Prevalence, serovars, and risk factors associated with the presence of Salmonella in pork sold in public markets in Quito, Ecuador.

Background: Salmonella enterica are bacteria that include more than 2,500 serovars. Most of these serovars have been linked to human foodborne illnesses, mainly related to poultry and pigs. Thus, these animals are considered the reservoirs of many Salmonella serovars and strains related to antibiotic resistance. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, serovars, ß-lactam resistance genes, and the risk factors associated with Salmonella enterica in pork commercialized in open markets of Quito city. Methods: For this, 165 pork meat samples were taken from municipal markets in three areas in the city. These samples were microbiologically processed following the ISO 6579-2014 standardized method. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test was used to identify Salmonella serotyping and resistance genes. Strains not identified by PCR were typed by the Kauffman White Le Minor scheme. A multivariate analysis was performed to identify risk factors associated with the presence of the microorganism. Results: Salmonella prevalence in pork was 9.1%. Identified serovars were 4, [5], 12: i:- (53.3%), Infantis (33.3%), and Derby (13.4%). Furthermore, the ß-lactam resistance genes bla CTX-M-65 could be identified in three S. infantis isolates. Multivariate analysis showed that temperature (above 8°C) and cutting surfaces (wood) presented significant association values. Conclusions: In conclusion, pork in traditional markets of Quito is contaminated with Salmonella enterica, whose main serovars pose a public health concern, and shows beta-lactam resistance.

Thyroid volume and its relation to anthropometric measures in a healthy cuban population.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to describe the thyroid volume in healthy adults by ultrasound and to correlate this volume with some anthropometric measures and other differentiated thyroid cancer risk factors. STUDY DESIGN: Thyroid volume and anthropometric measures were recorded in a sample of 100 healthy adults, including 21 men and 79 women aged 18-50 years, living in a non-iodine-deficient area of Havana city. RESULTS: The average thyroid volume was 6.6 ± 0.26 ml; it was higher in men (7.3 ml) than in women (6.4 ml; p = 0.15). In the univariate analysis, thyroid volume was correlated with all anthropometric measures, but in the multivariate analysis, body surface area was found to be the only significant anthropometric parameter. Thyroid volume was also higher in current or former smokers and in persons with blood group AB or B. CONCLUSION: Specific reference values of thyroid volume as a function of body surface area could be used for evaluating thyroid volume in clinical practice. The relation between body surface area and thyroid volume is coherent with what is known about the relation of thyroid volume to thyroid cancer risk, but the same is not true about the relation between thyroid volume and smoking habit.

Propiedades psicométricas del cuestionario de necesidades de familiares de pacientes hospitalizados en unidades críticas, versión abreviada / Psychometric properties of the questionnaire for needs of family members of patients hospitalized in critical units, abbreviated version

RESUMEN El ingreso de una persona a una Unidad de Paciente Crítico genera efectos en su círculo familiar más cercano, siendo el acceso a la información y trato empático algunas de las necesidades de los familiares de los pacientes hospitalizados. El Critical Care Family Needs Inventory (CCFNI), versión breve, permite evaluar la satisfacción de necesidades de los familiares de pacientes hospitalizados en estas unidades y se considera una herramienta útil para obtener una visión de este grupo. Objetivo: Describir la adaptación cultural y evaluar las propiedades psicométricas del CCFNI, versión breve, en familiares de pacientes hospitalizados en Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos del Hospital Dr. Hernán Henríquez Aravena, Temuco, Chile. Material y método: Diseño de corte transversal. Se realizó la adaptación cultural del instrumento y luego se aplicó a 77 familiares, posterior a la firma del consentimiento informado. Se determinó validez de constructo y confiabilidad del instrumento. Resultados: Fueron excluidos los ítems 11 y 14. El análisis factorial exploratorio evidenció cuatro componentes cuyos alfa de Cronbach fueron 0,7; 0,7; 0,6 y 0,3. Conclusión: La traducción y adaptación realizada debe continuar su estudio psicométrico incorporando un número mayor de familiares de pacientes hospitalizados para confirmar la ex clusión de los ítems y comprobar su estructura multidimensional. Este instrumento constituye una herramienta para valorar las necesidades de familiares de pacientes hospitalizados en Unidades Críticas.

ABSTRACT The admission of a patient to the Intensive Care Unit has an effect on its inner family circle, the access to information and an empathic treatment being some of the needs of the relatives of the patient in this unit. The short version of the Critical Care Family Needs Inventory (CCFNI) allows to evaluate the satisfaction of those needs by the relatives of the patients in this units and it is considered a useful tool to obtain an overview of this group. Objective: To describe the cultural adaptations and to evaluate the psychometric properties of the short version of the CCFNI in hospitalized patients' relatives in Dr. Hernán Henríquez Aravena's Hospital, Temuco, Chile. Method: This research uses a cross-sectional survey design. The tool was first culturally adapted and then applied to 77 relatives during the time span of five months, after a written consent was provided. Validity of the construct and reliability of the tool are determined. Results: Items 11 and 14 were excluded. The exploratory factorial analysis showed four components whose Alphas of Cronbach were 0.7; 0.7; 0.6 and 0.3. Conclusion: The translation and adapted version applied must continue its psychometric study incorporating a bigger number of relatives of hospitalized patients to confirm the exclusion of items and to check its multidimensional structure. This instrument is a tool to value the needs of relatives of patients hospitalized in Critical Units.

[Peyronie's disease. Evaluation of 3 therapeutic modalities: propoleum, laser and simultaneous propoleum-laser]. / Enfermedad de peyronie. Evaluación de tres modalidades terapéuticas: propóleo, láser y propóleo + láser.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the results of treatment of peyronie's disease with propoleum, laser, and simultaneous propoleum-laser. METHODS: Prospective research. Twenty-eight patients with Peyronie's disease from the hospitals Freyre de Andrade,Fajardo, Clinico Quirúrgico y Habana Campo were studied between May 2002 and August 2003. They were divided into three groups: 1) treatment with propoleum: 10 patients; 2) treatment with laser: 8 patients; and 3) treatment with propoleum + laser: 10 patients. A registered formula of Propoleum powder was employed in daily 900 mg capsules over six months. 30 sessions of laser were applied to the plaque divided in periods of 10 sessions every 2 months. STUDY VARIABLES: age, race, date of disease start/clinical improvement correlation, beginning of improvement after treatment. Data were processed in a statistical software (Epinfo-6) and multivariate analysis with non parametric methods was employed. RESULTS: Mean age was between 4th and 7th decade in all groups. Caucasian race was predominant. The propoleum-laser group achieved the greater diminishment of the plaque among those with one or two years of disease evolution. Pain was not the main symptom in these patients. The greater diminishment of the curvature was obtained in the propoleum groups, with a mean diminishmeet of 10.8 (propoleum only) and 10.3 (Propoleum+ laser) in comparison to the laser group with a mean decrease of 8 and mean increase of 12.6. Mean plaque diminishment measured clinically was 2.3 cm and 1.5 cm in the propoleum groups, respectively, and 1.2 cm in the laser group. Ultrasound measurement mean diminishment was 2.3 mm and 12.16 mm in the propoleum groups. The laser results were not comparable due to the low number of patients in relation to the other groups. CONCLUSIONS: 1-best results appeared in the groups treated with propoleum in patients with 1-2 years of disease. 2-Diminishment of the curvature angle, physical or ultrasound measurement of the plaques was greater in the propoleum groups. 3-After the start of treatment, the propoleum-laser group referred early improvements, and the propoleum group referred continuous progressive improvement; only a few patients in the laser group referred improvement. 4-Treatment with propoleum was more effective and laser increased its action, being propoleum in monotherapy less complex in its application and with a better cost-benefit ratio.