PrEP Disclosure Experiences of Gay and Bisexual Men in Guatemala.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) can reduce HIV transmission among gay and bisexual men (GBM). However, stigma can inhibit disclosure of PrEP use, which may limit uptake. This study's purpose was to explore PrEP disclosure experiences and how disclosure is associated with PrEP adherence among GBM at a sexual health clinic in Guatemala City. We conducted in-depth interviews with PrEP users (n = 18) and used an iterative content analysis approach. All participants had or planned to disclose their PrEP use to at least one person, most commonly friends and sex partners, though many were selective about who they told. Main reasons for disclosure were to educate others, gain social support, and clarify their HIV status. Concerns about stigma and emotional discomfort deterred disclosure. Disclosure facilitated PrEP access and adherence by enhancing emotional and instrumental support. Interventions providing opportunities for GBM to practice disclosure, including addressing others' misconceptions, could promote PrEP uptake and adherence.

RESUMEN: La profilaxis pre-exposición (PrEP) puede reducir la transmisión del VIH entre los hombres gay y bisexuales. Sin embargo, el estigma puede inhibir la divulgación del uso de la PrEP, lo que puede limitar su uso. El propósito de este estudio fue explorar las experiencias de divulgación de PrEP y cómo la divulgación está asociada con la adherencia a la PrEP entre los hombres gay y bisexuales en una clínica de salud sexual en la Ciudad de Guatemala. Realizamos entrevistas en profundidad con usuarios de PrEP (n = 18) y utilizamos un enfoque iterativo de análisis de contenido. Todos los participantes habían divulgado o planificado divulgar su uso de la PrEP a por lo menos una persona, por lo general a amigos y parejas sexuales, aunque muchos indicaron ser selectivos sobre a quién le decían. Las principales razones para la divulgación fueron educar a otros, conseguir apoyo social y aclarar su estado de VIH. Las preocupaciones sobre el estigma y el malestar emocional disuadieron la divulgación. La divulgación facilitó el acceso y la adherencia a la PrEP a través del apoyo emocional e instrumental. Una intervención que proporciona oportunidades para que los hombres gay y bisexuales practiquen las divulgaciones, incluyendo abordar los conceptos erróneos de los demás, podría promover la aceptación y el uso de la PrEP.

Multiple echo multi-shot diffusion sequence.

PURPOSE: To measure both transversal relaxation time (T2 ) and diffusion coefficients within a single scan using a multi-shot approach. Both measurements have drawn interest in many applications, especially in skeletal muscle studies, which have short T2 values. Multiple echo single-shot schemes have been proposed to obtain those variables simultaneously within a single scan, resulting in a reduction of the scanning time. However, one problem with those approaches is the associated long echo read-out. Consequently, the minimum achievable echo time tends to be long, limiting the application of these sequences to tissues with relatively long T2 . MATERIALS AND METHODS: To address this problem, we propose to extend the multi-echo sequences using a multi-shot approach, so that to allow shorter echo times. A multi-shot dual-echo EPI sequence with diffusion gradients and echo navigators was modified to include independent diffusion gradients in any of the two echoes. RESULTS: The multi-shot approach allows us to drastically reduce echo times. Results showed a good agreement for the T2 and mean diffusivity measurements with gold standard sequences in phantoms and in vivo data of calf muscles from healthy volunteers. CONCLUSION: A fast and accurate method is proposed to measure T2 and diffusion coefficients simultaneously, tested in vitro and in healthy volunteers.

[Review by expert group in the diagnosis and treatment of anemia in pregnant women. Federación Mexicana de Colegios de Obstetricia y Ginecología]. / Opinión de un grupo de expertos en diagnóstico y tratamiento de la anemia en la mujer embarazada.

BACKGROUND: According to data from the World Health Organization and UNICEF from year 2009, iron deficiency is the most widespread nutritional deficiency worldwide. This deficiency causes an imbalance between needs and iron supply, which consequently results in anemia. Around the world, two million people suffer from anemia, half of which is due to iron deficiency. The most impacted groups are children and teenagers, due to their highest requirements derived from the growing process, and women in their reproductive age, due to their loss of iron derived from menstruating or to their highest iron needs during pregnancy. This increase in needs is not satisfied by the regular diet, since it includes an insufficient amount and/or low bioavailability of iron. PURPOSE: To share with the medical community treating pregnant women the experience of an expert group so that they always bear in mind the repercussions caused by anemia during pregnancy, know more about the diagnostic possibilities and have a reference point for prescribing iron supplements. METHOD: The consensus method was used through the expert panel group technique. Two rounds were taken for structuring the clinical questions. The first one was to facilitate working groups their focusing in the clinical topics and the population of interest; the second one was to aid in posing specific questions observing the Patient, Intervention, Compare and Outcome (PICO) structure. The primary and clinical secondary study variables were defined by the working groups from the previously developed questions and during the face-to-face working period, according to the natural history of the disease: risk factors, diagnostic classification, (either pharmacological or non pharmacological) treatment and prognosis. The level of evidence and clinical recommendation was classified based on the Evidence Classification Level and Clinical Recommendation of the Medicine Group based on Evidence from Oxford University. RESULTS: In Mexico, 20.6% of pregnant women suffer from anemia, especially those between 15 and 16 years old, who prevail in 42.4% and 34.3% percent, respectively. Almost half the cases are due to iron deficiency. This type of anemia is associated with a higher risk of pre-term delivery, of low birth weight and perinatal death. The first assessment of an anemic pregnant woman shall include the medical history, a physical examination and the quantification of the erythrocyte indices, serum concentrations of iron and ferritin. The measurement of this last one has the highest sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing iron deficiency. Daily oral iron supplementation, at a 60-to-120 mg dosage, may correct most of mild-to-moderate anemias. The most appropriate treatment is with iron salts (iron sulfate, polimaltose iron complex or iron fumarate). In case of intolerance to iron sulfate or fumarate, polimaltose iron is a better tolerated option. Treatment shall be administered until the hemoglobin values are > 10.5 g and ferritin is between 300 and 360 microg/dL, and such levels shall be observed for at least one year. Parenteral administration is an alternative for patients with a severe intolerance to oral administration; even when the possibility of anaphylaxis shall be considered it is lower when using ferrous sacarate. Transfusion is reserved for patients with hemoglobin lower than 7 g/dL or having an imminent cardio-respiratory decompensation. CONCLUSIONS: Iron deficiency is the highest prevailing nutritional deficiency worldwide and its consequences during pregnancy may be highly risky for both the mother and her child. Anemia diagnosis may easily be achieved through a blood analysis including the serum ferritin determination. Serum iron measurement shall not be used as the only marker to set the diagnosis. It is important to rule out other causes, in addition to the deficiencies, which produce anemia in a patient. It is essential to suggest the administration of iron supplements not only during the antenatal period but also after birth o even after a miscarriage to fulfill the need for depleted iron. In severe anemias (hemoglobin being lower than 9.0 g/L), iron doses higher than 120 mg a day may be required. Treatment shall always begin orally, and if this is not well tolerated, parenteral administration shall be used.

Using FHIR to Support COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Electronic Case Reports in America.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) promoted several activities to strengthen the countries' emergency response. Vaccines represented a breakthrough in the pandemic evolution, even though they have not been equitably distributed. As most vaccines have received emergency authorizations for their timely delivery, vaccine safety surveillance has been highlighted for detecting early signals of potential adverse events following immunization (AEFI, also known as ESAVI). The objective of this article is to share the different steps, methodologies, and preliminary results of a regional policy to strengthen the ESAVI surveillance system in the Americas, including the adoption of HL7 FHIR for health information exchange between countries and PAHO.

Chile's National Center for Health Information Systems: A Public-Private Partnership to Foster Health Care Information Interoperability.

Despite the continuous technical advancements around health information standards, a critical component to their widespread adoption involves political agreement between a diverse set of stakeholders. Countries that have addressed this issue have used diverse strategies. In this vision paper we present the path that Chile is taking to establish a national program to implement health information standards and achieve interoperability. The Chilean government established an inter-agency program to define the current interoperability situation, existing gaps, barriers, and facilitators for interoperable health information systems. As an answer to the identified issues, the government decided to fund a consortium of Chilean universities to create the National Center for Health Information Systems. This consortium should encourage the interaction between all health care stakeholders, both public and private, to advance the selection of national standards and define certification procedures for software and human resources in health information technologies.

Síndrome de Tako-Tsubo en perioperatorio: Una variante rara. Reporte de caso / Tako-Tsubo syndrome in perioperative: A rare variant. Case report

Tako-Tsubo syndrome or stress-induced cardiomyopathy has been described as a transient left ventricular apical dyskinesia with chest pain and ST-segment elevation on electrocardiogram in the absence of obstructive lesions in coronary arteriography, most commonly in perimenopausal women. It is a rare pathology, with five reported variations and debated pathophysiological mechanisms. The current most accepted theory is a surge of catecholaminergic discharge, associated with genetic predisposition and an emotional or physical stress factor as trigger. We report a case of a 27-year-old woman with a history of uncontrolled asthma and a brother with early heart disease. She underwent appendectomy under general anesthesia and immediately after extubation, she presented a drop in oxygen saturation, respiratory distress, oppressive chest pain, severe arterial hypotension and acute pulmonary edema, requiring reintubation. ST depression on electrocardiogram, positive troponins, coronary arteriography without obstructive lesions, and mid-ventricular hypokinesia was observed in the complementary cardiac studies. Based in these findings, stress cardiomyopathy was diagnosed. The patient progressed favorably, four months after discharge, the patient remained asymptomatic with no changes in the cardiac studies.

El síndrome de Tako-Tsubo o miocardiopatía por estrés es descrito como una discinesia apical transitoria con cuadro de dolor torácico típico y electrocardiograma con elevación del segmento ST ante ausencia de lesiones en arteriografía coronaria, presentada principalmente en mujeres perimenopáusicas. Se reconoce como una patología poco frecuente, con 5 variaciones reportadas y de la que aún se debaten los mecanismos fisiopatológicos, siendo la descarga catecolaminérgica, asociada a predisposición genética y un factor emocional y/o físico desencadenante, la teoría más aceptada hoy en día. Se presenta el caso de una mujer de 27 años con antecedente de asma no controlada y hermano con enfermedad cardiaca temprana, que es llevada a apendicectomía abierta bajo anestesia general e inmediatamente a la extubación presenta caída de la saturación de oxígeno, dificultad respiratoria, refiere dolor torácico opresivo, hipotensión arterial severa y edema agudo de pulmón, con requerimiento de nueva intubación; electrocardiograma con infradesnivel del ST, troponinas positivas, arteriografía coronaria sin lesiones e hipocinesia medioventricular, con lo que se diagnostica miocardiopatía por estrés. Evolución favorable y egreso, y seguimiento a los 4 meses con exámenes normales.

Anomalias dentomaxilares asociadas a par lisis cerebral en ni¤os peruanos / Dentomaxillary anomalies associated with cerebral palsy in Peruvian children

Determinar la relaci¢n que existe entre las anomal¡as dentomaxilares y par lisis cerebral en ni¤os que acuden al Instituto para el Desarrollo Infantil – ARIE. Material y m‚todos. Se evaluaron 30 ni¤os de ambos sexos entre 2 y 12 a¤os de edad con diagn¢stico de par lisis cerebral que acudieron al consultorio odontol¢gico del Instituto para el Desarrollo Infantil-ARIE. Resultados. Se encontr¢ la relaci¢n canina clase II en un 50%; la relaci¢n molar clase II fue la m s frecuente (80%). Adem s, la prevalencia de caries dental fue de 76,7%. La mordida abierta y el api¤amiento dentario se encontraron en un 30%. Conclusiones. No se encontr¢ asociaci¢n entre la par lisis cerebral y las anomal¡as dentomaxilares; sin embargo, en la relaci¢n molar clase II del lado derecho e izquierdo, se encontr¢ asociaci¢n significativa a diferencia de todas las variables estudiadas.

To determine the relationship between dento maxillaries anomalies and cerebral palsy in children of 2-12 years old attending to the Institute for Child Development – ARIE. Material and methods. 30 children of both sexes were evaluated between 2 and 12 years old with cerebral palsy who attended the dental office of the Institute for Child Development-ARIE. Results. Class II canine relationship by 50% was found and the molar relation class II was the most frequent (80%). Furthermore the prevalence of dental caries was 76, 7%. The open bite and dental crowding were found in 30% respectively. Conclusions. No association between cerebral palsy and dento maxillaries anomalies was found, however, in the Class II molar relationship right and left side, significant association was found unlike all the variables studied.