Background: Health care–associated infections (HAIs) are a public health problem that increase health care costs. This article aimed to systematically review the literature and meta-analyze studies investigating risk factors (RFs) independently associated with HAIs in hospitalized adults. Methods: Electronic databases (MEDLINE, Embase, and LILACS) were searched to identify studies from 2009-2016. Pooled risk ratios (RRs) or odds ratios (ORs) or mean differences (MDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated and compared across the groups. This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. Results: Of 867 studies, 65 met the criteria for review, and the data of 18 were summarized in the meta-analysis. The major RFs independently associated with HAIs were diabetes mellitus (RR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.27-2.44), immunosuppression (RR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.04-1.47), body temperature (MD, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.41-0.83), surgery time in minutes (MD, 34.53; 95% CI, 22.17-46.89), reoperation (RR, 7.94; 95% CI, 5.49-11.48), cephalosporin exposure (RR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.30-2.42), days of exposure to central venous catheter (MD, 5.20; 95% CI, 4.91-5.48), intensive care unit (ICU) admission (RR, 3.76; 95% CI, 1.79-7.92), ICU stay in days (MD, 21.30; 95% CI, 19.81-22.79), and mechanical ventilation (OR, 12.95; 95% CI, 6.28-26.73). Conclusions: Identifying RFs that contribute to develop HAIs may support the implementation of strategies for their prevention, therefore maximizing patient safety.

Background: Physicians face intrinsic tensions when practicing medicine; therefore, extrinsic factors that could affect distress, such as payment methods, need to be assessed. The study objectives were to: compare levels of distress by payment method, identify factors predicting distress in a two-level regression model, and explore interactions between predictors of distress and payment method. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among physicians in the Saskatoon Health Region, Saskatchewan. Physicians completed a pre-tested questionnaire about their distress. Analysis of variance was used to compare distress levels of physicians paid by fee-for-service (FFS), alternative payment plans (APPs), and blended methods. A mixed linear regression model was built to predict distress with geographical area of practice as the random component. Demographics, workload, complexity of patients, payment method, career satisfaction, and practice profile were the independent variables. The interactions between payment method and predictors of daily distress were evaluated. Results: A total of 382 physicians participated. Response bias was tested and found to be negligible. In the multivariable analysis, payment method was a predictor of distress which interacted with the proportion of complex cases. Lower levels of distress were found among physicians who had more than 75% of patients with complex conditions and were paid by APPs, compared to those paid by FFS and blended methods. Career satisfaction was found to be an important predictor. Nine percent of the outcome variation was explained by geographic area of practice. Conclusions: Payment method is a predictor of distress when adjusting by confounders, interacting with proportion of complex cases. APPs may promote provision of care for patients with complex conditions. Career satisfaction can be considered a protective indicator of distress. Practice environment influences distress experienced by physicians.

Hydrogenosomes and mitosomes represent remarkable mitochondrial adaptations in the anaerobic parasitic protists such as Trichomonas vaginalis and Giardia intestinalis, respectively. In order to provide a tool to study these organelles in the live cells, the HaloTag was fused to G. intestinalis IscU and T. vaginalis frataxin and expressed in the mitosomes and hydrogenosomes, respectively. The incubation of the parasites with the fluorescent Halo-ligand resulted in highly specific organellar labeling, allowing live imaging of the organelles. With the array of available ligands the HaloTag technology offers a new tool to study the dynamics of mitochondria-related compartments as well as other cellular components in these intriguing unicellular eukaryotes.

To improve cardiovascular implant success, metal-based stents are designated to modulate endothelial cells adhesion and migration in order to prevent restenosis and late thrombosis diseases. Biomimetic coatings with extra-cellular matrix adhesive biomolecules onto stents surfaces are a strategy to recover a healthy endothelium. However, the appropriate bioactive sequences to selective promote growth of endothelium and the biomolecules surface immobilization strategy remains to be elucidated. In this study, biofunctionalization of cobalt chromium, CoCr, alloy surfaces with elastin-like recombinamers, ELR, genetically modified with an REDV sequence, was performed to enhance metal surfaces endothelialization. Moreover, physical adsorption and covalent bonding were used as biomolecules binding strategies onto CoCr alloy. Surfaces were activated with plasma and etched with sodium hydroxide previous to silanization with 3-chloropropyltriethoxysilane and functionalized with the ELR. CoCr alloy surfaces were successfully biofunctionalized and the use of an ELR with an REDV sequence, allows conferring bioactivity to the biomaterials surface, demonstrating a higher cell adhesion and spreading of HUVEC cells on the different CoCr surfaces. This effect is emphasized as increases the amount of immobilized biomolecules and directly related to the immobilization technique, covalent bonding, and the increase of surface charge electronegativity. Our strategy of REDV elastin-like recombinamers immobilization onto CoCr alloy surfaces via covalent bonding through organosilanes provides a bioactive surface that promotes endothelial cell adhesion and spreading.

Abstract: Dengue is a widely spread vector-borne disease. Dengue cases in the Americas have increased over the last few decades, affecting various urban spaces throughout these continents, including the tourism-oriented city of Girardot, Colombia. Interactions among mosquitoes, pathogens and humans have recently been examined using different temporal and spatial scales in attempts to determine the roles that social and ecological systems play in dengue transmission. The current work characterizes the spatial and temporal behaviours of dengue in Girardot and discusses the potential territorial dynamics related to the distribution of this disease. Methods: Based on officially reported dengue cases (2012–2015) corresponding to epidemic (2013) and inter-epidemic years (2012, 2014, 2015), space (Getis-Ord index) and space-time (Kulldorff’s scan statistics) analyses were performed. Results: Geocoded dengue cases (n = 2027) were slightly overrepresented by men (52.1%). As expected, the cases were concentrated in the 0- to 15-year-old age group according to the actual trends of Colombia. The incidence rates of dengue during the rainy and dry seasons as well as those for individual years (2012, 2013 and 2014) were significant using the global Getis-Ord index. Local clusters shifted across seasons and years; nevertheless, the incidence rates clustered towards the southwest region of the city under different residential conditions. Space-time clusters shifted from the northeast to the southwest of the city (2012–2014). These clusters represented only 4.25% of the total cases over the same period (n = 1623). A general trend was observed, in which dengue cases increased during the dry seasons, especially between December and February. Conclusions: Despite study limitations related to official dengue records and available fine-scale demographic information, the spatial analysis results were promising from a geography of health perspective. Dengue did not show linear association with poverty or with vulnerable peripheral spaces in intra-urban settings, supporting the idea that the pathogenic complex of dengue is driven by different factors. A coordinated collaboration of epidemiological, public health and social science expertise is needed to assess the effect of “place” from a relational perspective in which geography has an important role to play. Resumen: El dengue es una enfermedad trasmitida por vectores ampliamente distribuida. En las últimas décadas el dengue ha aumentado en América, afectando diferentes espacios urbanos del continente incluyendo la ciudad turística de Girardot, Colombia. La interacción entre mosquitos, patógenos y humanos se ha examinado usando diferentes escalas espaciales y temporales para determinar la función que tienen los sistemas sociales y ecológicos en la transmisión del dengue. Este trabajo caracteriza el comportamiento espacial y temporal del dengue en Girardot y discute el potencial que tienen las dinámicas territoriales en la distribución de esta enfermedad. Métodos: Se realizaron análisis espaciales (Índice Getis-Ord) y espaciotemporales (Estadística de Kulldorff) utilizando los reportes oficiales de casos de dengue (2012-2015), los cuales corresponden a periodos epidémicos (2013) e interepidémicos (2012, 2014, 2015). Resultados: Dentro de los casos georreferenciados (n = 2027) hubo una representación ligeramente mayor de hombres (52.1%). Según lo esperado, de acuerdo a las tendencias actuales en Colombia, los casos se concentraron en la población de 0 a 15 años. El índice de Getis-Ord fue significativo para las tasas de incidencia de dengue en periodo de lluvia y periodo de sequía, al igual que para los años de estudio (2012, 2013 and 2014). Se identificaron conglomerados locales en toda la ciudad, sin embargo, estos se agruparon en la parte suroeste de la ciudad en diferentes condiciones residenciales. Los conglomerados espaciotemporales se desplazaron del noreste hacia el suroeste de la ciudad (2012–2014). Estos conglomerados espaciotemporales representan solo el 4.25% del total de casos del periodo (n = 1623). Se identificó una tendencia general de aumento de casos durante la época de sequía, especialmente entre diciembre y febrero. Conclusiones: A pesar de las limitaciones relacionadas a los registros oficiales de casos de dengue y la información demográfica disponible, los resultados fueron promisorios desde la perspectiva de la geografía de la salud. El dengue no mostró una relación lineal con la pobreza o con espacios periféricos vulnerables en espacios intraurbanos. Esto apoya la idea que el complejo patogénico del dengue comprende múltiples factores. Se requiere de una colaboración coordinada entre la epidemiología, la salud pública y las ciencias sociales para evaluar el efecto que tiene el “lugar” desde una perspectiva relacional donde la geografía tiene un rol importante a desempeñar.

Many low- and middle-income countries are experiencing a rapid increase of overweight and obesity rates. Nonetheless, there are some concerns not only about the pace of the increase in overweight and obesity, but also about inequalities in their distribution across social groups. The main aims of this thesis were to: i) examine socioeconomic differences in overweight and obesity over the last decades among women of childbearing age in low- and middle- income countries; ii) determine the contribution of reproductive variables (e.g., parity, age at first birth, breastfeeding) to socioeconomic inequalities in overweight and obesity in low- and middle-income countries; and iii) assess the impact of recently adopted poverty reduction policies, namely conditional cash transfer programs (CCT) on determinants of child health and children´s nutritional status. Overall, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among women has increased in most low- and middle-income countries across all educational groups and occupational classes in the last two decade. Nonetheless, overweight and obesity trends have rapidly increased among less educated and lower occupational classes especially in North Africa/West and Central Asia (NWA), Sub-Saharan (SS) and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region. For example, women working in agriculture and production sector had an annual increase in the prevalence of overweight/obesity ranged from 2.8% in LAC region to 3.7% in the SS region. In addition, women with lower age at first birth, high parity, and shorter duration of breastfeeding had an increased odds of overweight. Nonetheless, those reproductive factors did not play a key role in explaining differences in overweight by socioeconomic status and related trends. Finally, the CCT Familias en Accion was associated with significant higher BMI z-scores among children beneficiaries of this program; BMI-for-age z-scores (β=0.14, 95%CI 0.00, 0.27, p <0.05). These results suggest that in future years, the unequal distribution of body weight between and within societies likely contributes to perpetuate poverty and poor health as in high-income countries. In addition, poverty reduction policies such as CCT programs in a middle- income country such as Colombia have not been very successful in preventing overweight and obesity. Therefore, additional efforts specifically focused on preventing an increase in inequalities in overweight and obesity are needed, targeting mothers and children from low income households.

Street Salad, modelo de negocio relacionado con la producción y comercialización de ensaladas listas para consumir; preparadas con productos alimenticios saludables, con alta carga nutricional, especializados en ofrecer un servicio de óptimos estándares de higiene y manipulación. El principal objetivo del proyecto es ayudar al bienestar de los habitantes de la Capital de Colombia, mediante la oferta de alimentos sanos que puedan complementar con sus almuerzos, cualquier comida o momento del día. Este plan de negocio se crea a partir de las necesidades que en la actualidad los bogotanos tienen acerca de mantener una dieta balanceada, es por ello que Street Salad brinda a sus clientes la posibilidad de alimentarse con una gran variedad de vegetales, frutas, proteínas, semillas, que pueden combinar según su preferencia y si es de su elección, consumirlo en el instante. El funcionamiento de Street Salad, se basa en un sistema de barra de ensaladas, la cual ofrece 2 presentaciones, 620 gr y 830 gr, que se pueden combinar a elección del cliente entre una variedad de ingredientes, que cumplen con patrones de consumo importantes para una dieta balanceada y de alta competitividad dentro de la industria de las comidas saludables, tanto en producto como en servicio.

Background: Post-stroke fatigue (PSF) is one of the most challenging clinical consequences to manage after stroke as no effective treatment has been developed. However, the mechanisms of PSF remain unclear. Aims: This study aimed to replicate Vecchio et al (2017) using resting-state EEG in stroke patients suffering from varying degrees of fatigue to describe the functional organisation within sensory and motor networks. Methods: Resting-state eyes-open EEG was recorded in 22 strokesurvivors. Upper limb functional tests (grip strength, Nine Hole Peg Test), symbol digit modalities test (SDTM), anxiety and depression scale (HADS), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS-7), state fatigue, and Neurological Fatigue Index (NFI-stroke) were measured. Graph theory was used to calculate the small-world (SW) index. SW was calculated in four separate networks, motor and sensory within the left and right hemispheres. Exact low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (eLORETA) was applied using seven frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha1, alpha2, beta1, beta2, and gamma). Results: Correlation analysis demonstrated a positive association between SW in the right motor network in beta2 band and higher FSS-7 score and a negative correlation between SW in the left sensory network in alpha1 and higher state fatigue. Conclusion: Beta oscillations have been associated with top-down processes which are crucial for perceptual inference and alpha oscillations are involved in sensorimotor information processing. The interaction between the top-down and bottom-up processes, and perceived error explains the sensory attenuation model of fatigue. Our results were consistent this model of fatigue as stroke survivors had difficulty in attenuating the sensory input leading to higher perceived effort.

Abstract: Objective: Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) are a public health challenge in developing countries such as Colombia, causing anaemia and delayed growth and development in children. We aimed to estimate the geographical and prevalence trend of IPIs in the last 30years in school and preschool children in Colombia. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis. We identified potential manuscripts through PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, LILACS, Scielo and Google Scholar on the IPIs prevalence in school and preschool children in Colombia. Articles included in the qualitative analysis were published between 1990 and 2020 in English or Spanish and met the inclusion criteria. Subsequently, a random-effects meta-analysis, a meta-regression and a trend analysis were performed. Results: We identified 2292 articles; 109 were included in the qualitative review, and 79 articles were included in the meta-analysis. The estimated IPI prevalence was 55% (95% CI: 48–63). By age group, the prevalence in preschool children was 37% (95% CI: 26–49) and 66% (95% CI: 52–78) in schoolchildren. The prevalence by region was heterogeneous, with the Amazon being the highest (69%) and the Santanderes the lowest (28%). In the last 20years, the prevalence of helminthiasis has decreased (from 64.66% in 1990–1995 to 22.09% in 2016–2020). Conclusion: The prevalence of IPIs is high (>30%) in three of the seven regions in Colombia. Biannual administration of mass deworming in schoolchildren is recommended in the Amazon region. Public policies aiming to control IPIs should be reinforced. Further prevalence studies should include Cesar, Guaviare, Vichada and Vaupés, where the epidemiology of IPIs is unknown. Resumen: Objetivo: Las infecciones parasitarias intestinales (IPIs) son un desafío para la salud pública en los países en desarrollo como Colombia, ya que causan anemia y retraso en el crecimiento y desarrollo de los niños. El objetivo de este estudio fue estimar la tendencia de la prevalencia y la distribución geográfica de las IPIs en niños en edad escolar y preescolar en Colombia en los últimos 30 años. Métodos: Se llevó a cabo una revisión sistemática y un metaanálisis. Se identificaron estudios potenciales a través de PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, LILACS, Scielo y Google Scholar cuyo objetivo era estimar la prevalencia de las IPIs en niños en edad escolar y preescolar en Colombia. Se incluyeron artículos publicados entre 1990 y 2020, tanto en inglés como en español, que cumplieran con los criterios de inclusión. Posteriormente, se realizó un metaanálisis de efectos aleatorios, una meta-regresión y un análisis de tendencias. Resultados: Identificamos 2,292 artículos; 109 se incluyeron en la revisión cualitativa y 79 en el metaanálisis. La prevalencia estimada de las IPIs fue del 55% (IC del 95%: 48-63%). Según el grupo de edad, la prevalencia en niños preescolares fue del 37% (IC del 95%: 26-49%), y en niños en edad escolar fue del 66% (IC del 95%: 52-78%). La prevalencia por región fue heterogénea, siendo el departamento del Amazonas donde se ubicó la prevalencia más alta (69%) y los Santanderes la más baja (28%). En los últimos 20 años, la prevalencia de helmintiasis ha disminuido del 64.66% en 1990-1995 al 22.09% en 2016-2020. Conclusión: La prevalencia de las IPIs es alta (>30%) en tres de las siete regiones de Colombia. Se recomienda la administración bianual masiva de antiparasitarios en niños en edad escolar en la región del Amazonas. Las políticas públicas destinadas a controlar las IPIs deben reforzarse. Futuros estudios de prevalencia deben incluir a los departamentos de Cesar, Guaviare, Vichada y Vaupés, ya que son departamentos donde la epidemiología de las IPIs es desconocida.

Abstract: Danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) may be implicated in the pathophysiological pathways associated with an unfavorable outcome after acute brain injury (ABI). Differences in vCSF protein expression over time were evaluated using linear models and selected for functional network analysis using the PANTHER and STRING databases. The primary exposure of interest was the type of brain injury (traumatic vs. nontraumatic), and the primary outcome was the vCSF expression of DAMPs. Secondary exposures of interest included the occurrence of intracranial pressure ?20 or ? 30 mm Hg during the 5 days post- ABI, intensive care unit (ICU) mortality, and neurological outcome (assessed using the Glasgow Outcome Score) at 3 months post-ICU discharge. Secondary outcomes included associations of these exposures with the vCSF expression of DAMPs. A network of 6 DAMPs (DAMP_trauma; protein-protein interaction [PPI] P= 0.04) was differentially expressed in patients with ABI of traumatic origin compared with those with nontraumatic ABI. ABI patients with intracranial pressure ?30 mm Hg differentially expressed a set of 38 DAMPS (DAMP_ICP30; PPI P< 0.001). Proteins in DAMP_ICP30 are involved in cellular proteolysis, complement pathway activation, and post-translational modifications. Specific patterns of vCSF DAMP expression differentiated between traumatic and nontraumatic types of ABI and were associated with increased episodes of severe intracranial hypertension. Resumen: Los patrones moleculares asociados al peligro (DAMP) pueden estar implicados en las vías fisiopatológicas asociadas con un resultado desfavorable después de una lesión cerebral aguda (LCA). Las diferencias en la expresión proteíca vCSF a lo largo del tiempo se evaluaron utilizando modelos lineales y se seleccionaron para el análisis de redes funcionales utilizando las bases de datos PANTHER y STRING. La principal exposición de interés fue el tipo de lesión cerebral (traumática versus no traumática), y el resultado primario fue la expresión de DAMP en vCSF. Las exposiciones secundarias de interés incluyeron la aparición de presión intracraneal ?20 o ? 30 mm Hg durante los 5 días posteriores a la LCA, mortalidad en la unidad de cuidados intensivos (UCI) y resultado neurológico (evaluado mediante el Glasgow Outcome Score) 3 meses después del alta de la UCI. Una red de 6 DAMP (DAMP_trauma; interacción proteínaproteína [PPI] P = 0,04) se expresó diferencialmente en pacientes con LCA de origen traumático en comparación con aquellos con LCA no traumática. Los pacientes con ITB con presión intracraneal ?30 mm Hg expresaron diferencialmente un conjunto de 38 DAMPS (DAMP_ICP30; PPI P <0,001). Las proteínas en DAMP_ICP30 participan en la proteólisis celular, la activación de la vía del complemento y las modificaciones postraduccionales. Los patrones específicos de expresión de vCSF DAMP diferenciaron entre tipos de LCA traumática y no traumática y se asociaron con un aumento de episodios de hipertensión intracraneal severa.