Use of Onion Waste as Fuel for the Generation of Bioelectricity.

The enormous environmental problems that arise from organic waste have increased due to the significant population increase worldwide. Microbial fuel cells provide a novel solution for the use of waste as fuel for electricity generation. In this investigation, onion waste was used, and managed to generate maximum peaks of 4.459 ± 0.0608 mA and 0.991 ± 0.02 V of current and voltage, respectively. The conductivity values increased rapidly to 179,987 ± 2859 mS/cm, while the optimal pH in which the most significant current was generated was 6968 ± 0.286, and the ° Brix values decreased rapidly due to the degradation of organic matter. The microbial fuel cells showed a low internal resistance (154,389 ± 5228 Ω), with a power density of 595.69 ± 15.05 mW/cm2 at a current density of 6.02 A/cm2; these values are higher than those reported by other authors in the literature. The diffractogram spectra of the onion debris from FTIR show a decrease in the most intense peaks, compared to the initial ones with the final ones. It was possible to identify the species Pseudomona eruginosa, Acinetobacter bereziniae, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, and Yarrowia lipolytica adhered to the anode electrode at the end of the monitoring using the molecular technique.

Abandonment of therapy in multidrug-resistant tuberculosis: Associated factors in a region with a high burden of the disease in Perú / Abandono del tratamiento en tuberculosis multirresistente: factores asociados en una región con alta carga de la enfermedad en Perú

Introduction: In the context of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, abandonment of therapy represents a serious public health problem that affects the quality of life of patients, families, and communities. Managing this phenomenon places a burden on health systems since it causes free sources of transmission in the community, thereby increasing prevalence and mortality. Thus, there is a need to study factors associated with this problem. Objective: This study sought to identify risk factors associated with the abandonment of therapy by patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in the Peruvian region of Callao. Materials and methods: We conducted an analytical case-control study (cases=80; controls=180) in patients under treatment from January 1st, 2010, to December 31, 2012. Risk factors were identified using logistic regression; odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Results: The multivariate analysis identified the following risk factors: Being unaware of the disease (OR=23.10; 95% CI 3.6-36.79; p=0.002); not believing in healing (OR=117.34; 95% CI 13.57-124.6; p=0.000); not having social support (OR=19.16; 95% CI 1.32-27.77; p=0.030); considering the hours of attention to be inadequate (OR=78.13; 95% CI 4.84-125.97; p=0.002), and not receiving laboratory reports (OR=46.13; 95% CI 2.85-74.77; p=0.007). Conclusion: Health services must focus on the early detection of conditions that may represent risk factors to proactively implement effective, rapid and high-impact interventions.

Introducción. En la tuberculosis multirresistente, el abandono del tratamiento constituye un grave problema de salud pública que afecta la calidad de vida de los pacientes, sus familias y la comunidad. El enfrentarlo supone una carga para los sistemas sanitarios debido a que provoca fuentes de transmisión libre en la comunidad e incrementa la prevalencia y la mortalidad. De ahí, la necesidad de investigar los factores asociados con esta situación. Objetivo. Determinar los factores de riesgo asociados con el abandono del tratamiento en pacientes con tuberculosis multirresistente en la región de Callao (Perú). Materiales y métodos. Se hizo un estudio analítico de casos y controles (80 casos y 180 controles) en tratamiento entre el 1° enero del 2010 y el 31 diciembre del 2012. Los factores se determinaron mediante regresión logística, y se calcularon los odds ratios (OR) y los intervalos de confianza (IC) del 95 %. Resultados. En el análisis multivariado se determinaron los siguientes factores de riesgo: no tener conocimiento de la enfermedad (OR=23,10; IC95%: 3,6-36,79; p=0,002); no creer en la curación (OR=117,34; IC95%: 13,57-124,6; p=0,000); no tener apoyo social (OR=19,16; IC95%: 1,32-27,77; p=0,030); no considerar adecuado el horario de atención (OR=78,13; IC95%: 4,84-125,97; p=0,002), y no recibir los resultados de laboratorio (OR=46,13; IC95%: 2,85-74,77; p=0,007). Conclusión. Los servicios de salud deben esforzarse en la determinación precoz de las condiciones que podrían convertirse en factores de riesgo, lo cual ayudaría a implementar preventivamente intervenciones efectivas, rápidas y de alto impacto.

Abandono del tratamiento en tuberculosis multirresistente: factores asociados en una región con alta carga de la enfermedad en Perú / Abandonment of therapy in multidrug-resistant tuberculosis: Associated factors in a region with a high burden of the disease in Perú

Resumen Introducción. En la tuberculosis multirresistente, el abandono del tratamiento constituye un grave problema de salud pública que afecta la calidad de vida de los pacientes, sus familias y la comunidad. El enfrentarlo supone una carga para los sistemas sanitarios debido a que provoca fuentes de transmisión libre en la comunidad e incrementa la prevalencia y la mortalidad. De ahí, la necesidad de investigar los factores asociados con esta situación. Objetivo. Determinar los factores de riesgo asociados con el abandono del tratamiento en pacientes con tuberculosis multirresistente en la región de Callao (Perú). Materiales y métodos. Se hizo un estudio analítico de casos y controles (80 casos y 180 controles) en tratamiento entre el 1° enero del 2010 y el 31 diciembre del 2012. Los factores se determinaron mediante regresión logística, y se calcularon los odds ratios (OR) y los intervalos de confianza (IC) del 95 %. Resultados. En el análisis multivariado se determinaron los siguientes factores de riesgo: no tener conocimiento de la enfermedad (OR=23,10; IC95%: 3,6-36,79; p=0,002); no creer en la curación (OR=117,34; IC95%: 13,57-124,6; p=0,000); no tener apoyo social (OR=19,16; IC95%: 1,32-27,77; p=0,030); no considerar adecuado el horario de atención (OR=78,13; IC95%: 4,84-125,97; p=0,002), y no recibir los resultados de laboratorio (OR=46,13; IC95%: 2,85-74,77; p=0,007). Conclusión. Los servicios de salud deben esforzarse en la determinación precoz de las condiciones que podrían convertirse en factores de riesgo, lo cual ayudaría a implementar preventivamente intervenciones efectivas, rápidas y de alto impacto.

Abstract Introduction: In the context of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, abandonment of therapy represents a serious public health problem that affects the quality of life of patients, families, and communities. Managing this phenomenon places a burden on health systems since it causes free sources of transmission in the community, thereby increasing prevalence and mortality. Thus, there is a need to study factors associated with this problem. Objective: This study sought to identify risk factors associated with the abandonment of therapy by patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in the Peruvian region of Callao. Materials and methods: We conducted an analytical case-control study (cases=80; controls=180) in patients under treatment from January 1st, 2010, to December 31, 2012. Risk factors were identified using logistic regression; odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Results: The multivariate analysis identified the following risk factors: Being unaware of the disease (OR=23.10; 95% CI 3.6-36.79; p=0.002); not believing in healing (OR=117.34; 95% CI 13.57-124.6; p=0.000); not having social support (OR=19.16; 95% CI 1.32-27.77; p=0.030); considering the hours of attention to be inadequate (OR=78.13; 95% CI 4.84-125.97; p=0.002), and not receiving laboratory reports (OR=46.13; 95% CI 2.85-74.77; p=0.007). Conclusion: Health services must focus on the early detection of conditions that may represent risk factors to proactively implement effective, rapid and high-impact interventions.