y un peso promedio de 8,6 kg. El principal diagnóstico fue bronquiolitis y el germen más común fue metaneumovirus. Se demostró una mejoría estadísticamente significativa en la saturación de oxígeno y el puntaje, luego de la colocación de la cánula de alto flujo (p < 0,05), y disminución de la frecuencia respiratoria (p 0,016) entre los que no requirieron ventilación mecánica asistida, con un valor de siquiera un 30 % menos de la inicial. Hasta un 95 % de los pacientes con una saturación de oxígeno inicial menor al 87 %, ameritó la colocación de ventilación mecánica asistida. La duración promedio de terapia fue de 2 días. De los pacientes estudiados, 16 (25 %) llegaron a requerir ventilación mecánica asistida. Conclusiones: en el grupo analizado, la cánula de alto flujo demostró mejoría en los parámetros clínicos. Los pacientes que ameritaron ventilación mecánica asistida fueron aquellos en donde la mejoría en el puntaje de gravedad fue menor o igual a 2 puntos, o no hubo disminución en la frecuencia respiratoria de al menos un 30 %, y la saturación de oxígeno inicial fue menor al 87 %.

Abstract Background and aim: Bronquiolitis remains the most common respiratory etiology that affects children under 2 years of age, and the most common cause of hospitalization in this age group. Non-invasive technology with high flow nasal cannula was first introduced in Costa Rica in 2008; the main goal of the study was to demonstrate the utility of this cannula in children under 2 years of age with respiratory disease. Methodology: Transversal observational study, in children under 2 years of age that required high flow nasal cannula therapy, from July to October 2015 in Costa Rica's main hospital, Hospital Nacional de Niños. Results: a final simple of 63 patients was obtained. The majority came from the central area of the country, with an average age of 10 months and an average weight of 8,6 kg. The main diagnosis was bronquiolitis. The most commonly virus found was the Metaneumovirus. There was a significant improve in the oxygen saturation with the device (p < 0,05) and a significant reduction in respiratory rates (p 0,016) between the children that did not required intubation of at least 30% from the initial value. Up to 95% of the patients with initial oxygen saturation less tan 87% required mechanical ventilation. The average duration of the therapy was of two days. 16 patients (25%) required mechanical ventilation. Conclusions: In Costa Rica, the high flow nasal cannula therapy works and improves clinical parameters. The patients that required intubation were those in which the improvement of the severity scale was of 2 or less points, was no reduction in respiratory rates of at least 30% and the initial oxygen saturation was less than 87%.

The role of cognitive biases in short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy.

The concept of biased thinking - or cognitive biases - is relevant to psychotherapy research and clinical conceptualization, beyond cognitive theories. The present naturalistic study aimed to examine the changes in biased thinking over the course of a short-term dynamic psychotherapy (STDP) and to discover potential links between these changes and symptomatic improvement. This study focuses on 32 self-referred patients consulting for Adjustment Disorder according to DSM-IV-TR. The therapists were experienced psychodynamically oriented psychiatrists and psychotherapists. Coding of cognitive biases (using the Cognitive Errors Rating Scale; CERS) was made by external raters based on transcripts of interviews of psychotherapy; the reliability of these ratings on a randomly chosen 24% of all sessions was established. Based on the Symptom Check List SCL-90-R given before and after, the Reliable Change Index (RCI) was used. The assessment of cognitive errors was done at three time points: early (session 4-7), mid-treatment (session 12-17), and close to the end (after session 20) of the treatment. The results showed that the total frequency of cognitive biases was stable over time (p = .20), which was true both for positive and for negative cognitive biases. In exploring the three main subscales of the CERS, we found a decrease in selective abstraction (p = .02) and an increase in personalization (p = .05). A significant link between RCI scores (outcome) and frequency of positive cognitive biases was found, suggesting that biases towards the positive might have a protective function in psychotherapy. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Therapists may be attentive to changes in biased thinking across short-term dynamic psychotherapy for adjustment disorder. Therapists may foster the emergence of positive cognitive biases at mid-treatment for adjustment disorder.

Genetic Variants of Duffy and Hemoglobin S Genes in an Afrodescendant Population from Colombia.

Malaria is an endemic disease in a large part of Colombia, and the city of Buenaventura reports one of the highest malaria infection rates. Some genetic variants confer resistance to malaria, such as the heterozygote for hemoglobin S (HbS) and the homozygous variant FYBES/FYBES of the Duffy gene. The aim of this work was the molecular characterization of these genes in an Afrodescendant population from the urban area of Buenaventura. A total of 819 individuals from a stratified random sampling in each of the 12 communities of this city were analyzed. Molecular analysis was performed using PCR-RFLP, and data analysis was performed using Arlequin 3.5, SPSS 20.0, and R 3.4.1. Frequencies of 3.1% and 72.2% were obtained for the S and FYBES alleles, respectively, with 6.1% AS heterozygous and 55% FYBES/FYBES homozygous genotypes. The highest percentages of the resistant genotype (genotypic combination AA*FYBES/FYBES) were found for the 13-27-year age group (8.2%) and communities 1 and 3 (18% and 10.3%, respectively). Therefore, it would be pertinent to consider the remaining communities and age groups when performing epidemiological studies and preventive and health care campaigns on malaria in the urban areas of the city of Buenaventura.

An Intelligent Ecosystem for Providing Support in Prehospital Trauma Care in Cuenca, Ecuador.

According to facts given by the World Health Organization, one in ten deaths worldwide is due to an external cause of injury. In the field of pre-hospital trauma care, adequate and timely treatment in the golden period can impact the survival of a patient. The aim of this paper is to show the design of a complete ecosystem proposed to support the evaluation and treatment of trauma victims, using standard tools and vocabulary such as OpenEHR, as well as mobile systems and expert systems to support decision-making. Preliminary results of the developed applications are presented, as well as trauma-related data from the city of Cuenca, Ecuador.

Meta-analysis of the effects of MI training on clinicians' behavior.

MI-based interventions are widely used with a number of different clinical populations and their efficacy has been well established. However, the clinicians' training has not traditionally been the focus of empirical investigations. We conducted a meta-analytic review of clinicians' MI-training and MI-skills findings. Fifteen studies were included, involving 715 clinicians. Pre-post training effect sizes were calculated (13 studies) as well as group contrast effect sizes (7 studies). Pre-post training comparisons showed medium to large ES of MI training, which are maintained over a short period of time. When compared to a control group, our results also suggested higher MI proficiency in the professionals trained in MI than in nontrained ones (medium ES). However, this estimate of ES may be affected by a publication bias and therefore, should be considered with caution. Methodological limitations and potential sources of heterogeneity of the studies included in this meta-analysis are discussed.

Niveles de bioelectricidad en amalgamas con y sin base intermedia / Bio-electricity levels in amalgam fillings with or without intermediate base

Los nuevos materiales estéticos no han ocasionado el abandono de las obturaciones de amalgama, es por eso que es importante proponer elementos que le den longevidad a las restauraciones. El propósito de este estudio fue determinar la relación entre los niveles de bioelectricidad y la presencia de base intermedia en obturaciones de amalgama. El presente estudio es un diseño de tipo descriptivo transversal, la población de estudio se conformó por un total de 30 de obturaciones de pacientes que fueron atendidos en la Clínica Odontológica de la Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia de la ciudad de Pasto en el segundo semestre académico del 2007. Los niveles de bioelectricidad se midieron en microamperios con un tester Techma TM-086 en sensibilidad de 20 uA. El mayor promedio de bioelectricidad lo generaron las restauraciones de amalgama que no presentaron base intermedia con un promedio de 0,02867 UA (Mann-Whitney- p=0.031) con respecto a las que tenían base intermedia con un promedio de -0.07133uA y la marca de amalgama que más bioelectricidad generó fue la New Stetic con un promedio de 0,01535 uA (Kruskal wallis - p=0.008) con respecto a SDI con un promedio de -0.16633 uA y Kerr con un promedio de -0.0998 uA. La intensidad del pasaje de corriente disminuye en las obturaciones de amalgamas cuando presentan base intermedia.

[Health-Promoting Schools Regional Initiative of the Americas]. / Iniciativa Regional Escuelas Promotoras de la Salud en las Américas.

In Latin America, comprehensive health promotion programmes and activities are being implemented in the school setting, which take into account the conceptual framework of the Health-Promoting Schools Regional Initiative of the Pan American Health Organization, Regional office of the World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO). These programmes help to strengthen the working relationships between the health and education sectors. The Health-Promoting Schools Regional Initiative, officially launched by PAHO/WHO in 1995, aims to form future generations to have the knowledge, abilities, and skills necessary for promoting and caring for their health and that of their family and community, as well as to create and maintain healthy environments and communities. The Initiative focuses on three main components: comprehensive health education, the creation and maintenance of healthy physical and psychosocial environments, and the access to health and nutrition services, mental health, and active life. In 2001, PAHO conducted a survey in 19 Latin American countries to assess the status and trends of Health-Promoting Schools in the Region, for the appropriate regional, subregional, and national planning of pertinent health promotion and health education programmes and activities. The results of this survey provided information about policies and national plans, multisectoral coordination mechanisms for the support of health promotion in the school settings, the formation and participation in national and international networks of Health-Promoting Schools and about the level of dissemination of the strategy. For the successful development of Health-Promoting Schools is essential to involve the society as a whole, in order to mobilise human resources and materials necessary for implementing health promotion in the school settings. Thus, the constitution and consolidation of networks has been a facilitating mechanism for the exchange of ideas, resources and experiences to strengthen the work and commitment of all involved with the strategy. The Latin American and Caribbean Networks of Health-Promoting Schools were created to promote these exchanges and to support the integration of the national networks, to constitute multidirectional channels of communication that are linked and that converge for the improvement of education and health in the school setting. Networks meetings have been held between 1996 and 2004, where the work and topics of priority and interest have been addressed, methodologies have been disseminated, good practices have been shared, and National Commissions and participants have been strengthened. This article synthesises successful examples of countries that reflect health promotion activities in the school settings, as well as the development of Networks. It also notes the future prospects for strengthening the Health-Promoting Schools Regional Initiative.