Interaction between type 2 diabetes and past COVID-19 on active tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND: The global setback in tuberculosis (TB) prevalence and mortality in the post-COVID-19 era have been partially attributed to pandemic-related disruptions in healthcare systems. The additional biological contribution of COVID-19 to TB is less clear. The goal of this study was to determine if there is an association between COVID-19 in the past 18 months and a new TB episode, and the role played by type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) comorbidity in this relationship. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 112 new active TB patients and 373 non-TB controls, identified between June 2020 and November 2021 in communities along the Mexican border with Texas. Past COVID-19 was based on self-report or positive serology. Bivariable/multivariable analysis were used to evaluate the odds of new TB in hosts with past COVID-19 and/or DM status. RESULTS: The odds of new TB were higher among past COVID-19 cases vs. controls, but only significant among DM patients (aOR 2.3). The odds of TB given DM was 2.7-fold among participants without past COVID-19 and increased to 7.9-fold among those with past COVID-19. CONCLUSION: DM interacts with past COVID-19 synergistically to magnify the risk of TB. Latent TB screening and prophylactic treatment, if positive, is recommended in this COVID-19/DM/latent TB high-risk group.

Health, economic growth, and Gini index in North America using a panel model / Salud, crecimiento económico, e índice Gini en Norteamérica usando un modelo panel

Abstract Objective: The objective of this paper is assessed the nexus among health status, economic growth, and the Gini index in North America and its countries using a panel model. Materials and Method: The materials consist of annual data regarding life expectancy, government health expenditure as percentage of the gross domestic product, Gini index, and gross domestic product at constant 2015 US$ for the period 2000-2019. The method applies a panel model for North America and its three countries: Canada, Mexico and The United States. North America diversity treatment among countries is dealt with fixed and random effects. Results: North America inhabitants health status are negatively influenced by an increasing income inequality, and a reduction on economic growth. The country that expends more in health care is The United States, follow by Canada and Mexico. The biggest reduction on life expectancy from an increase in income inequality is in The United States, followed by Canada and Mexico. Life expectancy increases when Canada and The United States experience economic growth. The countries with inarticulate health policy responses to an increase in income inequality are first Mexico followed by The United States. Conclusions: In North America and its countries an increasing income inequality reduces life expectancy, and government health expenditure. Economic growth benefits life expectancy and government health expenditure. Health status seems to improve with a reduction in income inequality and a greater public health expenditure. Therefore, policies that increases income inequality and reduces public health expenditure seems to be advocates of a reduction: in health status, population welfare and economic growth.

Resumen: Objetivo: Un análisis cuantitativo de las relaciones entre salud, crecimiento económico e índice de Gini en América del Norte y sus países se realiza mediante un modelo de panel. El estado de salud está representado por la esperanza de vida y los sistemas de salud pública por el gasto público en salud. El crecimiento económico es el cambio porcentual del producto interno bruto. La desigualdad de ingresos se representa con el índice de Gini. Materiales y método: Los materiales consisten en datos anuales de esperanza de vida, gasto público en salud como porcentaje del producto interno bruto, índice de Gini y producto interno bruto en dólares estadounidenses constantes de 2015 para el período 2000-2019. El método consiste en aplicar un modelo de panel para América del Norte y sus tres países: Canadá, México y Estados Unidos. El tratamiento de la diversidad entre los países de América del Norte es abordada con efectos fijos y aleatorios. Resultados: El estado de salud de los habitantes de América del Norte se ve influenciado negativamente por la creciente desigualdad de ingresos y la reducción del crecimiento económico. El país que más gasta en salud es los Estados Unidos, seguido de Canadá y México. La mayor reducción en la esperanza de vida debido a un aumento en la desigualdad de ingresos se encuentra en los Estados Unidos, seguido de Canadá y México. La esperanza de vida aumenta cuando Canadá y Estados Unidos experimentan crecimiento económico. Los países con respuestas de política de salud desarticuladas ante un aumento en la desigualdad de ingresos son primero México seguido de Estados Unidos. Conclusiones: Las políticas que aumentan la desigualdad de ingresos y reducen el gasto público en salud parecen ser promotoras de una reducción: en el estado de salud, el bienestar de la población, y el crecimiento económico.

Aging influence on pulmonary and systemic inflammation and neural metabolomics arising from pulmonary multi-walled carbon nanotube exposure in apolipoprotein E-deficient and C57BL/6 female mice.

OBJECTIVE: Environmental exposures exacerbate age-related pathologies, such as cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Nanoparticulates, and specifically carbon nanomaterials, are a fast-growing contributor to the category of inhalable pollutants, whose risks to health are only now being unraveled. The current study assessed the exacerbating effect of age on multiwalled-carbon nanotube (MWCNT) exposure in young and old C57BL/6 and ApoE-/- mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Female C57BL/6 and apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE-/-) mice, aged 8 weeks and 15 months, were exposed to 0 or 40 µg MWCNT via oropharyngeal aspiration. Pulmonary inflammation, inflammatory bioactivity of serum, and neurometabolic changes were assessed at 24 h post-exposure. RESULTS: Pulmonary neutrophil infiltration was induced by MWCNT in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in both C57BL/6 and ApoE-/-. Macrophage counts decreased with MWCNT exposure in ApoE-/- mice but were unaffected by exposure in C57BL/6 mice. Older mice appeared to have greater MWCNT-induced total protein in lavage fluid. BALF cytokines and chemokines were elevated with MWCNT exposure, but CCL2, CXCL1, and CXCL10 showed reduced responses to MWCNT in older mice. However, no significant serum inflammatory bioactivity was detected. Cerebellar metabolic changes in response to MWCNT were modest, but age and strain significantly influenced metabolite profiles assessed. ApoE-/- mice and older mice exhibited less robust metabolite changes in response to exposure, suggesting a reduced health reserve. CONCLUSIONS: Age influences the pulmonary and neurological responses to short-term MWCNT exposure. However, with only the model of moderate aging (15 months) in this study, the responses appeared modest compared to inhaled toxicant impacts in more advanced aging models.

Differential Role of Type 2 Diabetes as a Risk Factor for Tuberculosis in the Elderly versus Younger Adults.

The elderly are understudied despite their high risk of tuberculosis (TB). We sought to identify factors underlying the lack of an association between TB and type 2 diabetes (T2D) in the elderly, but not adults. We conducted a case-control study in elderly (≥65 years old; ELD) vs. younger adults (young/middle-aged adults (18-44/45-64 years old; YA|MAA) stratified by TB and T2D, using a research study population (n = 1160) and TB surveillance data (n = 8783). In the research study population the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of TB in T2D was highest in young adults (AOR 6.48) but waned with age becoming non-significant in the elderly. Findings were validated using TB surveillance data. T2D in the elderly (vs. T2D in younger individuals) was characterized by better glucose control (e.g., lower hyperglycemia or HbA1c), lower insulin resistance, more sulphonylureas use, and features of less inflammation (e.g., lower obesity, neutrophils, platelets, anti-inflammatory use). We posit that differences underlying glucose dysregulation and inflammation in elderly vs. younger adults with T2D, contribute to their differential association with TB. Studies in the elderly provide valuable insights into TB-T2D pathogenesis, e.g., here we identified insulin resistance as a novel candidate mechanism by which T2D may increase active TB risk.

Pulmonary delivery of the broad-spectrum matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor marimastat diminishes multiwalled carbon nanotube-induced circulating bioactivity without reducing pulmonary inflammation.

BACKGROUND: Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) are an increasingly utilized engineered nanomaterial that pose the potential for significant risk of exposure-related health outcomes. The mechanism(s) underlying MWCNT-induced toxicity to extrapulmonary sites are still being defined. MWCNT-induced serum-borne bioactivity appears to dysregulate systemic endothelial cell function. The serum compositional changes after MWCNT exposure have been identified as a surge of fragmented endogenous peptides, likely derived from matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity. In the present study, we utilize a broad-spectrum MMP inhibitor, Marimastat, along with a previously described oropharyngeal aspiration model of MWCNT administration to investigate the role of MMPs in MWCNT-derived serum peptide generation and endothelial bioactivity. RESULTS: C57BL/6 mice were treated with Marimastat or vehicle by oropharyngeal aspiration 1 h prior to MWCNT treatment. Pulmonary neutrophil infiltration and total bronchoalveolar lavage fluid protein increased independent of MMP blockade. The lung cytokine profile similarly increased following MWCNT exposure for major inflammatory markers (IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α), with minimal impact from MMP inhibition. However, serum peptidomic analysis revealed differential peptide compositional profiles, with MMP blockade abrogating MWCNT-derived serum peptide fragments. The serum, in turn, exhibited differential potency in terms of inflammatory bioactivity when incubated with primary murine cerebrovascular endothelial cells. Serum from MWCNT-treated mice led to inflammatory responses in endothelial cells that were significantly blunted with serum from Marimastat-treated mice. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, MWCNT exposure induced pulmonary inflammation that was largely independent of MMP activity but generated circulating bioactive peptides through predominantly MMP-dependent pathways. This MWCNT-induced lung-derived bioactivity caused pathological consequences of endothelial inflammation and barrier disruption.

Early Gestational Exposure to Inhaled Ozone Impairs Maternal Uterine Artery and Cardiac Function.

Exposure to air pollutants such as ozone (O3) is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, including higher incidence of gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, and peripartum cardiomyopathy; however, the underlying mechanisms of this association remain unclear. We hypothesized that O3 exposures during early placental formation would lead to more adverse cardiovascular effects at term for exposed dams, as compared with late-term exposures. Pregnant Sprague Dawley rats were exposed (4 h) to either filtered air (FA) or O3 (0.3 or 1.0 ppm) at either gestational day (GD)10 or GD20, with longitudinal functional assessments and molecular endpoints conducted at term. Exposure at GD10 led to placental transcriptional changes at term that were consistent with markers in human preeclampsia, including reduced mmp10 and increased cd36, fzd1, and col1a1. O3 exposure, at both early and late gestation, induced a significant increase in maternal circulating soluble FMS-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1), a known driver of preeclampsia. Otherwise, exposure to 0.3 ppm O3 at GD10 led to several late-stage cardiovascular outcomes in dams that were not evident in GD20-exposed dams, including elevated uterine artery resistance index and reduced cardiac output and stroke volume. GD10 O3 exposure proteomic profile in maternal hearts characterized by a reduction in proteins with essential roles in metabolism and mitochondrial function, whereas phosphoproteomic changes were consistent with pathways involved in cardiomyopathic responses. Thus, the developing placenta is an indirect target of inhaled O3 and systemic maternal cardiovascular abnormalities may be induced by O3 exposure at a specific window of gestation.

[Healthcare equity and chronic renal failure in Mexico: an analysis for the case of women]. / Análisis de aspectos relacionados con la equidad en salud y la insuficiencia renal crónica para el caso de la mujer en México.

INTRODUCTION: Kidney chronic disease patients are being increasingly identified. The disability generated by this disease must consider physical and social effects given the lack of attention and the socioeconomic conditions that generate it. Therefore, access to services to treat kidney chronic disease is determined by social and biological factors. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effect of the social components on kidney chronic disease in a sector of the Mexican population that suffers from the disease, particularly in the case of women. METHODS: The Poisson generalized linear model was applied, selecting the variables related to equity in the administration of health services. Statistical data reported by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography of Mexico in the period 2009-2015 in women was taken. The variables considered were the level of schooling, occupation, access to health, geographical region and habitable zone, as well as stage of life. RESULTS: The highest incidence rate for kidney chronic disease is attributed to the intermediate adult woman, who works in informal services legally excluded from institutional health coverage, has low schooling and lives in a rural area of the Center zone, while the young adult woman that lives in an urban metropolis in the North zone presents lowest incidence profile. CONCLUSIONS: The economic determinants derived from people’s activities, as well as their age, the educational level and the environment in which they live influence both the acquisition of the disease and the possibilities of managing it successfully.

INTRODUCCIÓN: La insuficiencia renal crónica es una enfermedad que se encuentra en un estado de constante crecimiento. La discapacidad que genera esta enfermedad debe considerar efectos físicos y sociales, dada la falta de atención y a las condiciones socioeconómicas que la generan. Por lo tanto, el acceso a los servicios para tratar la insuficiencia renal crónica está condicionado a factores de tipo social y de tipo biológico. OBJETIVO: Analizar el efecto de los componentes sociales en la insuficiencia renal crónica en un sector de la población de México que padece la enfermedad, en particular para el caso de la mujer. MÉTODOS: Se aplicó el modelo lineal generalizado de Poisson, seleccionando las variables relacionadas con la equidad en la aplicación de los servicios de salud. Se tomaron datos estadísticos reportados en mujeres por el Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía de México en el periodo 2009-2015. Las variables consideradas fueron grado de escolaridad, ocupación, acceso a la salud, región geográfica y zona habitable, así como le etapa de vida. RESULTADOS: La mayor tasa de incidencia para la insuficiencia renal crónica corresponde a la mujer adulta intermedia, que trabaja en servicios informales excluidos legalmente de la cobertura institucional de salud, tiene baja escolaridad y vive en un área rural de la zona centro; mientras que la mujer adulta joven que vive en una metrópoli urbana de la zona norte presenta el perfil de menor incidencia. CONCLUSIONES: Los determinantes económicos derivados de la actividad de las personas, así como la edad, el nivel educativo y el entorno en el que habitan, influyen tanto en el padecimiento de la enfermedad como en las posibilidades de enfrentarla con éxito.

Acceso con equidad en los servicios de salud en México un enfoque institucional / Equitable access to health services in Mexico, an institutional approach / Acesso equitativo aos serviços de saúde no México, uma abordagem institucional / Acces équitable aux services de santé au Mexique, une approche institutionnelle

Resumen Objetivo: Analizar el acceso a los servicios de salud con equidad para el caso de México desde un enfoque institucional reflejado en la esperanza de vida al nacer. Materiales y métodos: Es un estudio econométrico utilizando la metodología panel con variables instrumentales; para ello se consideraron cinco variables para determinar su influencia, consideradas institucionales en acceso con equidad en México. Resultados: Se encontró que la inequidad de acceso a los servicios de salud, reflejada en los años de vida al nacer, está determinada de manera negativa por el analfabetismo, la pobreza, la falta de incorporación a una institución de salud, mientras que la educación que logra una persona en su sociedad, impacta de manera positiva en la esperanza de vida de las personas, aumentando su funcionamiento; estas variables están relacionadas de manera directa con las instituciones estatales. Conclusión: Dado el arreglo institucional en el México dual, las instituciones influyen significativamente en la esperanza de vida al nacer, en función de la inserción en el mercado laboral, reconociendo solo a los del sector formal y excluyendo a los del informal. Por lo tanto, la inequidad está en función del arreglo institucional que emana de la Constitución y que se materializa en la forma de organización del sistema de salud, dado que solo ofrece los servicios de salud al grupo minoritario -formal - creando una estructura ad hoc.

Abstract Objective: To analyze the access to health Services with equity in the case of México from an institutional approach showed in life expectancy at birth. Materials and methods: It is an econometric model using the Panel methodology with instrumental variables, for this purpose five variables were considered to determine the influence of the institutional variables considered with equity access in Mexico. Results: It was found that the inequity of access to health services in the years of life at birth is determined in a negative way by illiteracy, poverty, the lack of coverage by a health institution, while the education gets positively impact on the life expectancy at birth, increasing their performance, these variables are related directly with the State institutions. Conclusion: A Given the institutional arrangement in the dual Mexican institutions significantly influence life expectancy at birth based on the labor market recognizing only to those in the formal sector and excluding those in the informal sector. Inequality is therefore based on the institutional arrangement that emanates from the Constitution and the Organization of given health system that only provides health services to the minority group - formal - creating a structure ad hoc.

Resumo Objectivo: Analise o acesso aos serviços de saúde com equidade no caso do México, de uma abordagem institucional refletida na expectativa de vida ao nascer. Materiais e métodos: É um estudo da metodologia econométrica utilizando o painel com variável instrumental, por nós considerado cinco variáveis para determinar a influência das variáveis institucionais considerados no acesso com equidade no México. Resultados: Verificou-se que a desigualdade de acesso aos serviços de saúde nos anos de vida ao nascer é determinada de forma negativa pelo analfabetismo, pobreza, a falta de um complemento para uma instituição de saúde, enquanto a educação que uma pessoa na sua empresa impacta positivamente sobre a expectativa de vida das pessoas, aumentando o seu desempenho, essas variáveis estão relacionadas diretamente com as instituições do estado. Conclusão: Tendo em conta o arranjo institucional no México dual instituições influenciam significativamente a expectativa de vida ao nascer com base no mercado de trabalho, reconhecendo apenas para aqueles no sector formal e excluindo aqueles no sector informal. Desigualdade se baseia, portanto, o arranjo institucional que emana da constituição e a organização de dado sistema de saúde que só fornece serviçõs de saúde para o grupo minoritário, criando uma estrutura ad hoc.

Résumé Objectif: Analyser, dans le cas du Mexique et selon une approche institutionnelle, l'équité en relation a l'acces aux services de santé reflétée dans l'espérance de vie à la naissance. Matériaux et méthodes: l'étude a été réalisée avec une méthode économétrique de données de panel pour déterminer l'influence de cinq variables instrumentales, considérées institutionnelles, sur l'acces équitable aux services de santé au Mexique. Résultats: Il a été constaté une iniquité d'acces aux services de santé, reflétée en années d'espérance de vie a la naissance. Celle-ci est déterminée négativement par l'analphabétisme, la pauvreté et le manque d'affiliation a un service de santé, tandis que l'éducation obtenue dans la société impacte de fa9on positive sur l'espérance de vie en augmentant la fonctionnalité. Ces variables sont liées directement aux institutions étatiques. Conclusion: Compte tenu du dispositif institutionnel du Mexique, ou coexistent deux réalités, les institutions influencent significativement l'espérance de vie à la naissance en fonction de l'insertion dans le marché du travail. Le secteur formel est le seul reconnu, le secteur informel est donc exclut. Par conséquent, l'inégalité dépend du dispositif institutionnel émanant de la Constitution et matérialisé dans l'organisation d'un systeme de santé qui fournit seulement ses services au groupe minoritaire appartenant au marché du travail formel, a travers une structure ad hoc.

Are there changes in the nutritional status of children of Oportunidades families in rural Chiapas, Mexico? A cohort prospective study.

BACKGROUND: In Mexico, despite that the fact that several social programs have been implemented, chronic undernutrition is still a public health problem affecting 1.5 million children of <5 years. Chiapas ranks first in underweight and stunting at national level with a stunting prevalence of 31.4 % whereas for its rural population is 44.2 %. The purpose of this paper is to determine if the nutritional status of a cohort of children living in poor rural communities under Oportunidades has changed. We were interested in assessing the nutrition evolution of the children who were initially diagnosed as stunted and of those who were diagnosed as normal. Oportunidades is an anti-poverty program of the Mexican government consisting mainly in monetary transfers to the families living in alimentary poverty. METHODS: A 9-year cohort prospective study was conducted with nutritional evaluations of 222 children. Anthropometric indices were constructed from measurements of weight, height, and age of the children whose nutritional status was classified following WHO standards. RESULTS: The results showed that although these children were Oportunidades beneficiaries for 9 years and their families improved their living conditions, children still had a high prevalence of stunting (40.1 %) and 69.6 % had not recovered yet. Children who were initially diagnosed with normal nutritional status and became stunted 2 years later had a higher risk (relative risk (RR) 5.69, 2.95-10.96) of continuing stunted at school age and adolescence. CONCLUSIONS: Oportunidades has not impacted, as expected, the nutritional status of the study population. These findings pose the question: Why has not the nutritional status of children improved, although the living conditions of their families have significantly improved? This might be the result of an adaptation process achieved through a decrease of growth velocity. It is important to make efforts to watch the growth of the children during their first 3 years of age, to focus on improving the diet of women at fertile age and pay special attention to environmental conditions to break the vicious cycle of malnutrition.

Equilibrio Ácido-Base: el mejor enfoque clínico / Acid-base equilibrium: The best clinical approach

Acid-base balance disorders can be found in a primary or secondary form in patients with a disease process such as Diabetes Mellitus or acute renal failure, among others. The objective of this article is to explain and guide the correlation ship between the clinical findings in the patient and the parameters of arterial blood gases in a simple and precise manner, in order to make the correct acid-base balance diagnosis and adequate therapeutic interventions. A non-systematic review of the scientific literature was conducted through a search in the PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, and OvidSP databases. The conclusion was that base excess or deficit in arterial blood gases is a useful tool which along with the clinical history, pH, and partial pressure of CO2, provides an accurate estimate of the metabolic component of the acid-base balance.

Las alteraciones del Equilibrio Ácido-Base se pueden presentar en pacientes de forma primaria o secundaria a un proceso patológico como la Diabetes Mellitus o la falla renal entre otros. El objetivo es explicar y orientar la correlación clínica del paciente con los parámetros de los gases arteriales de manera sencilla y precisa, para realizar un diagnóstico de las alteraciones del Equilibrio Ácido-Base correcto, que permita efectuar intervenciones terapéuticas adecuadas y oportunas. Se realizó una revisión no sistemática de la literatura científica en la cual se consultaron las siguientes bases de datos: PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus y OvidSP en busca de artículos relevantes. Se concluyó que el exceso o déficit de base es una herramienta útil de los gases arteriales, que aunada a la historia clínica, el pH y la presión parcial de CO2 estima de forma muy precisa el componente metabólico del Equilibrio Ácido-Base.

The making of a pest: the evolution of a fruit-penetrating ovipositor in Drosophila suzukii and related species.

Evolutionary innovation can allow a species access to a new ecological niche, potentially reducing competition with closely related species. While the vast majority of Drosophila flies feed on rotting fruit and other decaying matter, and are harmless to human activity, Drosophila suzukii, which has a morphologically modified ovipositor, is capable of colonizing live fruit that is still in the process of ripening, causing massive agricultural damage. Here, we conducted the first comparative analysis of this species and its close relatives, analysing both ovipositor structure and fruit susceptibility. We found that the ovipositor of the species most closely related to D. suzukii, Drosophila subpulchrella, has a similar number of enlarged, evolutionarily derived bristles, but a notably different overall shape. Like D. suzukii, D. subpulchrella flies are capable of puncturing the skin of raspberries and cherries, but we found no evidence that they could penetrate the thicker skin of two varieties of grapes. More distantly related species, one of which has previously been mistaken for D. suzukii, have blunt ovipositors with small bristles. While they did not penetrate fruit skin in any of the assays, they readily colonized fruit interiors where the skin was broken. Our results suggest that considering evolutionary context may be beneficial to the management of invasive species.

Características de los pacientes adultos con influenza A (H1N1) hospitalizados en un servicio de emergencia de un hospital nacional, en 2009 / Characteristics of adult patients with influenza A (H1N1) infection admitted to the emergency room in a national hospital, in 2009

Objetivo. Determinar las características clínicas de los pacientes con diagnóstico de influenza A (H1N1). Material y métodos. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo y retrospectivo en los pacientes hospitalizados con sospecha de infección por influenza A (H1N1) en el Servicio de Emergencia del Hospital Nacional Cayetano Heredia (HNCH) de Lima, de mayo a agosto de 2009. La información se tomó de las historias clínicas de los pacientes a su ingreso y se incluyó a pacientes mayores de 14 años con RT-PCR (reacción en cadena de polimerasa en tiempo real) por hisopado nasofaríngeo positivos para influenza A (H1N1). Resultados. De 92 pacientes hospitalizados por sospecha de infección por influenza A (H1N1), 62 fueron positivos. De estos, 40 pacientes fueron varones, la edad promedio fue 35,29 más menos 16,8 años, el tiempo promedio de enfermedad y de hospitalización fueron 5,8 más menos 3,8 y 7,7 más menos 5,7 días, respectivamente. Las principales condiciones médicas asociadas fueron asma, obesidad y gestación. Los síntomas más frecuentes fueron fiebre, tos y disnea; asimismo, se halló linfopenia, trombocitosis y aumento de la actividad sérica de lactato deshidrogenasa (DHL). En la radiografía de tórax, el patrón intersticial fue predominante. Sesenta y un pacientes recibieron oseltamivir y cobertura antibiótica; nueve pacientes desarrollaron síndrome de distrés respiratorio agudo (SDRA), de los cuales cinco fallecieron. Conclusión. Influenza A (H1N1) se presentó con más frecuencia en pacientes adultos jóvenes, con asma como condición médica asociada y un patrón intersticial en la radiografía del tórax.

Objective. To determine the clinical characteristics of patients with Influenza A (H1N1) infection admitted to a general hospital. Methods. A descriptive and retrospective study was carried out in patients with suspected Influenza A (H1N1) infection admitted to the emergency room (ER) in Cayetano Heredia National Hospital, Lima, from May to August 2009. A review of clinical records of these patients more and equal than 14 year-old and with a positive nasopharyngeal swabs (rRT)-PCR for influenza A (H1N1) virus was done. Results. A total of 92 patients were hospitalized. Among them, 62 had a positive (rRT)-PCR. Forty patients were male and mean age was 35,2 more less 16,8 year-old. Mean time of illness and hospital stay were 5,8 more less 3,8 and 7,7 more less 5,7 days, respectively. The main associated clinical conditions were asthma, obesity and pregnancy. The most common symptoms were fever, cough and dyspnea. Lymphopenia, thrombocytosis and increased serum activity of LDH were founded. On chest x-ray, interstitial pattern was the most common finding. All of patients received antibiotics and 61 patients were treated with oseltamivir. Nine patients who developed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) were transferred to intensive care unit (ICU), and five of them died. Conclusion. Influenza A (H1N1) infection was common in young males, with asthma as a comorbid condition, and an interstitial pattern on chest film.

Relación del aporte de oxígeno y la supervivencia del paciente con shock en UCI / Relation of the constribution of oxygen and the survival of the patient with shock in UCI

Introducción: establecer la repercusión en la supervivencia del pacientecríticamente enfermo con diagnóstico de shock y el diagnóstico del equilibrioácido-base presentes en los gases sanguíneos de ingreso a la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos.Métodos: estudio tipo cohorte concurrente. Ámbito: una Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos general. Pacientes: pacientes con diagnóstico de shock a los que se les toma gases sanguíneos al ingreso de la Unidad y se monitorean los gases a través del tiempo hasta el egreso del paciente. Variables de interés: el desenlace se definió como la supervivencia de los pacientes en función del tiempo. También se monitorizaron en función del tiempo variables del equilibrio ácido-base, función respiratoria, función ventilatoria y electrolitos en sangre.Resultados: el modelo de regresión de Cox mostró que los pacientes hombres que ingresan a la unidad con diagnóstico de shock tienen un riesgo 2.78 veces mayor de fallecer que las mujeres. Las variables FiO2 y THbc funcionan como predictivas de mortalidad y las variables PAO2, PCO2 y PO2 son factores protectores de mortalidad.Conclusión: el oportuno diagnóstico del equilibrio ácido-base en un pacientecon shock que ingresa a una UCI, y la intervención inmediata de las variables de porte de oxígeno (PAO2, FiO2, THBc, PCO2 y PO2) cambiarán favorablemente el pronóstico y la supervivencia de los pacientes.

Knowledge network for medical technology management in Mexico.

OBJECTIVES: The role of biomedical engineers (BMEs) has changed widely over the years, from managing a group of technicians to the planning of large installations and the management of medical technology countrywide. As the technology has advanced, the competence of BMEs has been challenged because it is no longer possible to be an expert in every component of the technology involved in running a hospital. Our approach has been to form a network of professionals that are experts in different fields related to medical technology, where work is coordinated to provide high quality services at the planning and execution stages of projects related to medical technology. METHODS: A study of the procedures involved in the procurement of medical technology has been carried out over the years. These experiences have been compared with several case studies where the approach to problem solving in this area has been multidisciplinary. Planning and execution phases of projects involving medical technology management have been identified. RESULTS: After several instances of collaboration among experts from different fields, a network for management of healthcare technology has been formed at our institution that incorporates the experience from different departments that were dealing separately with projects involving medical technology. CONCLUSIONS: This network has led us to propose this approach to solve medical technology management projects, where the strengths of each subgroup complement each other. This structure will lead to a more integrated approach to healthcare technology management and will ensure higher quality solutions.

HTLV-I infection is not associated with a higher risk of death in Peruvian HIV-infected patients.

Limited and contradictory information exists regarding the prognosis of HIV/HTLV-I co-infection. Our goal was to estimate the effect of HTLV-I infection on mortality in HIV-infected patients at a HIV reference center in Peru. We studied a retrospective cohort of HIV-infected patients, who were exposed or unexposed to HTLV-I. Exposed patients were Western Blot (WB) positive for both retroviruses. Unexposed patients were WB positive for HIV, and had least one negative EIA for HTLV-I. These were selected among patients who entered our Program immediately before and after each exposed patient, between January 1990 and June 2004. Survival time was considered between the diagnosis of exposure to HTLV-I and death or censoring. Confounding variables were age, gender, baseline HIV clinical stage, baseline CD4+ T cell count, and antiretroviral therapy. We studied 50 exposed, and 100 unexposed patients. Exposed patients had a shorter survival compared to unexposed patients [median survival: 47 months (95% CI: 17-77) vs. 85 months (95% CI: 70-100), unadjusted p = 0.06]. Exposed patients had a higher rate of mortality compared to unexposed patients (HIV/HTLV-I (24/50 [48%]) vs. HIV only (37/100 [37%]), univariable p = 0.2]. HTLV-I exposure was not associated to a higher risk of death in the adjusted analysis: HR: 1.2 (0.4-3.5). AIDS clinical stage and lack of antiretroviral therapy were associated to a higher risk of dying. In conclusions, HTLV-I infection was not associated with a higher risk of death in Peruvian HIV-infected patients. Advanced HIV infection and lack of antiretroviral therapy may explain the excess of mortality in this population.

HTLV- I infection is not associated with a higher risk of death in peruvian HIV-infected patients / A infecção pelo HTLV- I não está associada a maior risco de morte em pacientes peruanos infectados pelo HIV

Limited and contradictory information exists regarding the prognosis of HIV/HTLV-I co-infection. Our goal was to estimate the effect of HTLV-I infection on mortality in HIV-infected patients at a HIV reference center in Peru. We studied a retrospective cohort of HIV-infected patients, who were exposed or unexposed to HTLV-I. Exposed patients were Western Blot (WB) positive for both retroviruses. Unexposed patients were WB positive for HIV, and had least one negative EIA for HTLV-I. These were selected among patients who entered our Program immediately before and after each exposed patient, between January 1990 and June 2004. Survival time was considered between the diagnosis of exposure to HTLV-I and death or censoring. Confounding variables were age, gender, baseline HIV clinical stage, baseline CD4+ T cell count, and antiretroviral therapy. We studied 50 exposed, and 100 unexposed patients. Exposed patients had a shorter survival compared to unexposed patients [median survival: 47 months (95 percent CI: 17-77) vs. 85 months (95 percent CI: 70-100), unadjusted p = 0.06]. Exposed patients had a higher rate of mortality compared to unexposed patients (HIV/HTLV-I (24/50 [48 percent]) vs. HIV only (37/100 [37 percent]), univariable p = 0.2]. HTLV-I exposure was not associated to a higher risk of death in the adjusted analysis: HR: 1.2 (0.4-3.5). AIDS clinical stage and lack of antiretroviral therapy were associated to a higher risk of dying. In conclusions, HTLV-I infection was not associated with a higher risk of death in Peruvian HIV-infected patients. Advanced HIV infection and lack of antiretroviral therapy may explain the excess of mortality in this population.

Existe informação limitada e contraditória sobre o prognóstico da co-infecção pelo Vírus da Imunodeficiência Humana Tipo 1 (HIV-1) e Vírus Linfotrópico de Células T Humanas Tipo I (HTLV-I). Nosso objetivo foi estimar o efeito da infecção pelo HTLV-I na mortalidade de pacientes infectados pelo HIV-1 em Centro de Referência de HIV no Peru. Trata-se de uma coorte retrospectiva de pacientes infectados pelo HIV, expostos ou não expostos ao HTLV-I. Os pacientes expostos tiveram resultados positivos no Western Blot (WB) para ambos retrovírus. Os pacientes não expostos tiveram resultados positivos para o HIV-1 e pelo menos um teste de EIA negativo para o HTLV-I. Esses pacientes foram selecionados entre aqueles que entraram no nosso Programa imediatamente antes ou depois de cada paciente exposto, no período de janeiro de 1990 a junho de 2004. O tempo de sobrevida foi considerado entre o diagnóstico da exposição ao HTLV-I e a morte. As variáveis de confusão foram: idade, gênero, estágio clínico basal da infecção pelo HIV-1, contagem basal de células CD4, e terapia anti-retroviral. Estudamos 50 pacientes expostos e 100 não expostos. Os pacientes expostos tiveram menor sobrevida quando comparados aos não expostos [mediana de sobrevida: 47 meses (95 por cento IC: 17-77) versus 85 meses (70-100), p não ajustado < 0.06]. Os pacientes expostos tiveram maior risco de morte quando comparados aos não expostos (HIV-1/HTLV-I (24/50 [48 por cento]) versus HIV-1 só (37/100 [37 por cento]) p univariado = 0.2). A exposição ao HTLV-I não foi associada a maior risco de morte na análise ajustada: HR: 1.2 (0.4-3.5). O estágio clínico da infecção pelo HIV-1 e a ausência de terapia anti-retroviral foram associados a maior risco de morte. Em conclusão, a infecção pelo HTLV-I não foi associada a maior risco de morte em pacientes peruanos infectados pelo HIV-1. A infecção avançada pelo HIV-1 e a falta de terapia anti-retroviral podem explicar o excesso de mortalidade ...

[Competition and prices in the Mexican pharmaceutical market]. / Competencia y precios en el mercado farmacéutico mexicano.

The forms of market competition define prices. The pharmaceutical market contains submarkets with different levels of competition; on the one hand are the innovating products with patents, and on the other, generic products with or without trade names. Innovating medicines generally have monopolistic prices, but when the patents expire prices drop because of competition from therapeutic alternatives. The trade name makes it easier to maintain monopolistic prices. In Mexico, medicine prices in the private market are high--according to aggregated estimates and prices for specific medicines--which reflect the limitations of pharmaceutical market competition and the power of the trade name. The public segment enjoys competitive prices using the WHO strategy for essential medicines on the basis of the Essential List.

Competencia y precios en el mercado farmacéutico mexicano / Competition and prices in the Mexican pharmaceutical market

Las formas que asume la competencia en el mercado definen el nivel de precios. El mercado farmacéutico contiene submercados con diferente grado de competencia; por un lado existen productos innovadores con patente y, por el otro, genéricos con marca comercial o sin ella. Por lo general, los medicamentos innovadores con patente tienen precios monopólicos, pero a su vencimiento éstos bajan al enfrentar la competencia de alternativas terapéuticas. La marca permite conservar las rentas económicas del monopolio. En México los precios de los medicamentos en el mercado privado son elevados, de acuerdo con las estimaciones agregadas y para medicamentos específicos, lo cual refleja las limitaciones de la competencia en el mercado y el poder de la marca comercial. En el segmento público se obtienen precios competitivos con la estrategia de los medicamentos esenciales de la Organización Mundial de la Salud, con base en el listado de productos del Cuadro Básico.

The forms of market competition define prices. The pharmaceutical market contains submarkets with different levels of competition; on the one hand are the innovating products with patents, and on the other, generic products with or without trade names. Innovating medicines generally have monopolistic prices, but when the patents expire prices drop because of competition from therapeutic alternatives. The trade name makes it easier to maintain monopolistic prices. In Mexico, medicine prices in the private market are high -according to aggregated estimates and prices for specific medicines- which reflect the limitations of pharmaceutical market competition and the power of the trade name. The public segment enjoys competitive prices using the WHO strategy for essential medicines on the basis of the Essential List.

Tonatiuh II: assisting manipulator for laparoscopic surgery.

In this article we show the design of the Tonatiuh II robotic manipulator. This robotic assistant has an original electromechanical configuration and respects the laparoscope center of insertion as an invariant point for navigation in the work space. The manipulator went through several stages before reaching its final version. Surgical trials have shown the robot to be useful in the operating room and as a training assistant in specialty microsurgery.

Brief report: effectiveness of combination antiretroviral therapy on survival and opportunistic infections in a developing world setting: an observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The prolonged effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in a developing country is not well established. METHODS: An observational database was established at the HIV clinic of the Almenara Hospital in Lima, Peru in 1996. All 564 initially antiretroviral-naive HIV-infected persons (mean CD4 count of 91 cells/mm3) who received combination ART were followed over time. RESULTS: The overall survival rate was 96% at year 2, 94% at year 4, and 91% at year 5. Among persons who initiated therapy with CD4 counts <100 cells/mm3, the overall survival rate at 3 years was 95%. Opportunistic infections while on ART occurred in 20% of persons. Patients who received 2 reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors plus a protease inhibitor had slightly better survival rates and less opportunistic disease in the first year of therapy as compared with those receiving 2 RT inhibitors and a nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor or 3 RT inhibitors. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the long-term effectiveness of ART in a developing country urban setting. It provides evidence of the importance of continuing global financing initiatives to provide widespread HIV therapy for countries in the developing world.