Cancer incidence and mortality in children in the Mexican Social Security Institute (1996-2013).

OBJECTIVE: To identify the cancer incidence and mortality in Mexican Social Security Institute beneficiary (MSSI-B) children during 1996-2013. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Both cancer cases (n=4 728) and deaths (n=2 378) were analyzed in MSSI-B children who were registered in five states of the Mexican Republic. The incidence and mortality trends and the incidences (rate x 1 000 000 children / year) of the type of cancer, age, sex, and place of residence were obtained. RESULTS: For both indicators (incidence and mortality), there was a downward trend for the period of 1996-2001 and a stable trend for 2002-2013. This occurred in the overall mortality and incidence trends of the Estado de México and Chiapas and in the leukemia and the acute lymphoid subgroups. The annual overall incidence was 128 cases per 1 000 000 children. Leukemia, lymphomas, and central nervous system tumors were the principal cancer groups. CONCLUSIONS: Cancer mortality for the period of 2002-2013 did not diminish. Interinstitutional and/or international research should be designed to improve the care of these children.

[Validation of a clinical nutritional sucking scale]. / Validación de una escala clínica de la succión nutricia.

OBJECTIVE: Suck dysfunction in breastfeeding infants has an impact on their appropriate nutrition. The objective was to build and validate one clinical nutritional sucking scale in the components of sucking, swallowing, and respiration. METHODS: The scale was carried out in two phases: face-validity and psychometric validity. The first was done by expert consensus. For the second phase, 179 infants (153 healthy newborn and 26 infant less than 6 month of age) and 86 infants with high risk for abnormal sucking were evaluated with the new scale. Three observers evaluated all patients during their feeding. With an initial scale of 10 items we calculated the inter-observer concordance and the internal consistence. With an analysis of the mail components and a discrimination index we reduced to pertinent items. Each component of the scale was compared with clinical variables. RESULTS: We reached a 7 items scale, which showed high reliability (Cronbach's alpha of 0.77 and inter-observer concordance of 0.98. The suck component correlated positively with the ingested volume (Ro = 0.61), the swallow component with the peripheral oxygen saturation (Ro = 0.24), and the breath component with the respiratory frequency (Ro = 0.50). With this scale, we can establish different patterns of sucking abnormalities related with history of neurological abnormalities, hemodynamic alteration and immaturity. CONCLUSIONS: In this study the clinical nutritional scale showed to be reliable and valid for its use in sucking problems classification. More studies are required to evaluate its application for oral stimulation therapies.

Introducción: la disfunción de la succión nutricia de los lactantes incide en la eficiencia de su alimentación. El objetivo fue construir y validar una escala clínica para evaluar la succión nutricia en sus componentes de succión-deglución-respiración. Métodos: se llevó a cabo en dos fases: validación de apariencia y validación psicométrica. La primera se validó por consenso de expertos. La segunda con su aplicación en 179 lactantes (153 recién nacidos sanos y 26 lactantes < seis meses de edad) y 86 lactantes con alto riesgo de alteración de la succión. Todos fueron valorados por tres evaluadores durante una alimentación. Con una escala inicial de 10 ítems se calculó la concordancia interobservador y la consistencia interna. Se determinaron los ítems más pertinentes. Cada componente de la escala se comparó con variables clínicas. Resultados: se obtuvo una escala de siete ítems, la cual mostró alta consistencia (alfa de Cronbach de 0.77) con una concordancia interobservador de 0.98. El componente de la succión se correlacionó positivamente con el volumen ingerido (Ro = 0.61); el de la deglución, con la saturación periférica (Ro = 0.24), y el de la ventilación, con la frecuencia respiratoria (Ro = 0.50). Con la escala se establecieron patrones de alteración según antecedentes de afección neurológica, estabilidad hemodinámica e inmadurez. Conclusión: esta escala es consistente y válida para la clasificación de problemas de la succión. Se requieren más estudios para evaluar su aplicación en la evaluación de terapias de estimulación oral.

Cancer incidence and mortality in children in the Mexican Social Security Institute (1996-2013) / Incidencia y mortalidad por cáncer en niños atendidos en el Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (1996-2013)

Abstract Objective: To identify the cancer incidence and mortality in Mexican Social Security Institute beneficiary (MSSI-B) children during 1996-2013. Materials and methods: Both cancer cases (n=4 728) and deaths (n=2 378) were analyzed in MSSI-B children who were registered in five states of the Mexican Republic. The incidence and mortality trends and the incidences (rate x 1 000 000 children / year) of the type of cancer, age, sex, and place of residence were obtained. Results: For both indicators (incidence and mortality), there was a downward trend for the period of 1996-2001 and a stable trend for 2002-2013. This occurred in the overall mortality and incidence trends of the Estado de México and Chiapas and in the leukemia and the acute lymphoid subgroups. The annual overall incidence was 128 cases per 1 000 000 children. Leukemia, lymphomas, and central nervous system tumors were the principal cancer groups. Conclusions: Cancer mortality for the period of 2002-2013 did not diminish. Interinstitutional and/or international research should be designed to improve the care of these children.

Resumen Objetivo: Mostrar la incidencia y mortalidad por cáncer en niños derechohabientes del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (DH-IMSS) (periodo 1996-2013). Material y métodos: Se analizaron los casos (n=4 728) y las muertes (n=2 378) por cáncer en niños DH-IMSS registrados en cinco estados de la República mexicana. Se obtuvo la tendencia de la incidencia y mortalidad y la incidencia por tipo de cáncer, edad, sexo y lugar de residencia. Resultados: Para ambos indicadores (incidencia y mortalidad) hubo tendencia a la disminución para el periodo 1996-2001 y estabilidad para 2002-2013; esto sucedió para la tendencia global, para el Estado de México y Chiapas, para las leucemias y para el subgrupo de las linfoide agudas. La incidencia global fue de 128 x 1 000 000 niños/año; las leucemias, tumores del sistema nervioso central y linfomas fueron los principales grupos de cáncer. Conclusiones: La mortalidad por cáncer para el periodo 2002-2013 no ha disminuido; deben diseñarse investigaciones interinstitucionales e internacionales para mejorar la atención médica de estos niños.

Tendencia mundial de la supervivencia en pacientes pediátricos con leucemia linfoblástica aguda: Revisión de las últimas cuatro décadas / Global trend of survival in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a review of the last four decades

Introducción. La leucemia linfoblástica aguda es la neoplasia maligna más frecuente en la infancia. En la actualidad, el impacto de la quimioterapia ha resultado en una mayor supervivencia, aunque los resultados son diferentes entre los países. Metodología. Se revisó la literatura médica disponible en Medline sobre el informe de supervivencia global y supervivencia libre de enfermedad en niños con leucemia linfoblástica aguda, desde finales de los años setenta hasta el 2007. Se analizó la supervivencia de acuerdo con el desarrollo económico del país (países desarrollados y en vías de desarrollo), y por edad, sexo, tipo celular y cuenta leucocitaria al diagnóstico. Resultados. En países desarrollados se ha observado un incremento en la supervivencia global a cinco años, de 60% en 1984 a 83.5% en el 2007, y en la supervivencia libre de enfermedad, de 48.5% a 83.5%. En los países en desarrollo, hasta el 2006, el promedio de supervivencia global y libre de enfermedad continuaba en, aproximadamente, 60%. La supervivencia con respecto a la edad es más favorable en los niños de 1 a 9 años (>80%) que en los mayores de 10 años (70-80%). Con respecto al sexo es 5% mayor en las mujeres que en los varones; con respecto al tipo celular es 10% mayor en leucemias de células B que en células T y, de acuerdo con la cifra de leucocitos, cuando la cifra resulta <10,000 mm³ al diagnóstico es 20% mayor que cuando los valores son >10,000 mm³. Existe escasa información para los países en desarrollo. Conclusiones. La supervivencia de los pacientes con leucemia linfoblástica aguda sigue en aumento, sobre todo la supervivencia libre de enfermedad. Los factores pronóstico de edad, sexo, tipo celular y celularidad continúan siendo válidos. Es necesario realizar más estudios en países en vías de desarrollo.

Background. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common malignancy in childhood. The impact of chemotherapy has resulted in improved survival, although results have not been the same for all countries. Methods. We reviewed the available medical literature in Medline on reports of overall and disease-free survival in children with ALL from the late 1970s to 2007. Survival was analyzed according to economic development (developed and developing countries) and according to age, sex, cell type and leukocyte count at diagnosis. Results. In developed countries there has been an increase in overall 5-year survival from 60% in 1984 to 83.5% in 2007 and for disease-free survival from 48.5% to 83.5%. This was not registered in developing countries where until 2006 the average overall survival and disease-free survival was ~60%. At diagnosis, prognostic factors related with higher survival rates are age (1 to 9 years), sex (females), type of leukemia (B-cell leukemia) and leukocyte count <10,000 mm³. Information regarding survival rates is very scarce. Conclusions. Survival of children with ALL is increasing, particularly disease-free survival rates. Prognostic factors related to survival are age, sex, cell type and leukocyte count. Further studies are needed in developing countries.

[The pediatric patient at the end-of-life. A challenge for its identification and treatment. A survey in pediatricians and medical residents]. / El paciente pediátrico en etapa terminal: un reto para su identificación y tratamiento. Encuesta a médicos pediatras y residentes.

BACKGROUND: Identification of pediatric patients at the end-of-life is not easy because criteria used are based on adults' criteria. OBJECTIVES: In this survey we explore the children end-of-life definition pediatricians have, as well as to determine which interventions they use when caring a patient at end-of-life. SETTING: Tertiary referral pediatric hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Staff pediatricians (SP) and medical residents (MR). METHODS: A self-administrated questionnaire was built and validated. It contains five vignettes of pediatric patients: Two with WHO criteria for an end-of-life condition (EC) and three without an end-of-life condition (NEC). PARTICIPANTS identified each patient with or without an end-of-life condition, and which palliative actions they would perform accordingly Their responses were recorded in a 4-option Likert scale. Ordinal regression was used to assess if some of the participants' characteristics were related to the identification of an end-of-life condition. RESULTS: Response rate was 84.2% (128/152); of whom 63 were SP and 65 MR. EC cases were well identified in 90 and 93%, while NEC in 30 and 40%, respectively Palliative actions were more according in EC patients, but around 20% would not provide them. Among NEC patients, there were more disparities of palliative actions to be delivered, and it was statistically significantly. Ordinal regression showed that some participants' characteristics are associated to the appropriate identification of end-of-life patients; however, these factors were not consistent across the five scenarios. CONCLUSIONS: Among pediatricians, criteria of end-of-life conditions are not well established, neither the palliative actions. Educational interventions are needed to improve the quality of life of these children.

[Systematic review to assess the effectiveness and safety of parecoxib]. / Revisi6n sistemática para determinar la efectividad y seguridad de parecoxib.

OBJECTIVES: Conduct a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials to assess the effectiveness and safety of parecoxib as analgesic for orthopedic surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The search strategy included Medline, Embase and Cochrane. Two independent investigators selected the trials. The meta-analyses were performed using the RevMan v.5.0 software. Calculations were based on the similarity of the trials considering the parecoxib dose (20 or 40 mg) and the type of comparator (placebo, other analgesics). RESULTS: A total of 1253 titles were reviewed and 10 trials that assess parecoxib for hip, knee and spine surgery and bunionectomy were selected. In 6/10 trials parecoxib 40 mg did better in the overall assessment versus the placebo (OR 0.20; 95% CI, 0.13-0.31), in the frequency of rescue analgesic use (OR 0.18; 95% CI, 0.07-0.47) as well as in the use of morphine and in pain intensity at 48 hours (p < 0.001). Three trials did not show any difference between parecoxib and ketorolac, morphine, metamizole or paracetamol. Regarding safety, the frequency of adverse events with parecoxib was similar to the placebo or other analgesics. CONCLUSIONS: Parecoxib 40 mg is an effective and safe analgesic choice during the postoperative period in orthopedic surgery.

[ENCOPREVENIMSS 2003, 2004 and 2005. 2. Advances in Children and Adolescents' Health Programs]. / ENCOPREVENIMSS 2003, 2004 y 2005. 2. Avances en los Programas de Salud del Niño y del Adolescente.

INTRODUCTION: the National Survey of Coverage of Integrated Health Programs (ENCOPREVENIMSS) are probabilistic population-based surveys with delegation representativeness of insured population of the Mexican Institute of Social Security, belonging to different age groups. OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the coverage of the Integrated Health Programs for Children and Adolescents during 2003-2005. MATERIAL AND METHODS: a descriptive analysis of ENCOPREVENIMSS 2003, 2004 and 2005 was carried out, with regard to the components of Children and Adolescents' Health Programs, in the 37 delegations (states) of IMSS. Through a home sample, information of sociodemographic characteristics, use of health services and coverage of the main components of PREVENIMSS, were collected. The concentration of information and the data analysis took place at the Coordination of Integrated Health Programs. RESULTS: from 2003 to 2005, the coverage of both groups increased, mainly in children. The advances of coverage were different for each activity. The ones with best results were the incorporation to protocols of preventive attention, and vaccination, as well as weight and height measurement. The actions with lowest achievement were the detection of visual problems and the nutritional evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: coverage analysis is useful to ascertain the degree of application of the different preventive activities and it is also a good basis for planning.

[ENCOPREVENIMSS 2004. 5. Intake of healthy or potentially unhealthy food]. / ENCOPREVENIMSS 2004. 5. Consumo de alimentos saludables o con riesgo para la salud.

OBJECTIVE: to know the prevalence of healthy or potentially unhealthy food intake in the population insured by the Mexican Institute of Social Security. MATERIAL AND METHODS: food intake was obtained from frequency questionnaires classified as healthy (HF) or potentially unhealthy food (PUF), and according to its nature and frequency consumption. The prevalences according to age groups were obtained for <1 year old and every five years until 19; then, they were recorded by decades, sex, location and place of residence, with or without coast. RESULTS: in the first year of age, the consumption of HF is low, and the intake of PUF starts, with industrialized juices and soft drinks. Between the first and the ninth year of age, the consumption of HF increases; however, the intake of PUF increases too; there is not a significant intake of red meat, eggs and fish. Throughout adolescence, HF intake and diversity increases, although PUF consumption is higher too. In adults and senior citizens, the kind of HF most frequently consumed were cereals and leguminous plants, but they barely ate fruits and vegetables. The HF of greatest consumption were those of animal origin, and the riskiest ones were very greasy daily products with saturated fat, as well as soft drinks. We found that the population living in the Pacific coast consumes more sea food than the one living in the Gulf coast. We also found that, as people get older, the intake of PUF decreases. CONCLUSION: in the first years of life, the proper intake of meat, eggs and fish should be promoted, as well as the consumption of HF and the decrease of food with refined sugar, saturated fat or salt.

Clinical and social factors that affect the time to diagnosis of Mexican children with cancer.

BACKGROUND: There are few studies on the factors that influence the time to diagnosis (TD) in childhood cancer. The object of the present study was to determine the influence of some clinical and social factors associated to TD in children with cancer seen at Mexico City (MC) hospitals. PROCEDURE: A retrospective study was performed. A total of 4,940 clinical records of children with cancer were reviewed. Cases of cancer were grouped, according to the International Classification of Childhood Cancer. The median (med) TD was calculated for each group (type) of cancer. The association between delayed TD (longer than 1 month) and type, age at diagnosis, parental educational level, medical institution, and place of residence was analyzed, for which the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were obtained. RESULTS: Leukemias had the shortest TD (med = 1 month), while Hodgkin disease (HD) and retinoblastoma had the longest TD (med = 5 months). The highest risk for delayed TD was in children with HD (OR = 7.0; 95% CI 5.3-9.3), in the 10-14 age group (OR = 1.8; 95% CI 1.4-2.3), with low maternal educational level (OR = 1.5; 95% CI 1.2-2.1), in the population with no access to social security (OR = 1.3; 95% CI 1.1-1.4), and whose place of residence is far from MC (OR = 1.5; 95% CI 1.2-2.1). CONCLUSIONS: In Mexican children with cancer, age at diagnosis, and societal characteristics are important factors affecting timely diagnosis.