How heat waves, ozone and sunlight hours affect endocrine and metabolic diseases emergency admissions? A case study in the region of Madrid (Spain).

BACKGROUND: Studies which analyse the joint effect of acoustic or chemical air pollution variables and different meteorological variables on neuroendocrine disease are practically nonexistent. This study therefore sought to analyse the impact of air pollutants and environmental meteorological variables on daily unscheduled admissions due to endocrine and metabolic diseases in the Madrid Region from January 01, 2013 to December 31, 2018. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a longitudinal, retrospective, ecological study of daily time series analysed by Poisson regression, with emergency neuroendocrine-disease admissions in the Madrid Region as the dependent variable. The independent variables were: mean daily concentrations of PM10, PM2.5, NO2 and O3; acoustic pollution; maximum and minimum daily temperatures; hours of sunlight; relative humidity; wind speed; and air pressure above sea level. Estimators of the statistically significant variables were used to calculate the relative risks (RRs). RESULTS: A statistically significant association was found between the increase in temperatures in heat waves, RR: 1.123 95% CI (1.001-1.018), and the number of emergency admissions, making it the main risk factor. An association between a decrease in sunlight and an increase in hospital admissions, RR: 1.005 95% CI (1.002 1.008), was likewise observed. Similarly, ozone, in the form of mean daily concentrations in excess of 44 µg/m3, had an impact on admissions due to neuroendocrine disease, RR: 1.010 95% CI (1.007-1.035). The breakdown by sex showed that in the case of women, NO2 was also a risk factor, RR: 1.021 95% CI (1.007-1.035). CONCLUSION: The results obtained in this study serve to identify risk factors for this disease, such as extreme temperatures in heat waves, O3 or NO2. The robust association found between the decrease in sunlight and increase in hospital admissions due to neuroendocrine disease serves to spotlight an environmental factor which has received scant attention in public health until now.

Short-term impact of noise, other air pollutants and meteorological factors on emergency hospital mental health admissions in the Madrid region.

BACKGROUND: A number of environmental factors, such as air pollution, noise in urbanised settings and meteorological-type variables, may give rise to important effects on human health. In recent years, many studies have confirmed the relation between various mental disorders and these factors, with a possible impact on the increase in emergency hospital admissions due to these causes. The aim of this study was to analyse the impact of a range of environmental factors on daily emergency hospital admissions due to mental disorders in the Madrid Autonomous Region (MAR), across the period 2013-2018. METHODOLOGY: Longitudinal ecological time series study analysed by Generalised Linear Models with Poisson regression, with the dependent variable being daily Emergency Hospital Mental Health Admissions (EHMHA) in the MAR, and the independent variable being mean daily concentrations of chemical pollutants, noise levels and meteorological variables. RESULTS: EHMHA were related statistically significantly in the short term with diurnal noise levels. Relative risks (RRs) for total admissions due to mental disorders and self-inflicted injuries, in the case of diurnal noise was RR: 1.008 95%CI (1.003 1.013). Admissions attributable to diurnal noise account for 5.5% of total admissions across the study period. There was no association between hospital admissions and chemical air pollution. CONCLUSION: Noise is a variable that shows a statistically significant short-term association with EHMHA across all age groups in the MAR region. The results of this study may serve as a basis for drawing up public health guidelines and plans, which regard these variables as risk factors for mental disorders, especially in the case of noise, since this fundamentally depends on anthropogenic activities in highly urbanised areas with high levels of traffic density.

On the Cutting Performance of Segmented Diamond Blades when Dry-Cutting Concrete.

The objective of the present study is to analyze and compare the cutting performance of segmented diamond blades when dry-cutting concrete. A cutting criteria is proposed to characterize the wear of the blades by measuring the variation of the external diameter and the weight loss of the blade. The results exhibit the cutting blade SB-A, which has twice the density of diamonds and large contact area, exhibits less wear even though the material removal rate is higher compared with the other two cutting blades. Additionally, the surface topography of the different blades is evaluated to examine the impact of wear depending on the surface profile and the distribution of the diamonds in the blade's matrix. Large number of diamonds pull-out are found in blades type SB-C, which additionally shows the worst wear resistant capability. As a conclusion, the cutting efficiency of the blade is found to be related to the density of embedded diamonds and the type of the surface profile of the cutting blade after reaching the stop criteria.

Surgical management of postoperative chronic inguinodynia by laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal approach.

BACKGROUND: The avoidance of postoperative chronic pain is of the foremost importance and has a deep impact on patient satisfaction. The objective of this study is to evaluate the selective transabdominal preperitoneal laparoscopic neurectomy for treatment of refractory inguinodynia. METHODS: Prospective study in a University Hernia Center included 16 consecutive patients with chronic pain. Primary endpoint was pain control (measured by appropriate questionnaire and need of analgesics). Secondary endpoint was surgical morbidity. Follow-up was 2 years (range 12 months-4 years). RESULTS: The mean operating time was 52 (range 36-68) minutes, and there were no intraoperative complications. All patients had histologic confirmation of neurectomy. Anatomical variation was found in ten patients (62.5 %), being a common trunk ilioinguinal/iliohypogastric nerve the most frequent (nine patients, 56.25 %). One patient developed hypoesthesia in the territory of the femorocutaneous nerve by nerve injury. Reoperation was performed 6 months afterward to complete ilioinguinal nerve neurectomy. Neuropathic pain medications were continued by five patients. Pain was completely eliminated in 11 (68.75 %). CONCLUSIONS: Management of patients with neural groin pain should be done in a multidisciplinary unit. Selective neurectomy by a transabdominal preperitoneal laparoscopic approach is a safe and highly effective option in selected patients for the treatment of refractory postoperative chronic pain. Careful anatomical planning is essential to avoid inadvertent injuries and more suffering to these patients.

Reduced neophobia: a potential mechanism explaining the emergence of self-medicative behavior in sheep.

Gastrointestinal helminths challenge ruminants in ways that reduce their fitness. In turn, ruminants have evolved physiological and behavioral adaptations that counteract this challenge. For instance, emerging behavioral evidence suggests that ruminants self-select medicinal compounds and foods that reduce parasitic burdens. However, the mechanism/s leading to self-medicative behaviors in sick animals is still unknown. We hypothesized that when homeostasis is disturbed by a parasitic infection, consumers should respond by increasing the acceptability of novel foods relative to healthy individuals. Three groups of lambs (N=10) were dosed with 0 (Control-C), 5000 (Medium-M) and 15000 (High-H) L3 stage larvae of Haemonchus contortus. When parasites had reached the adult stage, all animals were offered novel foods and flavors in pens and then novel forages at pasture. Ingestive responses by parasitized lambs were different from non-parasitized Control animals and they varied with the type of food and flavor on offer. Parasitized lambs consumed initially more novel beet pulp and less novel beet pulp mixed with tannins than Control lambs, but the pattern reversed after 9d of exposure to these foods. Parasitized lambs ingested more novel umami-flavored food and less novel bitter-flavored food than Control lambs. When offered choices of novel unflavored and bitter-flavored foods or different forage species to graze, parasitized lambs selected a more diverse array of foods than Control lambs. Reductions in food neophobia or selection of a more diverse diet may enhance the likelihood of sick herbivores encountering novel medicinal plants and nutritious forages that contribute to restore health.

Molecular epidemiology of hospital-onset methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in Southern Chile.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a pathogen of public health importance. In Chile, the Cordobes/Chilean clone was the predominant healthcare-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA) clone in 1998. Since then, the molecular epidemiological surveillance of MRSA has not been performed in Southern Chile. We aimed to investigate the molecular epidemiology of HA-MRSA infections in Southern Chile to identify the MRSA clones involved, and their evolutionary relationships with epidemic international MRSA lineages. A total of 303 single inpatient isolates of S. aureus were collected in the Valdivia County Hospital (2007-2008), revealing 33% (100 MRSA/303) prevalence for HA-MRSA infections. The SCCmec types I and IV were identified in 97% and 3% of HA-MRSA, respectively. All isolates lacked the pvl genes. A random sample (n = 29) of all MRSA was studied by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), multilocus sequence typing (MLST), SCCmec subtyping, agr and spa typing, and virulence genes profiling. PFGE analysis revealed the predominance (89%, 26/29) of pulsotype A and three additional pulsotypes, designated H1, I33, and G1. Pulsotype A (ST5-SCCmecI-spa-t149) is clonally related to the Cordobes/Chilean clone. Pulsotype H1 (ST5-SCCmecIVNT-spa-t002) is genetically related to the Pediatric clone (ST5-SCCmecIV). Pulsotype I33 (ST5-SCCmecIVc-spa-t002) is clonally related by PFGE to the community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) clone spread in Argentina, I-ST5-IVa-PVL(+). The G1 pulsotype (ST8-SCCmecIVc-spa-t024) is clonally related to the epidemic USA300 CA-MRSA. Here, we demonstrate the stability of the Cordobes/Chilean clone over time as the major HA-MRSA clone in Southern Chile. The identification of two CA-MRSA clones might suggest that these clones have entered into the healthcare setting from the community. These results emphasize the importance of the local surveillance of MRSA infections in the community and hospital settings.

Effectiveness of argon plasma coagulation in the treatment of chronic actinic proc.

INTRODUCTION: There are two kinds of actinic proctitis--one is acute and self-limited, and lasts about 3 months; the other is chronic and develops months to years after radiation therapy. The incidence of chronic actinic proctitis is about 5-20% of radiated prostate tumors. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of argon plasma coagulation in the treatment of chronic actinic proctitis. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective search of patients with the diagnosis of actinic proctitis. The number of argon plasma coagulation therapies needed to achieve the symptom resolution was analyzed. RESULTS: We found 22 patients with a diagnosis of actinic proctitis. Nineteen were males (86.7%) and three (13.6%) were females. Nineteen patients (86.4%) had a diagnosis of prostate adenocarcinoma, one had a diagnosis of squamous-cell cervix carcinoma (4.5%), and two had a diagnosis of endometrial carcinoma (9.1%). The mean number of coagulation sessions needed for symptom resolution was 2.58 (absolute range 1-7) with a median of 2 sessions. CONCLUSION: Multiple treatments are described in the literature. None of them have shown promising results. Our results suggest that argon plasma coagulation is effective in the treatment of this condition, and achieves a rapid and sustained response with few sessions and a good safety profile.

Midline versus nonmidline laparoscopic incisional hernioplasty: a comparative study.

BACKGROUND: Nonmidline incisional hernia is a surgical problem of major interest, but to date, little information on this problem is available. This study aimed to analyze the results of nonmidline laparoscopic incisional hernioplasty in a multidisciplinary abdominal wall unit over the past 10 years. METHODS: This prospective study examined a series of 199 patients undergoing surgery for incisional hernia via the laparoscopic approach: 146 midline and 53 nonmidline. A comparative analysis compared midline and nonmidline defects, and a descriptive analysis compared four nonmidline types: 18 lumbar, 11 subcostal, 14 inguinal, and 10 lateral. Clinical and follow-up parameters were assessed during a mean follow-up period of 64 months (range, 12-120 months). RESULTS: The nonmidline incisional hernias were significantly larger, involved more preoperative pain, and required a longer hospital stay than the midline incisional hernias (p < 0.001). Also, the intraoperative complications and the consumption of analgesics were more frequent in the nonmidline group (p < 0.05). The postoperative morbidity and recurrence rates were similar in the two groups. No statistical differences were noted between the four types of nonmidline incisional hernias. The most common nonmidline type was lumbar hernia (34%). Hematomas (17%) predominated in the inguinal types, and pain predominated in the lumbar types. Two early recurrences were diagnosed for poor mesh placement: one subcostal and one lumbar. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic incisional hernioplasty can be applied to nonmidline defects with the same rates of morbidity and recurrence as for patients with midline defects. The four types of nonmidline defects seem to have their own evolutionary characteristics.

Incisional pubic hernia: treatment of a case with congenital malformation of the pelvis.

Parapubic hernia is a rare entity, the aetiology of which is usually associated with pelvic surgery, traumatisms and bone malformations. Treatment is difficult because the defect is usually limited by altered fibrotic anatomical planes. We present a case of incisional pubic hernia in a patient with congenital bladder exstrophy and multiple surgeries for pelvic reconstruction, who was treated using a plasty combined with a double intra-abdominal/supra-aponeurotic mesh. The therapeutic possibilities are described for the laparoscopic and open approaches in the management of these complex hernias.

Open vs laparoscopic repair of secondary lumbar hernias: a prospective nonrandomized study.

BACKGROUND: Lumbar hernias are uncommon defects of the posterior abdominal wall. Surgical treatment is still controversial in these cases. The aim of this study was to compare outcome and costs of the laparoscopic approach vs the open method. METHODS: We conducted a prospective nonrandomized study of 16 patients who underwent operation for secondary lumbar hernia between January 1997 and January 2003. Nine were treated via the laparoscopic approach and seven with an open technique. The following variables were analyzed: clinical data, hospital data (operating time and length of stay), patient comfort (consumption of analgesics and time to return to normal activities), and recurrences. Hospital costs were also analyzed. RESULTS: There were no differences between the two groups in terms of age and history, although the defects of the patients in the laparoscopic group were smaller. Mean operating time, postoperative morbidity, mean hospital stay, consumption of analgesics, and time to return to normal activities were significantly lower in the laparoscopic group (p < 0. 01). No were there any statistical differences between the two types of surgical procedure in terms of hospital costs. However, the final cost did show differences when expenses for readmissions and recurrences were taken into account (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The laparoscopic approach to secondary lumbar hernia repair is more efficient and more profitable than the traditional open technique.

ß-lactamasas de espectro extendido en Klebsiella peumoniae aisladas en el Hospital de Niños de Córdoba, Argentina / Extended-spectrum ß-lactamases in Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated in a pediatric hospital of Córdoba, Argentina

El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar la presencia de ß-lactamasas de espectro extendido (BLEE) en Klebsiella pneumoniae aisladas en el Hospital de Niños de Córdoba. Las cepas fueron obtenidas de pacientes internados entre enero de 1996 y julio de 2000. Se encontró un total de 150 aislamientos productores de BLEE. En el año 1996 la prevalencia de BLEE en K.pneumoniae fue del 20 por ciento, mientras que desde 1998 se ha mantenido en valores próximos al 60 por ciento. Estudios fenotípicos como la determinación del punto isoeléctrico (pl) y el antibiotipo realizados sobre un grupo de 32 aislamientos seleccionados al azar demostraron la presencia de dos tipos de enzimas. El 81 por ciento mostró una BLEE con pl=7,9 y mayor actividad sobre cefotaxima y el 19 por ciento restante presentó una BLEE con pl=5,4 y mayor actividad sobre ceftacidima. No se detectaron aislamientos resistentes a imipenem ni a ciprofloxacina. La sensibilidad a otras drogas fue variable, siendo muy frecuente la resistencia asociada a gentamicina. Los determinantes de resistencia pudieron transferirse por conjugación a Escherichia coli.

Spigelian hernia: bibliographical study and presentation of a series of 28 patients.

Spigelian hernias are rare defects of the abdominal wall. Our aim is to analyse the bibliography and present a series of 28 patients. A Medline bibliographical study was performed between 1970 and 2000 with analysis of the number of cases, series, ratio of cases to year and type of journal. We also present a personal study and analyse epidemiological, diagnostic, and treatment factors. There are 159 articles, 479 cases, and 19 series of more than five patients published in 85 journals (42.3% medical). Our diagnosis was preoperative in 75%, and programmed surgery was 3.6 times more common than emergency surgery. We found a significant relationship between hospital stay and type of surgery (P < 0.02) and surgical technique used (P < 0.001). We found that spigelian hernias have a multidisciplinary interest; they are given almost equal treatment in medical and surgical journals; preoperative diagnosis can be established in 75% of cases; and the best results are offered by the extraperitoneal laparoscopic approach.

Treatment of spigelian hernia using totally extraperitoneal laparoscopy ambulatory surgery.

Spigelian hernia is an uncommon hernia of the abdominal wall. Diagnosis and treatment are controversial because it is frequently an emergency pathology. We report two patients with preoperative diagnosis and treatment using totally extraperitoneal laparoscopy under regional anesthesia in a day surgery department.

Day surgery for laparoscopic repair of abdominal wall hernias. Our experience in 300 patients.

Laparoscopic repair of abdominal wall hernias is still a controversial and nongeneralized therapeutic option. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the results of laparoscopic surgery on abdominal wall hernias at a day-surgery unit and to describe our procedure protocol. Prospective analysis of 300 patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery for abdominal wall hernias was conducted: 260 preperitoneal and 40 intraperitoneal. The patients' clinical features, hernia type, intraoperative and postoperative complications, and follow-up are studied for both types of surgery. All the patients receiving surgery with extraperitoneal laparoscopy were completed as a day-surgical procedure with a rate of conversion to open surgery of 2.3%. Twelve (30%) of the 40 patients operated on for ventral hernias using intraperitoneal laparoscopy required hospitalization: five for perioperative complications and seven for pain (16%). There was no case of infection or mesh rejection. The recurrence rates were 0.78% (two cases) for the inguinal hernias and 2.5% (one case) for the ventral hernias. In conclusion, laparoscopic repair of abdominal wall hernias in a day-surgery setting is an efficient alternative to open surgery.