Pandemic Grief and Suicidal Ideation in Latin American Countries: A Network Analysis.

This study aimed to characterize the network structure of pandemic grief symptoms and suicidal ideation in 2174 people from eight Latin American countries. Pandemic grief and suicidal ideation were measured using the Pandemic Grief Scale and a single item, respectively. Network analysis provides an in-depth characterization of symptom-symptom interactions within mental disorders. The results indicated that, "desire to die," "apathy" and "absence of sense of life" are the most central symptoms in a pandemic grief symptom network; therefore, these symptoms could be focal elements for preventive and treatment efforts. Suicidal ideation, the wish to die, and the absence of meaning in life had the strongest relationship. In general, the network structure did not differ among the participating countries. It identifies specific symptoms within the network that may increase the likelihood of their co-occurrence and is useful at the therapeutic level.

Cross-cultural invariance of the Spanish version of the COVID-19 Assessment Scorecard to measure the perception of government actions against COVID-19 in Latin America.

OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to evaluate the measurement invariance of a general measure of the perception of governmental responses to COVID-|19 (COVID-SCORE-10) in the general population of 13 Latin American countries. METHODS: A total of 5780 individuals from 13 Latin American and Caribbean countries selected by non-probabilistic snowball sampling participated. A confirmatory factor analysis was performed and the alignment method was used to evaluate invariance. Additionally, a graded response model was used for the assessment of item characteristics. RESULTS: The results indicate that there is approximate measurement invariance of the COVID-SCORE-10 among the participating countries. Furthermore, IRT results suggest that the COVID-SCORE-10 measures with good psychometric ability a broad spectrum of the construct assessed, especially around average levels. Comparison of COVID-SCORE-10 scores indicated that participants from Cuba, Uruguay and El Salvador had the most positive perceptions of government actions to address the pandemic. Thus, the underlying construct of perception of government actions was equivalent in all countries. CONCLUSION: The results show the importance of initially establishing the fundamental measurement properties and MI before inferring the cross-cultural universality of the construct to be measured.

Comparative Outcome Data Using Different Techniques for Posterior Lumbar Fusion: A Large Single-Center Study.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective single-center study. PURPOSE: This study aims to evaluate perioperative and intermediate-term clinical outcomes of patients undergoing different lumbar fusion techniques. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Various open and minimally invasive techniques for lumbar fusion are available, but previous studies comparing lumbar fusion techniques have heterogeneous data, making interpretation challenging. METHODS: Between 2011 and 2018, data from 447 consecutive patients undergoing one/two-level lumbar fusion were analyzed. Posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) with bilateral muscle strip or Wiltse approach, open transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) and minimally invasive TLIF, and posterolateral fusion only were among the surgical techniques used. Core outcomes measure index (COMI) questionnaires were distributed before surgery and at 3 months, 1 year, and 2 years postoperatively to establish patient selfreported outcome measures. Demographic data (age, gender, and body mass index [BMI]) for each patient were also collected in addition to surgical indication, previous operative history, perioperative outcomes, and complications, and whether later revision surgery was required. Pearson's chi-square test, Kruskal-Wallis test, repeated measure mixed-effects models, and ordinal logistic regression were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Postoperative COMI scores improved across all procedures compared with pre-surgery (p<0.001). There was no significant difference between different postoperative COMI scores. Significant predictors of higher postoperative COMI score included higher pretreatment COMI score (p≤0.001), previous surgery (p≤0.04), younger age (p≤0.05), higher BMI (p≤0.005), and the indications of lytic spondylolisthesis (p=0.02) and degenerative disc disease (p<0.001). Patients undergoing minimally invasive TLIF had a significantly shorter post-surgery stay than patients undergoing open PLIF (Kruskal-Wallis test, p=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: At 2 years postoperatively, there was no significant difference in clinical outcomes between open and minimally invasive techniques. These findings suggest that the main determinant of surgical approach should be surgeon preference and training.

Assessment of Obsessive Thoughts About COVID-19 in 7 Latin American Countries: Structure and Measurement Invariance of the Obsession With COVID-19 Scale.

The present study aimed to evaluate the measurement invariance of the Obsession with COVID-19 Scale (OCS) among seven Latin American countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Although the OCS has been used in several countries and languages, there is a need for approaches that better integrate the cross-cultural equivalence of the scale. A total of 3185 people participated in the study. The results indicated the presence of a unidimensional structure and good reliability indices for the OCS in each country. The alignment method indicated that the OCS is an invariant measure of COVID-19 obsession among the populations of seven Latin American countries. The findings based on IRT analysis indicated that all OCS items had adequate discrimination and difficulty parameters. The findings contribute to the understanding of the internal structure of the scale in different countries at the same time, something that has been pending evaluation.

Sobrevida del adenocarcinoma ductal de páncreas

El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar la presentación epidemiológica y la sobrevida de los pacientes con adenocarcinoma ductal de páncreas de acuerdo con su estadío clínico y al tipo de intervención realizada, en una cohorte de pacientes atendidos en una clínica en Lima, Perú. Estudio de cohortes retrospectivas que evaluó desde enero del 2015 a febrero del 2021 a pacientes con diagnóstico de adenocarcinoma ductal de páncreas considerando diversos factores epidemiológicos, radiológicos, estadiaje oncológico, haber recibido quimioterapia neoadyuvante o adyuvante, haber sido sometidos a cirugía y la sobrevida posterior a alguna de las intervenciones realizadas. De los 249 pacientes analizados, se encontró que 75 de ellos requerían cirugía resectiva. Entre los principales resultados obtenidos, se observó que aquellos con un nivel de CA 19-9 menor a 200 U/mL presentaban una media de sobrevida más alta en comparación con aquellos cuyo nivel de CA 19-9 era superior a 200 U/mL (HR: 1,96; IC95%: 0,18-0,53; p≤0,001). Asimismo, al comparar a los pacientes según su etapa, se encontró que aquellos con tumores resecables tenían una media de sobrevida de 37,72 meses, mientras que aquellos con tumores localmente avanzados tenían una media de sobrevida de 13,47 meses y aquellos con tumores metastásicos tenían una media de sobrevida de 7,69 meses (HR: 0,87; IC95%: 0,31-0,25; p≤0,001). Igualmente, se observó que recibir tratamiento neoadyuvante se asociaba con un mejor pronóstico de sobrevida para los pacientes (HR: 0,32; IC95%: 0,19-0,53; p≤0,001). Asimismo, se llevaron a cabo 5 pancreatectomías con resección metastásica en pacientes oligometastásicos tratados con quimioterapia de rescate, y se encontró que la media de sobrevida para estos pacientes fue de 22,51 meses. Conclusión: La cirugía resectiva en un estadío clínico temprano , presentar valores de CA 19-9 por debajo de 200 U/mL y haber recibido quimioterapia neoadyuvante se correlaciona estadísticamente con una mayor esperanza de sobrevida.

The objective of this study is to analyze the epidemiological presentation and survival of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma according to their clinical stage and the type of intervention performed, in a cohort of patients treated at a clinic in Lima, Peru. A retrospective cohort study evaluated patients diagnosed with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma from January 2015 to February 2021, considering various epidemiological factors, radiological findings, oncological staging, receipt of neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy, undergoing surgery, and post-intervention survival. Out of the 249 patients analyzed, 75 of them required resective surgery. Among the main findings, it was observed that those with a CA 19-9 level below 200 U/mL had a higher median survival compared to those with a CA 19-9 level above 200 U/mL (HR: 1.96; 95% CI: 0.18-0.53; p≤0.001). Furthermore, when comparing patients according to their stage, those with resectable tumors had a median survival of 37.72 months, while those with locally advanced tumors had a median survival of 13.47 months, and those with metastatic tumors had a median survival of 7.69 months (HR: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.31-0.25; p≤0.001). Additionally, receiving neoadjuvant treatment was associated with a better prognosis of survival for patients (HR: 0.32; 95% CI: 0.19-0.53; p≤0.001). Furthermore, 5 pancreatectomies with metastatic resection were performed in oligometastatic patients treated with salvage chemotherapy, and the median survival for these patients was 22.51 months. Conclusion: Resective surgery at an early clinical stage, CA 19-9 levels below 200 U/mL, and receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy are statistically correlated with a higher overall survival.

Relationship Between Fear of COVID-19, Conspiracy Beliefs About Vaccines and Intention to Vaccinate Against COVID-19: A Cross-National Indirect Effect Model in 13 Latin American Countries.

The present study explored the predictive capacity of fear of COVID-19 on the intention to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and the influence in this relationship of conspiracy beliefs as a possible mediating psychological variable, in 13 Latin American countries. A total of 5779 people recruited through non-probabilistic convenience sampling participated. To collect information, we used the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, Vaccine conspiracy beliefs Scale-COVID-19 and a single item of intention to vaccinate. A full a priori Structural Equation Model was used; whereas, cross-country invariance was performed from increasingly restricted structural models. The results indicated that, fear of COVID-19 positively predicts intention to vaccinate and the presence of conspiracy beliefs about COVID-19 vaccines. The latter negatively predicted intention to vaccinate against COVID-19. Besides, conspiracy beliefs about COVID-19 vaccines had an indirect effect on the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and intention to vaccinate against COVID-19 in the 13 countries assessed. Finally, the cross-national similarities of the mediational model among the 13 participating countries are strongly supported. The study is the first to test a cross-national mediational model across variables in a large number of Latin American countries. However, further studies with other countries in other regions of the world are needed.

Is the meaning of subjective well-being similar in Latin American countries? A cross-cultural measurement invariance study of the WHO-5 well-being index during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: There is an urgent need to assess changes in well-being on a multinational scale during the COVID-19 pandemic, thus culturally valid scales must be available. METHODS: With this in mind, this study examined the invariance of the WHO well-being index (WHO-5) among a sample of 5183 people from 12 Latin Americans countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay). RESULTS: The results of the present study indicate that the WHO-5 is strictly invariant across samples from different Latin American countries. Furthermore, the results of the IRT analysis indicate that all items of the WHO-5 were highly discriminative and that the difficulty required to respond to each of the five items is ascending. Additionally, the results indicated the presence of moderate and small size differences in subjective well-being among most countries. CONCLUSION: The WHO-5 is useful for assessing subjective well-being in 12 Latin American countries during the COVID-19 pandemic, since the differences between scores can be attributed to differences in well-being and not in other characteristics of the scale.

COVID-19 Bereavement in Ten Latin American Countries: Measurement Invariance of the Pandemic Grief Scale and Its Relation to Suicidal Ideation.

The present study aimed to evaluate the cross-cultural measurement invariance of the Pandemic Grief Scale (PGS) in ten Latin American countries. A total of 2,321 people who had lost a family member or other loved one due to COVID-19 participated, with a mean age of 34.22 years old (SD = 11.99). In addition to the PGS, a single item of suicidal ideation was applied. The unidimensional model of the PGS had adequate fit in most countries and good reliability estimates. There was evidence of measurement invariance by country and gender. Also, a one-point increase in the PGS was associated with an almost twofold increase in the odds of suicidal ideation. Scores greater than or equal to 4 on the PGS are proposed as a cut off to identify individuals with suicidal ideation. Strong evidence of the cross-cultural validity of the PGS is provided.

Does Instrumentation of the Fractured Level in Thoracolumbar Fixation Affect the Functional and Radiological Outcome?

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective comparative study. OBJECTIVES: To compare radiological and functional outcomes of patients with fixation constructs utilizing pedicle screw stabilization at the fracture level (FL group) versus patients with non-fracture level (NFL group) fixation in single level fractures of the thoracolumbar junction (T11-L1). METHODS: 53 patients of whom fracture level screw was used in 34 (FL group) were compared to 19 patients in NFL group. Radiological parameters analyzed were sagittal index, bi-segmental kyphosis (Cobb) angle and degree of vertebral height restoration. Prospectively collected patient reported functional outcomes and post-operative complications were also studied. Stepwise regression analysis adjusted by age, gender and functional scores was performed to account for the small numbers and unequal sizes of the groups. RESULTS: Back pain score was significantly lower in the FL group (P < 0.025). Core Outcome Measures Index scores and leg pain scores, though low in the FL group, were not statistically significant. The regression analysis showed that the inclusion of the fracture-level screw was independently associated with a greater change in sagittal index and vertebral height restoration post-operatively. Sagittal index was maintained through to final follow up as well. The bi-segmental Cobb's angle correction was not associated with fracture-level screw construct. There was no significant difference between the groups for revision surgery, deep infection, implant failure or length of hospital stay. CONCLUSION: The inclusion of the fracture-level pedicle screws in the fixation construct significantly improves the immediate and final measured radiological parameters, with improved functional scores in single level unstable vertebral fractures of the thoracolumbar junction.

Cross-cultural invariance of the Spanish version of the COVID-19 Assessment Scorecard to measure the perception of government actions against COVID-19 in Latin America

Abstract Objectives The present study aimed to evaluate the measurement invariance of a general measure of the perception of governmental responses to COVID--19 (COVID-SCORE-10) in the general population of 13 Latin American countries. Methods A total of 5780 individuals from 13 Latin American and Caribbean countries selected by non-probabilistic snowball sampling participated. A confirmatory factor analysis was performed and the alignment method was used to evaluate invariance. Additionally, a graded response model was used for the assessment of item characteristics. Results The results indicate that there is approximate measurement invariance of the COVID-SCORE-10 among the participating countries. Furthermore, IRT results suggest that the COVID-SCORE-10 measures with good psychometric ability a broad spectrum of the construct assessed, especially around average levels. Comparison of COVID-SCORE-10 scores indicated that participants from Cuba, Uruguay and El Salvador had the most positive perceptions of government actions to address the pandemic. Thus, the underlying construct of perception of government actions was equivalent in all countries. Conclusion The results show the importance of initially establishing the fundamental measurement properties and MI before inferring the cross-cultural universality of the construct to be measured.

[Survival of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma]. / Sobrevida del adenocarcinoma ductal de páncreas.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to analyze the epidemiological presentation and survival of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma according to their clinical stage and the type of intervention performed, in a cohort of patients treated at a clinic in Lima, Peru. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study evaluated patients diagnosed with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma from January 2015 to February 2021, considering various epidemiological factors, radiological findings, oncological staging, receipt of neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy, undergoing surgery, and post-intervention survival. RESULTS: Out of the 249 patients analyzed, 75 of them required resective surgery. Among the main findings, it was observed that those with a CA 19-9 level below 200 U/mL had a higher median survival compared to those with a CA 19-9 level above 200 U/mL (HR: 1.96; 95% CI: 0.18-0.53; p≤0.001). Furthermore, when comparing patients according to their stage, those with resectable tumors had a median survival of 37.72 months, while those with locally advanced tumors had a median survival of 13.47 months, and those with metastatic tumors had a median survival of 7.69 months (HR: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.31-0.25; p≤0.001). Additionally, receiving neoadjuvant treatment was associated with a better prognosis of survival for patients (HR: 0.32; 95% CI: 0.19-0.53; p≤0.001). Furthermore, 5 pancreatectomies with metastatic resection were performed in oligometastatic patients treated with salvage chemotherapy, and the median survival for these patients was 22.51 months. CONCLUSION: Resective surgery at an early clinical stage, CA 19-9 levels below 200 U/mL, and receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy are statistically correlated with a higher overall survival.

"Game (not) Over": A Systematic Review of Video Game Disorder in Adolescents / "Game (not) Over": una Revision Sistemática del Trastorno por Uso de Videojuegos en Adolescentes

Abstract This study aims to characterize video game use disorder in adolescents, identifying the particularities of those who present it, its effects at the brain level, related factors, and existing measurement instruments. A systematic review of the scientific publications available in Scopus was carried out, between the period 2014-2018 on video game use disorder in adolescents. Adolescents with this disorder are characterized by being mostly men, spending more time daily and weekly playing than adolescents without this disorder, showing diverse symptoms in the behavioral, affective, and cognitive areas. At brain level, it is referred that in this disorder there is an increase and decrease in the activation of specific areas of the brain. Likewise, the presence of some psychological disorder and impulsivity are considered factors that increase the risk of suffering from it. However, there are protective factors as school commitment and parental supervision, among others.

Resumen Este estudio pretende caracterizar el trastorno por uso de videojuegos en adolescentes, identificando las particularidades de quienes lo presentan, sus efectos a nivel cerebral, los factores relacionados y los instrumentos de medición existentes. Para ello, se llevó a cabo una revisión sistemática de las publicaciones científicas disponibles en Scopus, entre el periodo 2014-2018, sobre el trastorno por uso de videojuegos en adolescentes. Sus resultados describen que adolescentes con este trastorno se caracterizan por ser en su mayoría hombres, dedicar más tiempo diario y semanal de juego que adolescentes sin este trastorno, mostrando diversos síntomas en el área conductual, afectiva y cognitiva. A nivel cerebral se refiere que en este trastorno se presenta una elevación y disminución en la activación de determinadas zonas específicas del cerebro. Asimismo, la presencia de algún trastorno psicológico y la impulsividad, son considerados factores que aumentan el riesgo de padecerlo. Sin embargo, existen factores protectores como el compromiso escolar y la supervisión parental, entre otros.

Network analysis of the relationships between conspiracy beliefs towards COVID-19 vaccine and symptoms of fear of COVID-19 in a sample of latin american countries.

The present study examined how conspiracy beliefs about COVID-19 vaccines specifically relate to symptoms of fear of COVID-19 in a sample of four South American countries. A total of 1785 people from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru participated, responding to a sociodemographic survey, the Fear of COVID-19 scale (FCV-19 S) and the Vaccine Conspiracy Beliefs Scale-COVID-19 (VCBS-COVID-19). Network analysis identified the most important symptoms of fear and conspiracy beliefs about COVID-19 vaccines (nodes) and the associations between them (edges). In addition, the robustness of the network of these indicators of centrality and the possible differences in the structure and connectivity of the networks between the four countries were evaluated. The results suggest that the nodes with the highest centrality were items 2 and 5 of the FCV-19 S and item 2 of the VCBS-COVID-19. Likewise, item 6 is the belief that most predicts conspiracy beliefs about vaccines against COVID-19; while item 6 was the symptom that most predicts fear of COVID-19. The findings strongly support cross-cultural similarities in the networks across the four countries rather than differences. Although it was expected that a higher presence of symptoms of fear of COVID-19 may lead people to compensate for their fear by believing in conspiratorial ideas about vaccines and, consequently, rejecting the COVID-19 vaccine, the results do not clearly show this relationship. This could lead other researchers to generate evidence to explain the differences between Latin American countries and countries in other contexts in terms of vaccination rates. This evidence could be useful to develop policies favoring vaccination against COVID-19 that are more contextualized to the Latin American region, characterized by social instability and economic recession during the pandemic.

Design and Cross-Cultural Invariance of the COVID-19 Vaccine Conspiracy Beliefs Scale (COVID-VCBS) in 13 Latin American Countries.

Aims: Over the past 2 years, the vaccine conspiracy beliefs construct has been used in a number of different studies. These publications have assessed the determinants and outcomes of vaccine conspiracy beliefs using, in some cases, pooled data from different countries, and compared the results across these contexts. However, studies often do not consider measurement invariance as a necessary requirement for comparative analyses. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop and evaluate the cross-cultural MI of the COVID-19 Vaccine Conspiracy Beliefs Scale (COVID-VCBS) in 12 Latin American countries. Methods: Confirmatory factor analysis, item response theory analysis and alignment method were applied to test measurement invariance in a large number of groups. Results: The COVID-VCBS showed robust psychometric properties and measurement invariance for both factor loadings and crosstabs. Also, a higher level of acceptance of conspiracy beliefs about vaccines is necessary to respond to higher response categories. Similarly, greater acceptance of conspiracy beliefs about COVID-19 vaccines was related to a lower intention to be vaccinated. Conclusion: The results allow for improved understanding of conspiracy beliefs about COVID-19 vaccines in the countries assessed; furthermore, they provide researchers and practitioners with an invariant measure that they can use in cross-cultural studies in Latin America. However, further studies are needed to test invariance in other countries, with the goal of developing a truly international measure of conspiracy beliefs about COVID-19 vaccines.

[Characteristics of Helicobacter pylori infection in a private hospital in Lima, 2019 experience and literature review]. / Características de la infección de Helicobacter pylori en un hospital privado de Lima, experiencia del 2019 y revisión de la literatura.

Digestive diseases are the fourth leading cause of outpatient care in Peruvian healthcare centers, with gastritis and peptic ulcers being the most common. This is a retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive study of secondary analysis of medical record data to evaluate the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in patients undergoing upper digestive endoscopy during 2019 at Clinica Delgado, Lima, Peru. An association between males (PRa 1.27, 95% CI 1.10-1.48, p<0.001), age categories and upper digestive endoscopy (PRa 2.53, 95% CI 2.16-2.97, p<0.001) was reported. Based on these findings, it is recommended that other causes of gastritis be identified, especially in young women with deep chronic gastritis. Furthermore, we present a review of the scientific literature of Peru on factors associated with the positivity of Helicobacter pylori in the results of superior digestive endoscopy.

What Is the Support for Conspiracy Beliefs About COVID-19 Vaccines in Latin America? A Prospective Exploratory Study in 13 Countries.

Conspiracy theories about COVID-19 began to emerge immediately after the first news about the disease and threaten to prolong the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic by limiting people's willingness of receiving a life-saving vaccine. In this context, this study aimed to explore the variation of conspiracy beliefs regarding COVID-19 and the vaccine against it in 5779 people living in 13 Latin American countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela) according to sociodemographic variables such as gender, age, educational level and source of information about COVID-19. The study was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic between September 15 and October 25, 2021. The Spanish-language COVID-19 Vaccine Conspiracy Beliefs Scale (ECCV-COVID) and a sociodemographic survey were used. The results indicate that, in most countries, women, people with a lower educational level and those who receive information about the vaccine and COVID-19 from family/friends are more supportive of conspiracy ideas regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. In the case of age, the results vary by country. The analysis of the responses to each of the questions of the ECCV-COVID reveals that, in general, the countries evaluated are mostly in some degree of disagreement or indecision regarding conspiratorial beliefs about COVID-19 vaccines. The findings could help open further study which could support prevention and treatment efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cross-cultural validation of the new version of the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale in twelve Latin American countries.

The Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS) was recently developed to assess dysfunctional anxiety related to COVID-19. Although different studies reported that the CAS is psychometrically sound, it is unclear whether it is invariant across countries. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the measurement invariance of the CAS in twelve Latin American countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay). A total of 5196 people participated, with a mean age of 34.06 (SD = 26.54). Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to examine the measurement invariance of the CAS across countries and gender. Additionally, the graded response model (GRM) was used to provide a global representation of the representativeness of the scale with respect to the COVID-19 dysfunctional anxiety construct. The unidimensional structure of the five-item CAS was not confirmed in all countries. Therefore, it was suggested that a four-item model of the CAS (CAS-4) provides a better fit across the twelve countries and reliable scores. Multigroup CFA showed that the CAS-4 exhibits scalar invariance across all twelve countries and all genders. In addition, the CAS-4 items are more informative at average and high levels of COVID-19 dysfunctional anxiety than at lower levels. According to the results, the CAS-4 is an instrument with strong cross-cultural validity and is suitable for cross-cultural comparisons of COVID-19 dysfunctional anxiety symptoms in the general population of the twelve Latin American countries evaluated. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-021-02563-0.

Características de la infección de Helicobacter pylori en un hospital privado de Lima, experiencia del 2019 y revisión de la literatura / Characteristics of Helicobacter pylori infection in a private hospital in Lima, 2019 experience and literature review

RESUMEN Las enfermedades digestivas representan la cuarta causa de atención ambulatoria en los centros sanitarios peruanos, siendo la gastritis y las úlceras pépticas las más comunes. El presente es un estudio retrospectivo, de corte transversal, de tipo descriptivo, de análisis secundario de datos de historias clínicas, para evaluar la prevalencia de Helicobacter pylori en pacientes sometidos a endoscopia digestiva alta durante el año 2019 en la Clínica Delgado, Lima, Perú. Asociación entre el sexo masculino (PRa 1,27, IC95% 1,10-1,48, p <0,001), categorías de la edad y resultado de endoscopia digestiva alta (PRa 2,53, IC95% 2,16-2,97, p<0,001) fueron reportados. Se recomienda, a partir de estos hallazgos, determinar otras causas de gastritis, especialmente en las mujeres jóvenes con gastritis crónica profunda. Además, presentamos una revisión de la literatura científica del Perú sobre los factores asociados a la positividad de Helicobacter pylori en los resultados de la endoscopia digestiva superior.

ABSTRACT Digestive diseases are the fourth leading cause of outpatient care in Peruvian healthcare centers, with gastritis and peptic ulcers being the most common. This is a retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive study of secondary analysis of medical record data to evaluate the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in patients undergoing upper digestive endoscopy during 2019 at Clinica Delgado, Lima, Peru. An association between males (PRa 1.27, 95% CI 1.10-1.48, p<0.001), age categories and upper digestive endoscopy (PRa 2.53, 95% CI 2.16-2.97, p<0.001) was reported. Based on these findings, it is recommended that other causes of gastritis be identified, especially in young women with deep chronic gastritis. Furthermore, we present a review of the scientific literature of Peru on factors associated with the positivity of Helicobacter pylori in the results of superior digestive endoscopy.

Cross-Cultural Validation of a New Version in Spanish of Four Items of the Preventive COVID-19 Infection Behaviors Scale (PCIBS) in Twelve Latin American Countries.

The invariance of the Preventive COVID-19 Infection Behaviors Scale (PCIBS) was evaluated in 12 Latin American countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay). A total of 5183 people from the aforementioned countries participated, selected using the snowball sampling method. Measurement invariance was assessed by multigroup confirmatory factor analysis (MG-CFA) and Multi-Group Factor Analysis Alignment (CFA-MIAL). In addition, item characteristics were assessed based on Item Response Theory. The results indicate that the original five-item version of the PCIBS is not adequate; whereas a four-item version of the PCIBS (PCIBS-4) showed a good fit in all countries. Thus, using the MG-CFA method, the PCIBS-4 achieved metric invariance, while the CFA-MIAL method indicated that the PCIBS-4 shows metric and scalar invariance. Likewise, the four items present increasing difficulties and high values in the discrimination parameters. The comparison of means of the PCIBS-4 reported irrelevant differences between countries; however, Mexico and Peru presented the highest frequency of preventive behaviors related to COVID-19. It is concluded that the PCIBS-4 is a unidimensional self-report measure which is reliable and invariant across the twelve participating Latin American countries. It is expected that the findings will be of interest to social and health scientists, as well as those professionals directly involved in public health decision making.

Evaluation of the role of anal tone and perianal sensation examination in the assessment of suspected cauda equina syndrome.

PURPOSE: Cauda equina syndrome (CES) can present with a varied constellation of clinical signs and symptoms, which together with the time-sensitive nature of the condition and risk of catastrophic clinical outcome, presents a significant challenge to those assessing patients with this suspected diagnosis. Anal tone is commonly tested during initial assessment using a digital rectal examination (DRE). This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic value of anal tone and perianal sensation assessment in patients with suspected CES and report modern prevalence data on CES within a neurosciences centre. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consecutive patients with suspected CES presenting over three years to the Emergency Department (ED) of a busy tertiary centre were included in the study. History and examination findings, documented in the ED notes, were assessed and these variables were correlated with the presence or absence of cauda equina compression on subsequent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). RESULTS: Out of 1005 patients with suspected CES, 117 (11.6%) had MRI confirmed cauda equina compression (MRI + ve CES). 35% of MRI + ve patients and 31% of MRI -ve patients had reduced anal tone. Using univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses, no associations were found between abnormal anal tone and MRI + ve CES for patients of all ages. The univariate logistic regression analysis identified altered perianal sensation to be significantly associated with MRI + ve CES in patients ≤42 years old. This association was no longer present when an adjusted multivariable logistic regression was performed. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of MRI + ve CES was 11.6%. Our findings suggest that the clinical finding of reduced anal tone has no demonstrable diagnostic value for those with suspected CES, either in itself or in combination with other clinical findings. Further studies are needed to confirm the diagnostic efficacy of assessing perianal sensation in this context.