Physical growth and body adiposity patterns in children and adolescents at high altitudes in Peru: Proposed percentiles for assessment.

OBJECTIVES: This study's purpose was to compare physical growth (PG) patterns of children and adolescents living at high elevations with those of other geographic regions, relate body adiposity indicators, and develop percentile reference tables for assessing physical growth and body adiposity. METHODS: The sample included 1536 children and adolescents ages 5.0 to 17.9 years from Puno (Peru) located between 3821 and 4349 m above sea level. Weight, height, arm and waist circumferences (WC), and three skinfolds measurements were recorded. Body mass index (BMI) and waist-height Index (WHI) were calculated. RESULTS: PG patterns for children living at a high altitude reflected similar values for weight, height, and arm circumference (AC) to those of their counterparts living in Puno (Peru) and La Paz (Bolivia). When compared with children living at moderate altitudes in Peru, they showed slightly lower PG values. BMI explained between 41% and 64% of the variance in sum of the skinfolds, while WC explained between 47% and 66%. HWI was not a strong predictor of variation in sum of skinfolds. Percentiles were generated for WC and the sum of skinfolds. CONCLUSION: Weight, height, and, arm and waist circumference patterns for children and adolescents living at high altitudes were similar to those of La Paz (Bolivia). WC and the sum of the skinfolds were better indicators for analyzing abdominal obesity compared to BMI and WHI. The percentiles proposed may be a useful tool for identifying high risk of developing overweight disorders in pediatric populations living at high altitudes.

Long COVID in cancer patients: preponderance of symptoms in majority of patients over long time period.

Background: An increasing number of observational studies have reported the persistence of symptoms following recovery from acute COVID-19 disease in non-cancer patients. The long-term consequences of COVID-19 are not fully understood particularly in the cancer patient population. The purpose of this study is to assess post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) in cancer patients following acute COVID-19 recovery. Methods: We identified cancer patients at MD Anderson Cancer Center who were diagnosed with COVID-19 disease between March 1, 2020, and September 1, 2020, and followed them till May 2021. To assess PASC, we collected patients reported outcomes through questionnaires that were sent to patients daily for 14 days after COVID-19 diagnosis then weekly for 3 months, and then monthly thereafter. We also reviewed patients' electronic medical records to capture the persistence or emergence of new COVID19-related symptoms reported during any clinic or hospital encounter beyond 30 days of the acute illness and up to 14 months. Results: We included 312 cancer patients with a median age of 57 years (18-86). The majority of patients had solid tumors (75%). Of the 312 patients, 188 (60%) reported long COVID-19 symptoms with a median duration of 7 months and up to 14 months after COVID-19 diagnosis. The most common symptoms reported included fatigue (82%), sleep disturbances (78%), myalgias (67%), and gastrointestinal symptoms (61%), followed by headache, altered smell or taste, dyspnea (47%), and cough (46%). A higher number of females reported a persistence of symptoms compared to males (63% vs. 37%; p=0.036). Cancer type, neutropenia, lymphocytopenia, and hospital admission during acute COVID-19 disease were comparable in both groups. Among the 188 patients with PASC, only 16 (8.5%) were re-admitted for COVID-related reasons. Conclusions: More than one out of two cancer patients, and more likely females, report PASC that may persist beyond 6 months and even 1 year. The most common symptoms are non-respiratory and consist of fatigue, sleep disturbance, myalgia, and gastrointestinal symptoms. Most of the cancer patients with PASC were managed on outpatient basis with only 8.5% requiring a COVID-19-related re-admission. Funding: This research is supported by the National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute under award number P30CA016672, which supports the MD Anderson Cancer Center Clinical Trials Office. The funders had no role in study design, data collection, and interpretation, or the decision to submit the work for publication.

Ancient DNA analysis of archaeological specimens extends Chinook salmon's known historic range to San Francisco Bay's tributaries and southernmost watershed.

Understanding a species' historic range guides contemporary management and habitat restoration. Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) are an important commercial and recreational gamefish, but nine Chinook subspecies are federally threatened or endangered due to anthropogenic impacts. Several San Francisco Bay Area streams and rivers currently host spawning Chinook populations, but government agencies consider these non-native hatchery strays. Through the morphology-based analysis of 17,288 fish specimens excavated from Native American middens at Mission Santa Clara (CA-SCL-30H), Santa Clara County, circa 1781-1834 CE, 88 salmonid vertebrae were identified. Ancient DNA sequencing identified three separate individuals as Chinook salmon and the remainder as steelhead/rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). These findings comprise the first physical evidence of the nativity of salmon to the Guadalupe River in San Jose, California, extending their documented historic range to include San Francisco Bay's southernmost tributary watershed.

Aplicabilidad de la superficie corporal e índicesantropométricos para valorar el tamaño corporal en adolescentes que viven a gran altitud / Applicability of body surface area and anthropometric indices to assess bodysize in adolescents living at high altitude

Introducción: Los índices antropométricos se utilizan para evaluar el estado de salud general, la adecuación nutricional y el patrón de crecimiento físico. Objetivo: Verificar la capacidad de estimar adecuadamente el tamaño corporal por medio de la superficie corporal (SC), Índice de masa corporal (IMC) e índice tri-ponderal (ITP) por edad cronológica (EC) y estado de madurez (EM) en adolescentes que viven a gran altitud del Perú. Métodos: Se efectuó un estudio descriptivo (correlacional) en adolescentes de 10 a 14 años. Fueron reclutados 3.088 escolares. Se evaluó el peso, estatura, se calculó la SC por la fórmula de Dobois y Dubois, el IMC y el ITP. Resultados: En ambos sexos el poder de determinación entre SC con EC, EM, peso y estatura fueron altos (hombres: r2= 0,31 a 0,89% y mujeres: r2= 0,36 a 0,94%). En los hombres, las relaciones entre IMC con EC, EM, y estatura fueron nulas (r2= 0.01 a 0.05%), excepto con el peso (r2= 0.70%), mientras que, en las mujeres, las relaciones fueron bajas con la EC, EM y estatura (r2= 0,11 a 0,24%), excepto en el peso (r2=0,805). Con el ITP, las relaciones con la EC, EM y estatura fueron nulas en ambos sexos (hombres: r2= 0,02 a 0,03% y mujeres: r2= 0,00 a 0,07%), excepto con el peso, donde explica r2= 0,33% en hombres y 0,48% en mujeres. No hubo diferencias cuando se comparó entre hombres y mujeres por EC (11, 12 y 13 años), excepto a los 10 y 14 años. Conclusión: Se verificó que la SC se correlacionó significativamente con la EC, EM, peso y estatura en relación al IMC e IP. Estos resultados sugieren que la SC podría ser un mejor indicador para evaluar y monitorizar el tamaño corporal en adolescentes que viven a elevada altitud.(AU)

Introduction: Anthropometric indices are used to assessgeneral health status, nutritional adequacy and physicalgrowth pattern. Objective: To verify the ability to adequately estimatebody size by body surface area (BS), body mass index (BMI) and tri-ponderal index (TPI) by chronological age (CE) andmaturity status (MS) in adolescents living at high altitude inPeru. Methods: A descriptive (correlational) study was carriedout in adolescents aged 10 to 14 years. A total of 3,088schoolchildren were recruited. Weight, height, BF, BMI andITP were evaluated and calculated by the Dobois and Duboisformula. Results: In both sexes the power of determination betweenCS with CE, MS, weight and height were high (males: r2=0.31 to 0.89% and females: r2= 0.36 to 0.94%). In men, therelationships between BMI with CD, MS, and height were null(r2= 0.01 to 0.05%), except with weight (r2= 0.70%),whereas, in women, the relationships were low with CD, MS,and height (r2= 0.11 to 0.24%), except for weight(r2=0.805). With ITP, the relationships with CD, MS andheight were null in both sexes (men: r2= 0.02 to 0.03% andwomen: r2= 0.00 to 0.07%), except with weight, where it ex-plains r2= 0.33% in men and 0.48% in women. There wereno differences when comparing males and females by CE (11,12 and 13 years), except at 10 and 14 years. Conclusion: It was verified that CS was significantly cor-related with CD, MS, weight and height in relation to BMI andPI. These results suggest that CS could be a better indicatorto assess and monitor body size in adolescents living at highaltitude.(AU)

High genetic diversity of Anaplasma marginale detected from Philippine cattle.

A total of 658 cattle in 6 provinces in the Philippines were screened for Anaplasma marginale infection by using a diagnostic heat-shock operon (groEL) gene-PCR assay. The screening-positive samples were further tested using the major surface antigen protein 1a (Msp1a) gene-PCR assay. Screening PCR results showed 130 cattle (19.8%) were positive for the A. marginale infection. Subsequent amplification using the Msp1a gene only showed 93 samples (14.1%) to be positive. In addition, 37 tandem-repeat structures, including 20 novel structures, and 41 distinct genotypes were identified. Interestingly, multiple infections of 4 different genotypes were also observed in A. marginale-infected cattle. The present study demonstrated the prevalence and characterization of diverse genotypes of A. marginale in the Philippine cattle.

Validez, confiabilidad y percentiles para valorar el auto-concepto físico de jóvenes universitarios de Perú / Validity, reliability and percentiles to assess the physical self-concept of young university students in Peru

Fundamentos: Verificar la validez y confiabilidad de la escala de auto-concepto físico (ACF) y proponer referencias por medio de percentiles. Métodos: Se estudió 1.937 jóvenes universitarios (1.064 hombres y 873 mujeres) de la ciudad de Puno, Perú. Se evaluó el peso y estatura y se calculó el índice de Masa Corporal (IMC) de los universitarios. Se utilizó la técnica de la encuesta aplicando una escala de ACF de 30 preguntas. La validación se efectuó por medio de Análisis Factorial Confirmatorio (A-FC). La confiabilidad de verificó por medio de Alpha de Cronbach. Se generaron percentiles por medio del método LMS. Resultados: El A-FC arrojó saturaciones superiores a 0,41 para 29 preguntas. En el modelo generado con 29 preguntas, el porcentaje de explicación de la varianza fue del 42%, el KMO fue de 0,911 (X2= 15578.883, gl= 435, p<0,001). El alpha de Cronbach mostró valores superiores a 0,75. Los percentiles propuestos permiten categorizar el ACF en tres niveles: p85 (alto ACF).Conclusiones: La escala de ACF es válida y confiable para jóvenes universitarios. Los percentiles son una alternativa para identificar, clasificar y categorizar los niveles de ACF

Background: To verify the validity and reliability of the physical self-concept scale (CFA) and to propose references by means of percentiles. Methods: 1937 university students(1064 men and 873 women) from the city of Puno, Peru, were studied. The weight and height were evaluated and the Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated. The survey technique was used applying an ACF scale of 30 questions. Validation was carried out through Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CF-A). The reliability of verified by means of Alpha de Cronbach. Percentiles were generated by means of the LMS method. Results: The CF-A showed saturations higher than 0.41 for 29 questions. In the model generated with 29 questions, the percentage explanation of the variance was 42%, the KMO was 0.911 (X2 = 15578.883, gl = 435, p <0.001). Cronbach's alpha showed values above 0.75. The proposed percentiles allow categorizing the ACF into three levels: p85 (high ACF). Conclusions: The ACF scale is valid and reliable for university students. The percentiles are an alternative to identify, classify and categorize the ACF levels

Epidemiological survey of Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina infections of cattle in Philippines.

A total of 250 blood samples were collected from clinically healthy cattle in five provinces of Philippines. DNA was extracted from the samples and analyzed by nested PCR assays for an epidemiological survey of Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina infections. Out of the 250 samples, 27 (10.8%) and 16 (6.4%) were positive for B. bovis infection and B. bigemina infection, respectively. Mixed infections were detected in a total of 4 samples (1.6%). Our data provide baseline information regarding the epidemiology of B. bovis and B. bigemina infections in cattle in Philippines, which can be utilized in developing proper strategies for disease control and management.

Factores facilitadores y barreras que permiten la articulación de la medicina tradicional con la académica en el nuevo sistema de salud - SAFCI - estudio realizado en Yacuiba - Tarija 2011 / Factors facilitators and barriers that allow the articulation of traditional medicine with the academic in the new health system - SAFCI - study conducted in Yacuiba - Tarija 2011

Pregunta de investigación: ¿Cuáles son las barreras que impiden a los médicos tradicionales para la articulación efectiva con los médicos científicos en la Red de Salud Yacuiba ­ Tarija Julio 2011? En el Marco del modelo SAFCI. Objetivos: a) De investigación: Identificar los facilitadores y barreras para la articulación de la Medicina Tradicional y Medicina académica en el Municipio de Yacuiba dentro el nuevo modelo de salud SAFCI Yacuiba 2011. Desde la perspectiva del médico tradicional. b) De intervención: Concientizar y sensibilizar a los médicos académicos para coadyuvar a la inclusión de los médicos tradicionales en la prestación de servicios de salud Este objetivo parte de la necesidad de hacerle comprender a los profesionales de la salud que la medicina como está concebida hoy en día es parte de un proceso cultural propio de cada pueblo. No hay pueblo del mundo que no haya desarrollado algún sistema de medicina, es decir, un sistema ideológico o doctrinario y tradicional, acerca de la vida y la muerte; la salud y la enfermedad; y más concretamente sobre las causas de las afecciones, la manera de reconocerlas y diagnosticarlas, así como las formas o procedimientos para aliviar, curar o prevenir las enfermedades, y además para preservar y promover la salud. En ese sentido, el abordaje de este plan de concientización tiende a transmitir a los médicos académicos los conocimientos necesarios sobre ese complejo mundo de tradiciones, prácticas y creencias; componentes que se estructuran organizadamente a través de sus propios agentes, los cuales son los mismos médicos tradicionales, 8 terapeutas, parteras, promotores, sobadores; que poseen sus propios métodos de diagnóstico y tratamiento, además de sus propios recursos terapéuticos como lo son las plantas medicinales, animales y minerales. Recuperar la identidad La influencia de la medicina europea y anglosajona después de la conquista y durante la colonia, se abocaron a destruir muchas de nuestras visiones sobre la salud, de manera específica que se distorsionen a tal punto que hoy en día condenamos las prácticas médicas tradicionales considerándolas como meras prácticas hechiceras. En tal sentido a través de talleres de información y orientación a los médicos académicos se buscará revertir estas erróneas percepciones acerca de los médicos tradicionales. Profundizar en la idea de que el sistema de medicina tradicional es un sistema integral que incluye terapeuta, terapias, recursos y destrezas curativas y diferenciarlo de la hechicería y charlatanes. Tipo de estudio: Se realizó una investigación cualitativa prospectiva. Se aplicó entrevistas a profundidad para una comprensión amplia, integral y contextualizada del tema de estudio. Lugar: En la Población de Yacuiba - Provincia - Gran Chaco. Población: De 144.761 habitantes toda la red de Yacuiba. Intervención: Se ha realizado la búsqueda de los médicos tradicionales por referencia, de esta manera llegamos a un total estimado de 20 médicos tradicionales entrevistados, se ha seleccionado de manera convencional con base al acceso y la posibilidad real de entrevistarlos.