Assessment of progesterone levels on the day of pregnancy test determination: A novel concept toward individualized luteal phase support.

Research question: The main objective of the study is to define the optimal trade-off progesterone (P4) values on the day of embryo transfer (ET), to identify low P4-human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), and to establish whether P4 supplementation started on the hCG day can increase the success rate of the frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycle. Design: A single-center, cohort, retrospective study with 664 hormone replacement therapy (HRT)-FET cycles analyzed female patients who received vaginal 600 mg/day of P4 starting from 6 days before the FET, had normal P4 values on the day before ET, and whose P4 on the day of the pregnancy test was assessed. Results: Of the 664 cycles, 69.6% of cycles showed P4 ≥ 10.6 ng/ml, while 30.4% showed P4 < 10.6 ng/ml on the day of the hCG. Of the 411 chemical pregnancies detected, 71.8% had P4-hCG ≥ 10.6 ng/ml (group A), while 28.2% had P4-hCG < 10.6 ng/ml. Of the cycles with P4-hCG < 10.6 ng/ml, 64.7% (group B) were supplemented with a higher dose of vaginal P4 (1,000 mg/day), while 35.3% (group C) were maintained on the same dose of vaginal micronized P4. The live birth rate was 71.9%, 96%, and 7.3% for groups A, B, and C, respectively. Conclusion: The likelihood to detect P4-hCG < 10.6 ng/ml decreased as the level of serum P4 the day before ET increased. The live birth rate (LBR) was shown to be significantly lower when P4 was low and not supplemented.

Rendimiento y validación del puntaje NoSAS en la evaluación inicial del síndrome de apnea/hipopnea del sueño / Performance and validation of NoSAS score in sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome initial assessment

Introducción: El método de referencia para diagnosticar el síndrome de apnea-hipopnea obstructiva del sueño (SAHOS) es la polisomnografía, esta no es diagnóstica en otros trastornos respiratorios del sueño, por lo que es necesario la implementación de puntajes predictivos para diferenciar aquellos pacientes que tienen más riesgos de padecer SAHOS y necesiten de una polisomnografía. El objetivo de este estudio fue validar el puntaje NoSAS y la escala de Berlín frente a la polisomnografía tipo 1 en pacientes con sospecha de SAHOS. Materiales y métodos: Estudio de pruebas diagnósticas. A 264 pacientes se les realizó una polisomnografía basal, la aplicación del puntaje NoSAS y la escala de Berlín; luego, se hizo el análisis de las pruebas diagnósticas y se calculó el rendimiento de cada una en relación con el índice de apnea hipopnea (IAH). Resultados: La sensibilidad del puntaje NoSAS para un IAH ≥ 20 fue 88,57% con intervalo de confianza (IC) 95% 80,4-96,74; especificidad 56,70 %; IC 95% 49,47-63,93 y valor predictivo negativo (VPN) de 93,22, IC 95% 91,70- 99,82. Para la escala de Berlín, la sensibilidad fue de 81,43%, IC 95% 71,60-91,25; especificidad de 58,76%, IC 95% 51,58-65,95 y VPN 89,76%, IC 95% 89,08-98,32. Conclusión: Se demostró que el puntaje NoSAS y la escala de Berlín tienen una buena sensibilidad para descartar a las personas con un menor riesgo de SAHOS. Un paciente clasificado de bajo riesgo probablemente está sano o tiene bajo riesgo para SAHOS moderado a severo y no requeriría de una polisomnografía inicial.

Introduction: The gold standard for diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is the polysomnography, and it is not a diagnostic tool for another sleep breathing disorders, so that it is necessary to implement predictive scores to differentiate those patients who have more risk of suffering OSAHS, therefore they need a polysomnography. The aim to this study was to validate the NoSAS score and Berlin scale in relation to the polysomnography type 1, in patients who have the clinical suspicion of OSAHS. Material and methods: Diagnostic tests study. 264 patients underwent polysomnography, and the NoSAS score and Berlin scale were applied to them. After that, the diagnostic tests analysis was done and the performance of each one of them was calculated in relation to the apnea- hypopnea index (AHI). Results: The sensitivity of the NoSAS score for an AHI ≥ 20 was 88.57%, confidence interval (CI) 95% (80.4-96.74), specificity 56.70 %, CI 95% (49.47-63.93), and the negative predictive value (NPV) was 93.22, CI 95% (91.70-99.82). For Berlin scale the sensitivity was 81.43%, CI 95% (71.60-91.25), specificity 58.76%, CI 95% (51.58-65.95) and NPV 89.76%, CI 95% (89.08-98.32). Conclusions: It was shown that NoSAS score and Berlin scale have a good sensitivity to rule out people who have less OSAHS risk. A patient classified as low risk, probably is healthy or at low risk for moderate to severe OSAHS and would not require an initial polysomnography.

Solving the migration-recombination equation from a genealogical point of view.

We consider the discrete-time migration-recombination equation, a deterministic, nonlinear dynamical system that describes the evolution of the genetic type distribution of a population evolving under migration and recombination in a law of large numbers setting. We relate this dynamics (forward in time) to a Markov chain, namely a labelled partitioning process, backward in time. This way, we obtain a stochastic representation of the solution of the migration-recombination equation. As a consequence, one obtains an explicit solution of the nonlinear dynamics, simply in terms of powers of the transition matrix of the Markov chain. The limiting and quasi-limiting behaviour of the Markov chain are investigated, which gives immediate access to the asymptotic behaviour of the dynamical system. We finally sketch the analogous situation in continuous time.

Quantitative microbial risk assessment of Legionella pneumophila in a drinking water supply system in Israel.

Legionella pneumophila cause human infections via inhalation of contaminated water aerosols, resulting in severe pneumonia. Legionella spp. prevalence was monitored in a drinking-water distribution system (DWDS) in Northern Israel. Five points (toilet faucets and showers) were sampled seasonally along a three years period. Toilet faucets and shower use, both generating aerosols, are known transmission routes for this pathogen and thus, present a potential health risk. Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) was applied in order to assess the health risks posed by Legionella for these two exposure scenarios, while considering Legionella seasonality. The obtained results were compared with estimated tolerable risk levels of infection and of disease set by the USEPA and WHO. Both limits were expressed as Disability-Adjusted Life Years index (DALY) being 1 × 10-4 and 1 × 10-6, respectively. The QMRA revealed that the annual risk levels for both faucets and showers use exceeded the acceptable risk of infection with an average of 5.52 × 10-4 and 2.37 × 10-3 DALY'S per person per year, respectively. Annual risk levels were stable with no significant differences between the three years. Risk levels varied significantly between seasons by up to three orders of magnitude. Risk levels were highest during summer, autumn, and lowest during winter. The highest seasonal infection risk values were found in summer for both faucets and showers, which corresponded to 8.09 × 10-4 and 2.75 × 10-3 DALY'S per person per year, respectively. In conclusion, during summer and autumn there is a significant increase of the infection risk associated with exposure to Legionella-contaminated aerosols, in the studied water system. Public health assessment and prevention measures should focus on these seasons.

High-resolution ultrasound in the assessment of the distal biceps brachii tendinous complex.

OBJECTIVE: To establish a high-resolution US technique that enables a systematic morphometric examination of the three components that form the distal biceps brachii tendinous complex; the internal bicipital aponeurosis, the distal biceps brachii tendon and the external bicipital aponeurosis (also known as lacertus fibrosus). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty cryopreserved cadaver body donor elbows were dissected to obtain morphometric reference values and to establish reliable landmarks for the US examination. Then, a systematic US technique was designed and validated by a one-to-one US/dissection analysis of 11 cryopreserved cadaver body donor elbows. Finally, the systematic US technique was carried out in 44 healthy volunteers and morphometric parameters were compared to those obtained in the first part of the study. RESULTS: Mean dissection reference values: internal bicipital aponeurosis width 39.61 mm (10.02 SD) and thickness 0.75 mm (0.24 SD), distal biceps brachii tendon width 8.38 mm (1.87 SD) and thickness 2.73 mm (0.69 SD), external bicipital aponeurosis width 11.17 mm (5.84 SD) and thickness 0.85 mm (0.28 SD). One-to-one US/dissection correlation was overall good (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.876, p < 0.0001). When comparing volunteer US/dissection measurements, significant differences were encountered in all measures except for internal bicipital aponeurosis width. However, the overall magnitude of such significant differences was < 0.7 mm. CONCLUSIONS: Using the systematics hereby proposed, high-resolution US is reliable for the morphometric assessment of the distal biceps brachii tendinous complex. The external bicipital aponeurosis is morphometrically the most variable structure.

Aggregation of European storm-petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus ssp. melitensis) around cage fish farms. Do they benefit from the farms resources?

Cage aquaculture aggregates wild fauna due to food provision. Several seabirds frequent fish farms, including the European storm-petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus melitensis). This work investigates the presence of storm-petrels around two aquaculture areas interspersed between breeding colonies in western Mediterranean Sea. Contribution of aquaculture-derived resources to their diet was assessed. Storm-petrels were mist-netted at the colonies and marked by bleaching feathers. Density around aquaculture areas was estimated through visual counts. Marks recognition was conducted visually and by photo-capture. Storm-petrel regurgitates were used as target tissue to estimate diet sources contribution. Contribution of surface zooplankton, ichthyoplankton and aquaculture wastes was estimated through Bayesian mixing modelling combining carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes and fatty acids as biomarkers. Storm-petrel density was high in open-sea aquaculture area, but not observed around near shore farms. Temporal variability of storm-petrels density during the breeding season was linked to their reproductive phenology. Within the open-sea aquaculture area, bluefin tuna farm was more attractive for storm-petrels than seabream/seabass farms. Visual identification of bleaching marks was not useful. Photo-capture showed that 8.3% of the storm-petrels watched around farms were firstly trapped in some of the nearby colonies, and 91.7% were unmarked. Qualitative evidence of aquaculture-derived wastes utilization was obtained. However, its estimated contribution was low (4.3%) when compared to ichthyoplankton (61.1%) or zooplankton (34.6%). The studied open-sea farms significantly aggregated storm-petrels along their entire breeding season. Storm-petrels got a slight profit from aquaculture resources. Nevertheless, some concerns arise regarding the cost/benefit balance of the interaction.

[Appraisal of the formation of afterimages by means of a new computer application in patients with demyelinating optic neuropathies]. / Valoracion de la formacion de postimagenes mediante una nueva aplicacion informatica en pacientes con neuropatias opticas desmielinizantes.

INTRODUCTION: The perception of colour is one of the visual functions affected by optic neuritis. Most of the tests currently available for evaluating dichromatism are based on assessing the hue, but no clinical studies have been conducted to investigate the formation of afterimages on the retina of these patients. AIMS: To evaluate the dichromatism acquired in demyelinating optic neuritis by means of the formation of afterimages on the retina. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This is an observation-based, cross-sectional, case-control study. The cases are patients with at least one bout of optic neuritis and confirmed multiple sclerosis. A healthy age- and sex-paired control was selected for each case. The main variable is the capacity to see afterimages after saturation of the retinal photoreceptor cells. A specific computer application was developed to evaluate this phenomenon. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 30 cases and 30 controls (63% females; mean age: 33 years; range: 18-48 years). The cases showed less probability of seeing the afterimage (36.6% of the cases, while none of the controls failed to see an afterimage) and, if it was seen, it remained for less time. The ROC curve shows a sensitivity of 86.3% and a specificity of 83.3%. The odds ratio was 5 (95% confidence interval: 2.21-11.3) for the probability of seeing the afterimage in controls versus cases. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with at least one episode of optic neuritis presented a lower capacity to observe afterimages. The test is therefore useful in the assessment and follow-up of functional damage in demyelinating optic neuropathies.

TITLE: Valoracion de la formacion de postimagenes mediante una nueva aplicacion informatica en pacientes con neuropatias opticas desmielinizantes.Introduccion. En las neuritis opticas se afecta, entre otras funciones visuales, la percepcion del color. La mayoria de las pruebas existentes para evaluar discromatopsias se basa en evaluar el matiz, pero no se ha estudiado clinicamente la formacion de postimagenes en la retina en estos pacientes. Objetivo. Evaluar la discromatopsia adquirida en las neuritis opticas desmielinizantes mediante la formacion de postimagenes en la retina. Sujetos y metodos. Estudio observacional, transversal, de casos y controles. Los casos son pacientes con al menos un episodio de neuritis optica y esclerosis multiple confirmada. Se selecciono un control sano por cada caso, emparejado por edad y sexo. La variable principal es la capacidad de ver postimagenes tras saturar los fotorreceptores retinianos. Para evaluar dicho fenomeno se desarrollo una aplicacion informatica especifica. Resultados. La muestra comprende 30 casos y 30 controles (63% mujeres; edad media: 33 años; rango: 18-48 años). Los casos mostraron menor probabilidad de ver la postimagen (el 36,6% de los casos y ningun control no veian postimagen) y, en caso de verla, una menor permanencia de ella. La curva ROC muestra una sensibilidad del 86,3% y una especificidad del 83,3%. La odds ratio era de 5 (intervalo de confianza al 95%: 2,21-11,3) para la probabilidad de ver la postimagen en los controles frente a los casos. Conclusiones. Los pacientes con al menos un episodio de neuritis optica presentan una menor capacidad de observar postimagenes, por lo que la prueba es util para la evaluacion y el seguimiento del daño funcional en neuropatias opticas desmielinizantes.

[Effects of an intervention to reduce cardiovascular risk factors in university students]. / Efecto de una intervención centrada en la reducción de factores de riesgo cardiovascular en estudiantes universitarios.

BACKGROUND: Interventions aiming to reduce obesity and sedentary behaviors in young adults could be a feasible and effective approach to prevent cardiovascular diseases. AIM: To evaluate the effect of a lifestyle-based intervention on reducing cardiovascular risk factors in university students. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty university students aged 21 ± 1 years (n = 44 females) took part on a 17 weeks lifestyle intervention consisting in education about healthy lifestyles and physical training, during a curricular course about health promotion and healthy lifestyles. At baseline and at the end of the intervention participants completed a lifestyles questionnaire and provided fasting blood samples to quantify glucose and lipids profile. RESULTS: After the intervention significant reductions in the prevalence of hyperglycemia (-10.0%), high blood pressure (-16.7%) and physical inactivity (-26.7%) were observed. Moreover, a significant reduction in body weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglycerides and an increase in HDL cholesterol were observed after intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of an intervention to promote healthy lifestyles is an effective way of reducing cardiovascular risk factors in university students.

Efecto de una intervención centrada en la reducción de factores de riesgo cardiovascular en estudiantes universitarios / Effects of an intervention to reduce cardiovascular risk factors in university students

Background: Interventions aiming to reduce obesity and sedentary behaviors in young adults could be a feasible and effective approach to prevent cardiovascular diseases. Aim: To evaluate the effect of a lifestyle-based intervention on reducing cardiovascular risk factors in university students. Material and Methods: Sixty university students aged 21 ± 1 years (n = 44 females) took part on a 17 weeks lifestyle intervention consisting in education about healthy lifestyles and physical training, during a curricular course about health promotion and healthy lifestyles. At baseline and at the end of the intervention participants completed a lifestyles questionnaire and provided fasting blood samples to quantify glucose and lipids profile. Results: After the intervention significant reductions in the prevalence of hyperglycemia (-10.0%), high blood pressure (-16.7%) and physical inactivity (-26.7%) were observed. Moreover, a significant reduction in body weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglycerides and an increase in HDL cholesterol were observed after intervention. Conclusions: The implementation of an intervention to promote healthy lifestyles is an effective way of reducing cardiovascular risk factors in university students.

Altered metabolism of gut microbiota contributes to chronic immune activation in HIV-infected individuals.

Altered interplay between gut mucosa and microbiota during treated HIV infection may possibly contribute to increased bacterial translocation and chronic immune activation, both of which are predictors of morbidity and mortality. Although a dysbiotic gut microbiota has recently been reported in HIV+ individuals, the metagenome gene pool associated with HIV infection remains unknown. The aim of this study is to characterize the functional gene content of gut microbiota in HIV+ patients and to define the metabolic pathways of this bacterial community, which is potentially associated with immune dysfunction. We determined systemic markers of innate and adaptive immunity in a cohort of HIV-infected individuals on successful antiretroviral therapy without comorbidities and in healthy non-HIV-infected subjects. Metagenome sequencing revealed an altered functional profile, with enrichment of the genes involved in various pathogenic processes, lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis, bacterial translocation, and other inflammatory pathways. In contrast, we observed depletion of genes involved in amino acid metabolism and energy processes. Bayesian networks showed significant interactions between the bacterial community, their altered metabolic pathways, and systemic markers of immune dysfunction. This study reveals altered metabolic activity of microbiota and provides novel insight into the potential host-microbiota interactions driving the sustained inflammatory state in successfully treated HIV-infected patients.

Postnatal Growth Patterns in a Chilean Cohort: The Role of SES and Family Environment.

Objective. This study examined how family environmental characteristics served as mediators in the relationship between socioeconomic conditions and infant growth in a cohort of Chilean infants. Methods. We studied 999 infants, born between 1991 and 1996, from a longitudinal cohort which began as an iron deficiency anemia preventive trial. SES (Graffar Index), the Life Experiences Survey, and the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME) were assessed in infancy. Using path analysis, we assessed the relationships between the social factors, home environment, and infant growth. Results. During the first year, weight and length gain averaged 540 grams/month and 6.5 cm/month, respectively. In the path analysis model for weight gain, higher SES and a better physical environment were positively related to higher maternal warmth, which in turn was associated with higher average weight gain. Higher SES was directly related to higher average length gain. Conclusions. In our cohort, a direct relationship between SES and length gain developed during infancy. Higher SES was indirectly related to infant weight gain through the home environment and maternal warmth. As the fastest growing infants are at risk for later obesity, new strategies are needed to encourage optimal rather than maximal growth.

Assessment of routine malaria diagnosis in the Venezuelan Amazon.

The quality of routine malaria diagnosis is a crucial topic of malaria control. The aim of this assessment was to monitor and evaluate the quality of routine malaria diagnosis in Amazonas (Venezuela) and to improve the quality control system. The traditional non-blinded quality control system was found to be overburdened with diagnostic samples. A modified sampling system with fewer samples to be tested was proposed. Expert microscopists blindly double-checked 1000 slides and 550 rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) (OptiMAL-IT) from health posts (HP). For Plasmodium vivax, HP microscopy and OptiMAL-IT showed sensitivies of 86% and 63%, respectively. For P. falciparum, HP microscopy and OptiMAL-IT showed sensitivities of 68% and 89%, respectively. Both methods lost accuracy when fewer parasites occurred in the sample. HP microscopists from different municipalities displayed significant differences in diagnostic quality. Overall, quality of routine malaria diagnosis in the Venezuelan Amazon is good but not optimal. The change from the traditional non-blinded quality control system to blinded cross-checking of a minimal selection of samples is - comparatively - a low cost intervention with possibly high impact on the quality of routine malaria diagnosis. The introduction of RDTs should be discussed carefully in order not to displace an existing network of HP microscopists.

Estimators and confidence intervals for the proportion using binary auxiliary information with applications to pharmaceutical studies.

Estimation of a proportion is commonly used in areas such as medicine, biopharmaceutical experiments, etc. Estimation of a proportion using auxiliary information has not been investigated in the literature. Ratio estimators of the population proportion and two-sided confidence intervals based upon auxiliary information are derived in this paper. Real data extracted from the Spanish National Health Survey are used to demonstrate the application of the proposed methods in the estimation of prevalences. Results derived from simulation studies show that proposed estimators are more efficient than the traditional estimator. Proposed confidence intervals outperform the alternative methods, especially in terms of interval width. A study on patients with hypertension is also considered to calculate various estimators and confidence intervals.

Assessment of liver fibrosis before and after antiviral therapy by different serum marker panels in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

BACKGROUND: Liver biopsy is the reference standard to assess liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C. AIM: To validate and compare the diagnostic performance of non-invasive tests for prediction of liver fibrosis severity and assessed changes in extracellular matrix markers after antiviral treatment. METHODS: The performances of Forns' score, AST to platelet ratio index (APRI), FIB-4 index and Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF) score were validated in 340 patients who underwent antiviral therapy. These scores were determined 24 weeks after treatment in 161 patients. RESULTS: Forns' score, APRI, FIB-4 and ELF score showed comparable diagnostic accuracies for significant fibrosis [area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) 0.83, 0.83, 0.85 and 0.81, respectively]. To identify cirrhosis, FIB-4 index showed a significantly better performance over APRI and ELF score (AUROC 0.89 vs. 0.83 and 0.82, respectively). ELF score decreased significantly in patients with sustained virological response (SVR) (P < 0.0001) but remained unchanged in nonresponders. Non-1 hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype, baseline lower HCV RNA, glucose, hyaluronic acid and higher cholesterol levels were independently associated with SVR. CONCLUSIONS: Simple panel markers and ELF score are accurate at identifying significant fibrosis and cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis C. A decrease in ELF score after antiviral treatment reflects the impact of viral clearance in hepatic extracellular matrix and probably in the improvement of liver fibrosis.

Socioeconomic status influences physical fitness in European adolescents independently of body fat and physical activity: the HELENA study.

INTRODUCTION: The influence of socioeconomic status on health-related fitness is not clear. AIM: To examine the influence of socioeconomic status on health-related fitness in adolescents. METHODS: A total of 3,259 adolescents (15.0 +/- 1.3 y) from the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence Cross-Sectional Study (HELENA-CSS) participated in the study. Socioeconomic status was assessed by the family affluence scale (FAS). Speed-agility, muscular strength and cardiorespiratory fitness were assessed. Covariates included total body fat, physical activity and pubertal status. RESULTS: Adolescents with high FAS had significantly higher fitness levels than their peers of lower FAS categories except for speed-agility and handgrip in boys. Overall, the associations observed presented a medium to large effect size. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that socioeconomic status is positively associated with physical fitness in European adolescents independently of total body fat and habitual physical activity.

Evaluación del estado nutricional de mujeres gestantes que participaron de un programa de alimentación y nutrición / Assessment of nutritional status of a group of pregnant women who participated in a food and nutrition program

Objective: To evaluate the nutritional status of a group of pregnant women and their newborn infants participating in the MANA program. Methods: Descriptive, longitudinal and prospective study designed to follow the cohort before and after intervention. Results: 53 percent of the household showed food insecurity. With the program, food ingestion had a significant increase and the prevalence of the risk of micronutrient deficiency diminished. The low gestational weight diminished from 27.8 percent in the first trimester to 20.3 percent in the third trimester. 94 percent of the newborns weighed over 2500 g. Anemia were prevented in 86 percent of the mothers with iron deficiency. The mothers at risk of serum foliate deficiency diminished from 30,8 percent in the first trimester to 11 ,5 percent in the second. Conclusion: Since the socioeconomic conditions of the population were unchanged during the study, it is possible to conclude that the MANA program and the products received had a positive and significant impact in the nutritional status of the mothers.

Objetivo: Evaluar el estado nutricional de un grupo de gestantes y sus recién nacidos participantes del programa MANA para la vida. Método: Estudio descriptivo, longitudinal, prospectivo con seguimiento de la cohorte antes y después de una intervención. Resultados: el 53 por ciento de los hogares se percibieron en inseguridad alimentaria. La ingesta de nutrientes tuvo un incremento significativo y se redujo la prevalencia del riesgo de deficiencia de algunos micronutrientes. El bajo peso gestacional disminuyó de 27,8 por ciento en el primer trimestre a 20,3 por ciento en el tercero. El 94 por ciento de los recién nacidos tuvieron un peso superior a 2500g. La anemia se previno en el 86 por ciento de las madres con deficiencia de hierro y se disminuyó la proporción a riesgo de deficiencia de folato. Conclusión: Dado las condiciones socioeconómicas de la población, se concluye que el programa desarrollado y los productos entregados tuvieron un impacto positivo y significativo en el estado nutricional de las madres.

Evaluación de factores de riesgos asociados al manejo manual de carga / Risk factors assessment associated to the manual load handling

La Ley N° 20.001, del Libro II del Código del Trabajo de Chile del año 2005 define: que el peso máximo de carga humana es de 50 Kg., la obligatoriedad por parte del empleador de incorporar los medios mecánicos necesarios que eviten la manipulación manual de carga, y por último la capacitación a los trabajadores en esta materia. La Escuela de Terapia Ocupacional de la Universidad Mayor, realiza el año 2007, en una empresa metalúrgica ligada a la minería metálica, un diagnóstico respecto de factores de riesgo asociados al manejo manual de carga en las áreas productivas y de servicios en dicha empresa, y así dar cumplimiento a la legislación, conocer con mayor precisión las condiciones reales del manejo manual de carga dentro de la empresa y su posible impacto en la adquisición de lesiones o enfermedades músculo esqueléticas en los trabajadores. Para ello se utilizan dos metodologías de evaluación, el análisis de puesto de trabajo y el software Ergocargas, combinando estrategias de carácter cualitativo y cuantitativo respectivamente. Como parte de sus principales resultados se identifica que la conducta de trabajadores y la organización del trabajo constituyen aquellos factores de riesgo más relevantes. Por otra parte se destaca la importancia de abordar esta temática dentro de la empresa de manera trasversal entre los diversos departamentos que la componen es imprescindible para garantizar el control de los factores de riesgos asociados.

The Law No. 20001, at Book II of the Labor Code of Chile (2005) defines that the maximum load is 50 kg for human handling, and explain the obligation of the employer to incorporate the mechanical tools needed to avoid manual handling load, and finally the training of workers in this field. The School of Occupational Therapy, at Universidad Mayor, develops in 2007 at a company linked to the metalworking metal mining, a diagnosis about risk factors associated with manual handling of loads in the areas of production and services in the company, and to comply with the legislation, known more accurately the real conditions of the manual handling of heavy loads within the company and its possible impact on the acquisition of skeletal muscle injury or disease in workers. There were used two methods for assessment, analysis of job placement and the software Ergocargas, strategies combining qualitative and quantitative respectively. As part of its main findings are that identifies the behavior of workers and work organization risk factors are those most relevant. On the other hand, it is seems that a critical point is the importance of addressing this issue within the company on a cross between the various departments that comprise it is essential to ensure control of risk factors associated.

Estimating gametic introgression rates in a risk assessment context: a case study with Scots pine relicts.

The estimation of recent gene immigration is fundamental to a wide range of evolutionary and conservation studies. In a risk assessment context, gene flow estimation procedures are needed that are both accurate and readily amenable to formal evaluation of statistical uncertainty. However, genetic methods for estimating recent migration rates that are specific and have been thoroughly evaluated are scarce. Here we use an original and straightforward maximum-likelihood method to estimate recent uniparental gametic immigration from non-local plantations into an endangered population of the Iberian relict pine variety Pinus sylvestris var. nevadensis D. H. Christ. Our approach is not intended to ascertain population membership of individuals, but rather to obtain accurate immigration rate estimates with reliable confidence limits. We found very high (approximately 40%) pollen introgression at the seed-crop level into the Scots pine relict, and substantial (10-15%) male gametic introgression among naturally regenerated recruits. Using numerical simulation, we show that our method yields uniparental gametic immigration estimates that are expected to be virtually unbiased and usually accurate under our sampling conditions. Among four tested methods to estimate the confidence intervals for immigration estimates, the profile-likelihood method was the best, as it outperformed bootstrapping procedures and yielded coverage close to nominal limits under different sample sizes and migration rates. This study presents a method by which researchers can facilitate decision making within a gene flow risk assessment context.