Agricultural drought assessment in dry zones of Tolima, Colombia, using an approach based on water balance and vegetation water stress.

Soil water balance is an essential element to consider for the management of droughts and agricultural land use. It is important to evaluate the water consumption of a crop in each of its phenological phases and the status of water reserves during critical hydrologic periods. This study developed an agricultural drought index (Standardized Soil Moisture Deficit Index - SMODI) conceptualized with a water balance model considering the vegetation stress caused by soil moisture deficit. This contribution was based on meteorological information, soil moisture from satellite images, hydrophysical properties of the soil and crop evapotranspiration. Information from 61 weather stations located in the dry zone of Tolima was used for estimating the water balance. SMODI was compared with the most common drought indexes: Standardized Precipitation - Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI), the Palmer Self-Calibrated Drought Index (scPDSI), and other eleven macroclimatic indexes. Pearson's correlation coefficients (r), Tukey's test, and analysis of variance were applied to analyze the degree of association between SMODI and the contrasting indexes on a quarterly basis. SMODI considers factors influencing soil moisture distribution and retention and the water stress thresholds that plants have evolved to withstand during drought periods. Consequently, this integrated approach enhances the assessment of agricultural drought by relying on pertinent physical processes. SMODI identified extremely dry, severe, moderate and normal drought 5 %, 3 %, 20 % and 72 % respectively conditions in areas characterized by Entisols, Inceptisols, and Andisols, where rice and fruit crops and pasturelands are cultivated. The SMODI has a good correlation with macroclimatic indexes (0.70 < r < 0.74).

Perinatal mental e-health: What is the profile of pregnant women interested in online assessment of their emotional state?

AIM: This study explores the profile of pregnant women interested in the online assessment of their emotional status according to their sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics, history of psychopathology, and healthcare setting used (private vs. public). DESIGN: This is a comparative and descriptive cross-sectional study. METHOD: Participants were 281 Spanish pregnant women assessed with the MamáFeliz (HappyMom) website. RESULTS: Participants were probably to be unemployed, in a relationship, and generally had a high educational level and an intermediate economic status. Most of them were primiparous, had non-complicated natural pregnancies and presented healthy habits and good physical and emotional health, despite 31.3% of them had a history of psychological treatment. Our results reveal the profile of women interested in the online assessment of their emotional status, which can contribute to improving future initiatives to facilitate rapid screenings of perinatal mental health by nurses in both public and private settings.

Doppler ultrasound in the assessment of renal perfusion before and during continuous kidney replacement therapy in the pediatric intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess observer variability and describe renal resistive index (RRI) and pulsatility index (PI) before and after onset of continuous kidney replacement therapy (CKRT). A secondary objective was to correlate Doppler ultrasound findings with those from direct measurement of renal blood flow (RBF). METHODS: This is a prospective observational study in hemodynamically stable Maryland piglets with and without acute kidney injury (AKI) and in hemodynamically unstable critically ill children requiring CKRT. Doppler-based RRI and PI were assessed for each subject. Measurements were made by two different operators (pediatric intensivists) before and after CKRT onset. RESULTS: Observer variability assessment in the measurement of RRI and PI rendered a moderate correlation for both RRI (ICC 0.65, IQR 0.51-0.76) and PI (ICC 0.63, IQR 0.47-0.75). RRI and PI showed no correlation with RBF or urine output. Baseline RRI and PI were normal in control piglets [RRI 0.68 (SD 0.02), PI 1.25 (SD 0.09)] and those with AKI [RRI 0.68 (SD 0.03), PI 1.20 (SD 0.13)]. Baseline RRI and PI were elevated in critically ill children (RRI 0.85, PI 2.0). PI and RRI did not change with CKRT in any study group. CONCLUSIONS: Observer variability between inexperienced pediatric intensivists was comparable with that between senior and junior operators. Doppler-based calculations did not correlate with invasive measurements of RBF. RRI and PI were normal in hemodynamically stable piglets with and without AKI. RRI and PI were high in hemodynamically unstable patients requiring CKRT. RRI and PI did not change after CKRT onset, despite changes in hemodynamic status. A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.

Gender Gap in Self-Rated Health: A Cohort Perspective in Eastern European Countries.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between self-rated health and gender differs across countries and generations. The aim of this study is to analyze the effect of socioeconomic conditions on self-rated health from a generational perspective, its differential effect on gender, and its influence on the gender gap in order to explore health diversity using a multidisciplinary approach and considering policy implications in Eastern European countries. METHODS: We used data drawn from the European Health Interview Survey for eight Eastern European countries and EUROSTAT from 2006 through to 2009. We conducted multilevel analyses to understand the individual and national health determinants of self-rated health by gender and to determine whether national differences remain after controlling for micro variables. In order to analyze the role of equity (Gini quartile) in gender differences, Oaxaca analyses were used. RESULTS: The self-rated health gender gap increases with age. Individual characteristics, such as educational level or smoking, influence citizens' perceived health, and have a stronger effect on women than on men. Knowing both the characteristics (endowment effects) and the effects of individual characteristics (coefficient effects) on health is important in order to understand gender gaps among people from the silent generation. CONCLUSIONS: Our research indicates that random effects are greater for men than for women. Moreover, random effects might be explained to a certain extent by economic equity (Gini index). The combined effects of gender, cohort, and geographical differences on self-rated health have to be taken into account to develop public health policies.

Detection of Sars-Cov-2 in the air of two hospitals in Hermosillo, Sonora, México, utilizing a low-cost environmental monitoring system.

OBJECTIVE: The best way of preventing the dispersion of an infectious disease is decreasing the transmissibility of the pathogen. To achieve such a goal, it is important to have epidemiological surveillance to retrieve data about its routes of transmission and dispersion. This study investigated the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 detection using filtration through 0.22 µm pores. METHODS: A filtration system with vacuum pump was used for sampling, and molecular analysis was performed by RT-PCR for detecting the COVID-19 virus. RESULTS: It was found that SARS-CoV-2 could be detected in particulate matter trapped on 0.22 µm filters 3 h after air sampling, and the only contaminated areas were those near patient zones. CONCLUSIONS: The results confirm the possibility of finding this virus in floating particulate matter in contaminated zones, with a simple and economic sampling method based on filtration technology through 0.22 µm pores and detection with molecular techniques (RT-PCR). The higher risk zones were those near patients with COVID-19.

Environmental Biotechnology: Challenges and perspectives in applying combined technologies to enhance remediation and renewable energy generation / Biotecnología ambiental: desafíos y perspectivas en la aplicación de tecnologías combinadas para mejorar la remediación y la generación

Abstract The various industrial sectors, as well as livestock and agricultural activities, are increasing the production of inputs to meet the demand of the worldwide demographic explosion, making a challenge the clean maintenance of water, soil, and air. Therefore, the search for solutions for a pollutant-free environment without compromising economic development has become extremely important. Thereby, biotechnological studies in order to solve environmental issues have been gaining extensive attention through the coupling of technology procedures to biological systems as sustainable solutions to remediate contaminated areas. In this sense, this review covers topics such as the role of Omics era in microbial environmental biotechnology for pollution control as well as the microbial fuel cell use in energy production. Moreover, phytoremediation and the perspective of applying chemical methods are approached as environmentally friendly tools for the pollutant control to improve remediation processes.

Resumen Los diversos sectores industriales, así como las actividades ganaderas y agrícolas, están aumentando la producción de insumos para satisfacer la demanda de la explosión demográfica mundial, lo cual dificulta el mantenimiento limpio del agua, el suelo y el aire. Por lo tanto, la búsqueda de soluciones para un medio ambiente libre de contaminantes sin comprometer el desarrollo económico se ha vuelto extremadamente importante. De este modo, los estudios biotecnológicos para resolver problemas ambientales han recibido una gran atención a través del acoplamiento de procedimientos tecnológicos a sistemas biológicos como soluciones sostenibles para remediar áreas contaminadas. En este sentido, esta revisión cubre temas como el papel de la era Ómica en la biotecnología ambiental microbiana para el control de la contaminación, así como el uso de celdas de combustible microbianas en la producción de energía. Además, la fitorremediación y la perspectiva de aplicar métodos químicos se abordan como herramientas ecológicas para el control de contaminantes y mejorar los procesos de remediación.

Thrombin Inhibition: Preliminary Assessment of the Anticoagulant Potential of Turnera subulata (Passifloraceae).

Cardiovascular and thromboembolic disturbances are the main causes of disease-related deaths worldwide. Regardless of the etiological factors involved in thrombus formation, coagulation is mainly activated by thrombin, one of the most important blood clotting molecules. Thus, this study evaluated the Turnera subulata leaf crude extract, its ethyl acetate fraction effect on the coagulation cascade, and its possible side effects. Their phytocomposition indicated polyphenols, mainly flavonol-3-O-glycosylate and a flavone glycoside, without in vitro and in vivo toxicity. Regarding their potential anticoagulants, results displayed partial thromboplastin and prothrombin time activation, and Xa and IIa, and thrombin inhibition by heparin II cofactor, indicating significant anticoagulant activity, suggesting direct and indirect thrombin inhibition as the main mechanism of action. Therefore, T. subulata leaf active compounds exhibit therapeutic potential required to develop phytotherapeutic formulations to assist conventional anticoagulants in clinical treatments.

Assessment of ten trace elements in umbilical cord blood and maternal blood: association with birth weight.

BACKGROUND: Trace elements are an essential nutritional component for humans and inadequate tissue-concentrations may have a significant effect on fetal size. OBJECTIVE: To measure ten trace elements in blood samples from mothers and their newborns, and assess their association with anthropometric characteristics at birth. The effects of other factors on fetal growth, such as biologic characteristics of the infant and mother, were analysed. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Hospital general, University of Valencia, Spain. Healthy pregnant women, and their full-term infants were selected (n = 54 paired samples). Infants were grouped according to birth weight: small for gestational age (SGA n = 11), appropriate (AGA n = 30), and large (LGA n = 13). Anthropometric and biologic characteristics of the infant and mother were recorded. Levels of ten essential elements: arsenic (As), barium (Ba), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), chrome (Cr), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn), in maternal and cord plasma samples were determined. Samples were obtained from the umbilical cord immediately after delivery and the samples of their mothers were drawn at 2-4 h after delivery. RESULTS: The analysis identified that cord blood Cu (p = 0.017) and maternal blood Ba and Mg (p = 0.027 and p = 0.002, respectively) concentrations were significantly higher among SGA infants compared to AGA and LGA infants. A multiple linear regression analysis showed that increased umbilical cord Cu concentration (adjusted ß -146.4 g, 95% CI -255 to -37.7; p = 0.009), maternal smoking during pregnancy (adjusted ß -483.8 g, 95% CI -811.7 to -155.9; p = 0.005), shorter gestational age (adjusted ß 350.1 g, 95% CI 244.5 to 455.8; p = 0.000), and female sex (adjusted ß -374 g, 95% CI -648 to -100; p = 0.009) were significantly associated with decreased birth weight. Maternal anaemia was positively associated with birth weight (adjusted ß 362 g, 95% CI 20.8 to 703.1; p = 0.038). No significant associations were found between maternal trace elements and birth weight in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: We did not observe significant associations of cord blood trace elements other than Cu and maternal trace elements with birth weight in the multivariate analyses.

Seguimiento de egresados de la especialidad en Medicina Familiar y el grado de satisfacción de sus empleadores / Follow-Up of Family Medicine Graduates and Degree of Satisfaction of Their Employers

Introducción: el proceso de globalización de la atención a la salud, la educación, la tecnología y las nuevas formas de organización del trabajo, exigen a los países generar mecanismos de evaluación a sus sistemas educativos. Objetivo: conocer el nivel de satisfacción de los empleadores de unidades médicas con relación al desempeño profesional de los médicos egresados Programa de especialización en medicina familiar para médicos generales del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, de la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Métodos: estudio observacional, descriptivo y transversal. Se aplicó un cuestionario por profesores de la Subdivisión de Medicina Familiar, de la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, que constó de 10 preguntas dirigidas a los directivos de las unidades médicas donde trabajaban (antes y después de la especialización), los egresados del Programa de Especialización en Medicina Familiar para Médicos Generales, relacionadas con el grado de satisfacción de las autoridades con el trabajo desempeñado por los médicos egresados de la especialización bajo la modalidad de capacitación en servicio. Resultados: los resultados generales muestran alta satisfacción de los directivos en cuanto al desempeño profesional de los médicos egresados. Conclusiones: para los empleadores, de Especialización en Medicina Familiar para Médicos Generales, produce una alta satisfacción el desempeño profesional de los egresados(AU)

Objective: Know the level of satisfaction of medical units' employers with respect to professional performance of family medicine graduates from the specialization programs for general practitioner of the Mexican social-security, Medical Faculty Institute of the Autonomous National University from Mexico. Methods: An observational, descriptive study was conducted at the Faculty of Medicine of the National Autonomous University of Mexico. A questionnaire of 10 questions was applied to managers of medical units, related to the satisfaction of the authorities with the work performed by doctors specializing graduates in the form of in-service training where graduates worked, before and after specialization, within the specialization program in Family Medicine for General Practitioners. Results: The general results evidence high satisfaction of the executives as to the professional performance of the graduate doctors. Conclusions: High satisfaction is produced by the professional performance of Family Medicine graduates, to the employers(AU)

Evaluación del conocimiento sobre reanimación cardiopulmonar pediátrica en residentes del tercer año de pediatría / Knowledge Assessment in Pediatric CPR by Pediatric Third Year Residents

A pesar de los notables avances en la prevención, la parada cardiorrespiratoria sigue siendo un problema de salud pública. OBJETIVO: determinar el nivel de conocimientos sobre reanimación cardiopulmonar Pediátrica (RCP) en los residentes del tercer año de Pediatría. METODOS: Investigación de tipo no experimental, prospectiva y exploratoria. Población representada por 46 residentes que se encontraban laborando en las unidades docentes hospitalarias de Maracaibo entre septiembre y noviembre de 2012, a quienes se le aplicó una encuesta sobre los conocimientos teórico-prácticos en rcP de las Guías Americana o europea 2010. RESULTADOS: el 41% de los residentes había recibido clases teórico-prácticas en pregrado y el 70% las recibió en postgrado; sobre el basamento de las nuevas pautas, sólo el 34.78% lo conocen; en cuanto a las respuestas, el 60.87% respondió correctamente acerca de la relación compresiones/ventilación, la respuesta sobre la frecuencia de las compresiones fue incorrecta en el 52.17%; sobre la frecuencia respiratoria correcta, el 63.04% contestó incorrectamente; la respuesta sobre la dosis de adrenalina fue correcta en el 78.26% y sobre la edad de inicio del uso de deA fue incorrecta en el 47.82%; la respuesta sobre la dosis de choque fue incorrecta en el 13,04%; no obstante, el 87% se siente apto para realizar la RCP. CONCLUSION: la formación sobre la rcP pediátrica en los residentes del tercer año de pediatría en las diferentes unidades docentes hospitalarias no alcanza el estándar internacional que se amerita, y se sugiere el reciclaje cada año del postgrado.

Despite the remarkable advances in prevention, cardiac arrest remains a public health problem. OBJETIVE: to determine the level of knowledge about pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in third year residents of Pediatrics. METHODS: A non-experimental, prospective and exploratory investigation. the study group was represented by 46 residents who worked at Maracaibo’s teaching hospital units between september and november 2012, to whom a theoretical and practical survey was applied to evaluate their knowledge regarding the American or european 2010 cPr Guide. RESULTS: 41% of residents had received theoretical and practical classes as undergraduates while 70% received it as graduates; only 34.78% had some knowledge about the basis of the new guidelines; in terms of compression / ventilation ratio, 60.87% answered correctly ; the frequency of compressions was incorrectly answered by 52.17%; on proper respiratory rate, 63.04% answered incorrectly; the adrenaline dose was answered correctly by 78.26%; answers about the age of the first use of deA were incorrect in 47.82% and about the shock dose in 13.04%; however, 87% feel fit to perform CPR. CONCLUSION: Pediatric cPr training for third year residents in different pediatric hospital teaching units does not meet the international standard. For this reason it is suggested that this training should be refreshed every residency year.

Social accountability of medical schools and academic primary care training in Latin America: principles but not practice.

BACKGROUND: Latin America has one of the highest rates of health disparities in the world and is experiencing a steep increase in its number of medical schools. It is not clear if medical school authorities consider social responsibility, defined as the institutional commitment to contribute to the improvement of community well-being, as a priority and if there are any organizational strategies that could reduce health disparities. OBJECTIVE: To study the significance and relevance of social responsibility in the academic training of medical schools in Latin America. METHODS: The study combined a qualitative thematic literature review of three databases with a quantitative design based on a sample of nine Latin American and non-Latin American countries. RESULTS: The thematic analysis showed high agreement among academic groups on considering medical schools as 'moral agents', part of a 'social contract' and with an institutional responsibility to reduce health disparities mainly through the implementation of strong academic primary care programs. The quantitative analysis showed a significant association between higher development of academic primary care programs and lower level of health disparities by country (P = 0.028). However, the data showed that most Latin American medical schools did not prioritize graduate primary care training. CONCLUSIONS: The study shows a discrepancy between the importance given to social responsibility and academic primary care training in Latin America and the practices implemented by medical schools. It highlights the need to refocus medical education policies in the region.

Implementation of a nutrition education program in a handball team; consequences on nutritional status.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate nutritional status and dietary habits after implementation of a nutritional education program in professional handball players. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Longitudinal study of 14 handball players evaluated with 72-h recall, a questionnaire on food consumption and anthropometric measures during 4 months. The intervention consisted of a nutrition education program. RESULTS: Energy intake was consistently below the recommended allowances. Macronutrient intakes as a percentage of total energy intake were below the recommended allowances for carbohydrates, and above recommended allowances for fats. Nutritional education was followed by a significant increase (p < 0.01) in total energy and macronutrient intakes, with no significant changes in macronutrient or micronutrient intakes after adjustment for energy intake. DISCUSSION: The imbalance in nutrient intake in handball players suggests that detailed re-analysis is needed to determine specific recommendations for this population. Nutritional education with continuous follow-up to monitor athletes' dietary habits may lead them to adopt appropriate nutritional habits to optimize dietary intakes. The lack of specific recommendations for micronutrient intakes in athletes leads to confusion regarding appropriate intakes; biochemical tests that yield normal values (albeit approaching cut-off values for deficiency) may disguise deficient status for some nutrients when strenuous exercise is involved. CONCLUSION: In-depth studies with nutrition education programs that include long-term follow-up are advisable to avoid deficiencies that can lead to irreversible damage in competitive athletes.

Objetivos: Evaluar el estado nutricional y los hábitos dietéticos en respuesta a la aplicación de un programa de educación nutricional en jugadores profesionales de balonmano. Sujetos y metodología: Estudio longitudinal realizado a una muestra de 14 jugadores pertenecientes a un equipo de balonmano de alto rendimiento, a los que se les evaluó mediante recordatorio de 72 horas, un cuestionario de frecuencia de consumo, medidas antropométricas a lo largo de 4 meses, y a los que se les aplicó un programa de educación nutricional al inicio del estudio. Los valores de ingesta y de frecuencia de consumo fueron comparados con las recomendaciones de macronutrientes existentes para deportistas y micronutrientes para población sana, respectivamente, y con la pirámide de alimentos para población sana española. Resultados: La ingesta de energía de los deportistas se situó por debajo de las recomendaciones a lo largo de todo el estudio. La ingesta de macronutrientes respecto a la energía ingerida, se situó por debajo de las recomendaciones para la ingesta de carbohidratos y por encima de las recomendaciones para la ingesta de grasa, mostrada en los resultados obtenidos de frecuencia de consumo de alimentos. La educación nutricional produjo un incremento significativo (p < 0,01) en la ingesta de energía y macronutrientes tras su aplicación. A pesar de ello, no se produjeron cambios significativos en la ingesta de macronutrientes y micronutrientes al ajustar por energía ingerida. Los niveles bioquímicos se encontraron dentro de los rangos de normalidad durante todo el estudio. Discusión: El desequilibrio en la ingesta de nutrientes presente en los jugadores de balonmano hace necesario realizar un ajuste nutricional completo para poder establecer recomendaciones específicas para este tipo de población. La aplicación de un programa de educación nutricional monitorizada de manera continuada mediante seguimiento en los deportistas, puede tener como consecuencia la instauración de hábitos nutricionales adecuados que lleve a una optimización en la ingesta. La ausencia de recomendaciones específicas de micronutrientes en el deporte, provoca una cierta confusión a la hora de establecer una ingesta adecuada de micronutrientes, ya que en muchos casos demuestran normalidad en los niveles bioquímicos, aunque muy cercanos a la deficiencia, pudiendo comprometer el estatus de algún nutriente en situaciones de ejercicio extremo. Conclusión: Sería aconsejable realizar estudios exhaustivos de valoración del estatus nutricional que planteen la instauración de programas de educación nutricional a largo plazo, con el fin de evitar carencias que deriven en daños irreversibles en el deportista de competición.

Factors related to attitudes toward organ donation after death in the immigrant population in Spain.

Considering the relevance of the migratory processes in Western societies, the attitudes toward organ donation after death are analyzed by means of a survey applied to a representative random sample of the resident immigrant population in Spain, comprising 1202 subjects (estimated margin of error of ± 2.88%, p = q, p < 0.05). Considered variables were disposition toward own organ donation, disposition toward deceased relatives' donation in different situations, arguments against donation, socio-demographic indicators, religious beliefs, social integration, and information about organ donation and transplantation. Predisposition to donate varies strongly across geographical origin and religious beliefs and also shows relationships with additional socio-demographic, social integration, and informative variables. In turn, the relationship between religious beliefs and attitude toward donation varies as a function of the degree of social integration. In Spain, the immigrant population is a heterogeneous collective that requires differential strategies to promote donation. Such strategies should be aimed at reinforcing the existing positive attitudes of citizens from West Europe and Latin America, and at familiarizing and informing about donation in citizens from the East, and at making specific efforts to break down the cultural and religious barriers toward donation in African citizens, with special emphasis on people of the Muslim faith.

Analysis of the attitudes and motivations of the Spanish population towards organ donation after death.

Starting with the relevance of the Spanish experience, this study analyses the population's disposition towards organ donation after death by means of a representative survey of the adult Spanish population (N = 1206, estimated error ±2.87%, P < 0.05). Of the participants, 8.1% were declared donors, 59.3% were likely to donate, 14.5% were against donating and 18.1% did not know or did not respond; 87.3% would donate relative's organs if the deceased favoured donation, 50.2% if the deceased's wishes were unknown and 13.1% even if the deceased opposed donation. Among people who were favourable towards donation, the main motives expressed were the will to save other people's lives, solidarity and knowing they might someday need a donation. The most important motives for not donating among participants who were against it were the fear of premature organ extraction, of premature pronouncement of death and of mutilation. Reticence to donate is associated with low socio-economic and cultural level, advanced age and high religious commitment; it is also associated with a low perception of transplant efficacy, not directly knowing any transplanted people and the lack of qualified information. The results support diverse potentially effective strategies for promoting donation in the general population.

[Kidney transplant experience at the Specialty Hospital Bernardo Sepulveda National Medical Center Century XXI, Mexican Institute of Social Security]. / Experiencia en trasplante renal en el Hospital de Especialidades Bernardo Sepúlveda del Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS).

INTRODUCTION: The first kidney transplant in Mexico was done on October 22, 1963 at the General Hospital of National Medical Center (CMN) of the Mexican Institute of Social Security. After the earthquake in 1985, the transplantation activity was continued at the Specialty Hospital of National Medical Center Century XXI. Our program has a continue activity for almost 48 years and a total of 2019 kidney transplants from October 1963 to December 2010. We describe our experience in 20 years. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective cohort study that includes all kidney transplants performed in the period from January 1991 to December 2010. Descriptive statistics were used. The survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan Meier method. We show the patient survival, graft survival censored for death with functional graft and total graft survival (uncensored). RESULTS: We analyzed a total of 1544 kidney transplants. The percentage of living donor was 82.9 vs. deceased donor of 17.1%. Patient survival at 1, 5, 10, 15 and 20 years was 95.0, 91.8, 87.2, 81.1 and 70.1%, respectively; allograft survival rate censored for death with functional allograft at 1, 5, 10, 15 and 20 years was 93.0, 86.2, 76.2, 63.7 and 50.9%, respectively. Our Transplant center also take care of around 1300 living donors in the long term, looking for morbidities as risk factors for the unique kidney as metabolic syndrome, diabetes, hypertension and others. CONCLUSION: In our program, the main source of renal allografts was living donors. Our transplant center has to increase the organ procurement from deceased donors. An important contribution of our center has been the long follow up of living donors according to international consensus.

[Basis to modify the immunotherapy regimen at the Allergy Service, General Hospital of Mexico]. / Fundamentos para modificar el esquema de la inmunoterapia en el servicio de Alergia del Hospital General de México.

BACKGROUND: In Mexico, the way allergen immunotherapy is performed has remained without changes for many years. Here we present the modifications that have been performed in the General Hospital of Mexico to make immunotherapy more effective. OBJECTIVE: To show the changes implemented to make immunotherapy faster and more effective by changing the volume of allergy vaccines from 5 or 10 mL to 3 mL, and the theoretical and practical support for the change. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The amount of protein delivered in each immunotherapy shot was computed to show how they change along the treatment. Results for schedules for 3, 5 and 10 mL were compared. RESULTS: Results showed serial rises and falls in protein amount injected every time a new vaccine flask starts to be used. However, in the case for 3 mL vaccines schedules, those changes are less pronounced. CONCLUSIONS: Due to these results we suggest a schedule of immunotherapy with 3 mL vaccines that allow getting the maintenance doses in a shorter time and at lower cost.

[Prevalence of allergic diseases in Mexico City]. / Prevalencia de las enfermedades alérgicas en la Ciudad de México.

BACKGROUND: There is a considerable variation in the prevalence of allergic disorders in developing countries. These differences may be attributable to different methodological problems and to the lack of operational definitions. Several studies suggest that the prevalence of allergic diseases has been increasing worldwide in recent years. However, in Mexico, there is no data in open population. OBJECTIVE: To know in open population the prevalence of allergic diseases in the counties of Mexico City, the frequence of symptoms in each allergic disease, the therapeutic modalities that patients seek, the school and work annual absences and the amount of money that each patient spends in antiallergic drugs. PATIENTS AND METHODS: It was an open-population, cross-sectional trial, in two phases with a random sample size of 8,000 individuals from 214 public health centers. Statistical analysis was made with Excel 97-2004: Mann-Whitney U test for continuous variables and chi-square-test for discrete variables, p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The prevalence of allergic diseases in Mexico City was 42.6%, allergic rhinitis was the most frequent. Children are the largest age group affected. The highest prevalence was found in Tlahuac county. Coexistence of allergic diseases was found in 19.9%. The 44.2% of allergic patients attended to their general practitioner. 20.4% of all patients spent 10-20% of their income in medicines and 26% do not have money to buy antiallergic drugs. School and work annual absences are 3.37 +/- 3.86 and 6.2 +/- 12.84 days, respectively. CONCLUSION: Allergic diseases must be considered a public-health problem in Mexico City.