Características clínicas y epidemiológicas en trabajadores diagnosticados con COVID-19 en un servicio externo de seguridad y salud en el trabajo en Lima-Perú

Objetivo: Describir las características clínicas y epidemiológicas de los trabajadores que son parte de la vigilancia médica ocupacional de un servicio de seguridad y salud en el trabajo. Materiales y métodos: Estudio observacional, descriptivo, retrospectivo, longitudinal de un grupo de trabajadores diagnosticados con COVID-19 que estuvieron bajo vigilancia médico-ocupacional del 18 de marzo al 31 de julio del 2020. Se analizó la información con el software estadístico Stata(R) 15.0. Resultados: El género masculino fue el más afectado, con el 77,16 %, y comprendió al grupo etario de 20 a 39 años, con el 63,30 %. Por otro lado, la ausencia de comorbilidades fue del 81,11 %; sin embargo, el 18,9 % restante presentó una o más comorbilidades, y la más frecuente fue la obesidad, con el 61,95 %, seguida del asma, con un 11,09 %. El dolor de garganta y la tos fueron los síntomas más frecuentes, con un 20,67 % y un 19,78 %, respectivamente. Conclusiones: La población estudiada fue predominantemente adulta joven, del sexo masculino, sin comorbilidades, que no presentó ningún síntoma predominante ni necesitó hospitalización.

Objective: To describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of workers kept under occupational medical surveillance conducted by an occupational safety and health service. Materials and methods: An observational, descriptive, retrospective, longitudinal study of a group of workers diagnosed with COVID-19 kept under occupational medical surveillance from March 18 to July 31, 2020. The data was analyzed using the Stata Statistical Software: Release 15. Results: Males were more severely affected than females (77.16 %), among which the 20- to 39-year-old age group prevailed (63.30 %). On the other hand, study subjects with no comorbidities accounted for 81.11 %. However, the remaining 18.9 % presented one or more comorbidities, with obesity being the most frequent one (61.95 %), followed by asthma (11.09 %). Sore throat and cough were the most common symptoms with 20.67 % and 19.78 %, respectively. Conclusions: The study population mainly consisted of young male adults with no comorbidities, who neither showed predominant symptoms nor required hospitalization.

Esquemas terapéuticos y factores asociados a mortalidad en pacientes con cuadro severo de COVID-19 atendidos en Hospital Nacional Alberto Sabogal Sologuren 2020 / Therapeutic regimens and factors associated with mortality in patients with severe COVID-19 infection treated at the Hospital Nacional Alberto Sabogal Sologuren, 2020

RESUMEN Objetivo: Explorar el esquema terapéutico y factores asociados a mortalidad en pacientes con un cuadro severo de COVID-19 atendidos en el Hospital Nacional Alberto Sabogal Sologuren en 2020. Materiales y métodos: Estudio observacional, analítico de caso-control y prospectivo. Fueron incluidos los pacientes que ingresaron al hospital con un cuadro severo de COVID-19 entre junio a septiembre de 2020 y fueron clasificados en dos grupos: el grupo caso (61 pacientes fallecidos) y el grupo control (60 sobrevivientes que recibieron el alta hospitalaria). Los datos fueron analizados en el software estadístico Stata(R) y se realizó análisis bivariado y multivariado con regresión logística, nivel de confianza del 95 %. Resultados: En pacientes con cuadro severo de COVID-19, la edad mayor de 60 años está asociada a la mortalidad (p=0,035; OR=2,21 IC: [1,05-4,63]). Los esquemas terapéuticos fueron variados, los participantes que recibieron metilprednisolona a dosis altas tuvieron mayor probabilidad de morir en comparación a los que recibieron otros corticoides (p=0,001; OR ajustado=5,18 IC: [1,94-13,83]). El tratamiento con azitromicina por más de cinco días incrementa la probabilidad de fallecer en comparación a los que la tomaron por menos días (p=0,000; OR ajustado=7,14 IC: [2,22-22,99]). El modelo multivariado tenía una probabilidad predictiva de mortalidad de 73,06 % para los pacientes con cuadro severo de COVID-19. Conclusiones: Los esquemas terapéuticos que incluyen administración de metilprednisolona a dosis altas y azitromicina por más de 5 días incrementan la probabilidad de fallecer en los pacientes con una presentación severa de COVID-19. Además, la edad mayor a 60 años estuvo asociada a la mortalidad en los pacientes analizados en el estudio.

ABSTRACT Objective: To explore the therapeutic regimen and factors associated with mortality in patients with severe COVID-19 infection treated at the Hospital Nacional Alberto Sabogal Sologuren in 2020. Materials and methods: An observational, case-control, analytical and prospective study conducted in patients with severe COVID-19 infection at hospital admission between June and September 2020. The study population was classified into two groups: case group (61 deceased patients) and control group (60 discharged patients). Data were analyzed using Stata statistical software. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed with a 95 % confidence level. Results: As for patients with severe COVID-19 infection, ages older than 60 years are associated with mortality (p = 0.035; OR = 2.21; CI: [1.05 - 4.63]). Different therapeutic regimens were included in the research: patients who received high-dose methylprednisolone had more probability of dying compared to those who received other corticosteroids (p = 0.001; adjusted OR = 5.18; CI: [1.94 - 13.83]). Patients who were treated with azithromycin for more than five days had more probability of dying compared to those that took it for fewer days (p = 0.000; adjusted OR = 7.14; CI: [2.22 - 22.99]). The multivariate model showed a 73.06 % predictive probability of mortality for patients with severe COVID-19 infection. Conclusions: The therapeutic regimens that include the administration of high-dose methylprednisolone and azithromycin for more than five days increase the probability of dying in patients with severe COVID-19 infection. Furthermore, ages over 60 years were associated with mortality in the patients who participated in the study.

Características clínico-epidemiológicas y análisis de sobrevida en fallecidos por COVID-19 atendidos en establecimientos de la Red Sabogal-Callao 2020 / Clinical-epidemiological characteristics and survival time of deceased COVID-19 patients treated at hospitals belonging to Red Sabogal-Callao in 2020

RESUMEN Objetivo Describir las características clínico-epidemiológicas y el análisis del tiempo de sobrevida en fallecidos por COVID-19 que fueron atendidos en establecimientos de la Red Sabogal-Callao, en 2020. Materiales y métodos Estudio observacional, descriptivo y retrospectivo en un grupo de 23 pacientes fallecidos por COVID-19, desde el inicio del estado de emergencia (11 de marzo de 2020) hasta el 15 de abril en dos hospitales de la Red Sabogal en el Callao. Los datos fueron analizados en el software estadístico Stata(R) edición 16.0. El tiempo de sobrevida se evaluó con el análisis de Kaplan Meier, log-rank, con un nivel de confianza del 95 %. Resultados Las características epidemiológicas predominantes fueron sexo masculino, edad de 60 a 79 años y comorbilidades (hipertensión arterial y obesidad). Los principales signos y síntomas al ingreso hospitalario fueron disnea, fiebre, tos y frecuencia respiratoria aumentada. Los exámenes de laboratorio mostraron alteraciones: PaFi <300, leucocitosis, linfopenia y lactato aumentado. Entre los informes radiológicos revisados predominan el patrón de vidrio esmerilado y el compromiso pulmonar bilateral. Durante la estancia hospitalaria, el 60,87 % de los pacientes fueron atendidos en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos (UCI) y el 69,57 % estuvieron en ventilación mecánica. El 39,13 % recibieron un esquema terapéutico de hidroxicloroquina más azitromicina y en el 39,13 % agregaron corticoides al tratamiento mencionado. Los pacientes fallecieron antes de los 20 días de hospitalización, al día cinco la probabilidad de sobrevida general fue del 43,48 %; la probabilidad de sobrevida fue mayor en quienes estuvieron en ventilación mecánica, aunque sin significancia estadística (p = 0,17). Conclusiones Los pacientes fallecidos fueron, principalmente, adultos mayores de sexo masculino con enfermedades preexistentes como hipertensión arterial y obesidad y clasificados con infección COVID-19 moderada a severa al ingreso hospitalario. El mayor tiempo de sobrevida se observó entre los que estuvieron en ventilación mecánica.

ABSTRACT Objective To describe the clinical-epidemiological characteristics and the survival time of deceased COVID-19 patients treated at hospitals belonging to Red Sabogal-Callao in 2020. Materials and methods An observational, descriptive and retrospective study conducted in a population of 23 patients who died of COVID-19 from the beginning of the state of emergency (March 11, 2020) to April 15 at two hospitals belonging to Red Sabogal-Callao. The data was analyzed using the Stata Statistical Software: Release 16. The survival time was assessed by means of the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and the log-rank test, with a 95 % confidence interval. Results The predominant epidemiological characteristics were male sex, 60 to 79 years of age and comorbidities (hypertension and obesity). The main signs and symptoms at hospital admission were dyspnea, fever, cough and increased respiratory rate. Laboratory tests showed abnormal values: PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio < 300, leukocytosis, lymphopenia and increased lactate levels. Ground-glass opacities with bilateral pulmonary involvement prevailed in the radiological reports. During the hospital stay, 60.87 % of the patients were treated in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 69.57 % were on mechanical ventilation, 39.13 % received a therapeutic scheme consisting of hydroxychloroquine plus azithromycin, and 39.13 % received corticosteroids additionally to the aforementioned treatment. The patients died before reaching 20 days of hospital stay; on day five, the general survival probability was 43.48 %; and the survival probability was higher, although without statistical significance (p = 0.17), in those on mechanical ventilation. Conclusions Deceased patients were mainly males, older adults, those with underlying health conditions such as hypertension and obesity, and those classified as having moderate to severe COVID-19 infection at hospital admission. The longest survival time was observed among those on mechanical ventilation.

Transcriptome and gene expression analysis of three developmental stages of the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei.

Coffee production is a global industry valued at approximately 173 billion US dollars. One of the main challenges facing coffee production is the management of the coffee berry borer (CBB), Hypothenemus hampei, which is considered the primary arthropod pest of coffee worldwide. Current control strategies are inefficient for CBB management. Although biotechnological alternatives, including RNA interference (RNAi), have been proposed in recent years to control insect pests, characterizing the genetics of the target pest is essential for the successful application of these emerging technologies. In this study, we employed RNA-seq to obtain the transcriptome of three developmental stages of the CBB (larva, female and male) to increase our understanding of the CBB life cycle in relation to molecular features. The CBB transcriptome was sequenced using Illumina Hiseq and assembled de novo. Differential gene expression analysis was performed across the developmental stages. The final assembly produced 29,434 unigenes, of which 4,664 transcripts were differentially expressed. Genes linked to crucial physiological functions, such as digestion and detoxification, were determined to be tightly regulated between the reproductive and nonreproductive stages of CBB. The data obtained in this study help to elucidate the critical roles that several genes play as regulatory elements in CBB development.

Preliminary evaluation of the use of compaction piles for improvement of the foundation soils of the coastal dikes of Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela

Recent studies have confirmed the liquefaction potential of the foundation soils of the coastal dikes of the Eastern Coast (Costa Oriental) of Lake Maracaibo, in western Venezuela, a region of moderate seismicity. Mitigative measures consisting of downstream berms, with or without compaction piles, are being implemented. To evaluate the effectiveness of compaction piles against liquefaction of the silty sands the improvement of low resistance clays, two field tests were perfomed, one in Bachaquero and one in Lagunillas. The 0.60m diameter, 13m long piles were implanted in an 8 row, 5 column arrangement, 3m on centers. A ground levelling network was established. Piezometers, accelerometers and inclinometers readings were taken before, during and after pile implantation. The results obtained to date have confirmed that the berm and the compaction piles improve the properties of both the sandy and clayey soils and are, therefore, a valid method to improve the seismic stability of the coastal dikes of Lake Maracaibo.(AU)