Irritable bowel syndrome and erectile dysfunction in medical students at a Peruvian university: an analytical cross-sectional analysis.

Background: There is inconclusive evidence regarding the role of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in the development of erectile dysfunction (ED), especially among medical students due to high academic stress. Aim: To determine the association between IBS and ED in medical students from a Peruvian university in 2022. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted with secondary data analysis on 133 medical students from a university in northern Peru during the 2021-II academic semester. The dependent variable was ED as measured with the 5-item International Index of Erectile Function, and the exposure variable was IBS as assessed with the Rome IV-Bristol questionnaire. Outcomes: The results were the prevalence rates of IBS and ED and the association of these variables. Results: Of the 133 medical students surveyed, the median age was 22 years (IQR, 19-24). The median score on the 5-item International Index of Erectile Function was 21 (IQR, 10-24). The prevalence of ED was 38.4% (95% CI, 30.05%-47.17%). Among the medical students 3% and 9% displayed moderate and severe ED, respectively, and 24.8%, 13.5%, and 24.1% showed moderate depressive, anxious, and severe symptoms. An overall 10.5% had IBS. Medical students with IBS had a 108% higher prevalence of ED than those without the syndrome (prevalence ratio, 2.08; 95% CI, 1.06-4.06). Other confounding variables were not significantly associated (P > .05). Clinical Implications: The results underline the importance of comprehensive sexual and mental health assessment, with an emphasis on the relationship between IBS and ED in medical students. Strengths and Limitations: Strengths include the use of validated and reliable instruments and rigorous biostatistical methods, and this is the first Peruvian investigation to explain the association between IBS and ED in medical students. Limitations include the cross-sectional design and nonprobability sampling, and there may be bias in applying the instruments. Conclusion: This study reveals a significant association between IBS and a higher prevalence of ED in these students.

Contributing factors for self-reported HIV in male Peruvian inmates: results of the 2016 prison census.

Introduction: Worldwide, prisons are high-risk settings for the transmission of infectious diseases such as HIV. There is a need to understand the health conditions of prisoners to improve and implement timely strategies for HIV diagnosis and control. Hence, we aimed to identify factors associated with self-reported HIV (srHIV) among Peruvian inmates. Methods: This study is a secondary data analysis of the First Peruvian Prison Census conducted in 2016. We estimated the prevalence of srHIV in prisoners who were male at birth and the association of srHIV with other social conditions, criminal records, and prevalent health conditions. Nested models identified a multivariable parsimonious model for factors associated with srHIV and yielding prevalence ratios adjusted by the included parameters. Results: The census surveyed 71,087 male inmates of whom 0.4% reported srHIV (n = 305), and 82% of whom were receiving antiretroviral treatment (n = 220). In our final multivariable model, srHIV was independently associated with age between 36 and 55 years old vs. >55 years old [parsimonious prevalence ratio (pPR) = 1.98, 95% CI, 0.96-4.08], having a stable partner out of prison (pPR = 1.64, 95% CI, 1.24-2.19), being homosexual (pPR = 4.16, 95% CI, 2.50-6.90), self-report of prevalent tuberculosis co-infection (pPR = 2.55, 95% CI, 1.82-3.58), self-report of prevalent sexually transmitted infections (pPR = 34.49, 95% CI, 24.94-47.70), and self-report of prevalent illicit drug use 30 days before the survey (pPR = 1.91, 95% CI, 1.43-2.56). Conclusion: Self-reported HIV is associated with multiple social, health and prison risks among Peruvian inmates. Deeply understanding these factors would help to design HIV prevention and control strategies in Peruvian prisons.

Food insecurity in Piura, Peru, in the context of post-earthquake and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: Piura, located in a seismic zone, faces challenges related to food security. The aim of this study was to analyze aspects related to food insecurity in the region following the 6.1-magnitude earthquake that occurred in 2021, within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A secondary analysis was performed in 177 people exposed to the earthquake in Piura. Food insecurity was assessed with the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. Its association with insomnia, resilience, anxiety/depressive symptoms, and general variables were determined using generalized linear models. Results: Food insecurity was observed in 31.1% (95% CI: 24.3-38.4) of participants. This prevalence was higher in people with mild (PR: 1.73, 95% CI: 1.12-2.70) and moderate (PR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.09-2.22) anxiety symptoms, severe depressive symptoms (PR: 2.74, 95% CI: 1.24-6.03), and previous exposure to the El Niño Phenomenon (PR: 1.72; 95% CI: 1.06-2.81). An income higher than 5000 Peruvian soles (approximately 1300 US dollars) was associated with a lower prevalence of food insecurity (PR: 0.22, 95% CI: 0.13-0.40). Conclusions: Overall, three out of 10 individuals experienced food insecurity after the 2021 earthquake in Piura. Food insecurity may be aggravated by mental disorders, previous exposure to the El Niño phenomenon, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Our study contributes to the field by exploring a range of variables related to food insecurity in a unique context: post-earthquake and during the COVID-19 health emergency in Peru. These findings enhance our understanding of food insecurity at the regional level and highlight the need for preventive food security programs in seismic events.

Factors Associated with Knowledge of Evacuation Routes and Having an Emergency Backpack in Individuals Affected by a Major Earthquake in Piura, Peru.

Information on the prevention of earthquakes in Peru, a high-risk country, is still emerging. We determined the frequency and factors associated with knowledge of evacuation routes and the use of emergency backpacks in people affected by a major earthquake. A cross-sectional study using secondary data was conducted from August-December 2021 on people that experienced the 6.1 magnitude earthquake that occurred in Piura, Peru on 30 July 2021. The outcome was self-reported knowledge of evacuation routes and the use of emergency backpacks. The association with self-reported earthquake preparation training, use of sources of information on earthquakes, and sociodemographic variables was investigated. A total of 69.5% of participants knew evacuation routes, and 46.3% had an emergency backpack. A higher frequency of knowledge of evacuation routes was associated with previous training (PR: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.15-1.87), use of the media (PR: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.06-1.72), having received information from the COEN (PR: 1.19; 95% CI: 1.02-1.40), and with a greater number of household members (PR: 1.03; 95% CI: 1.01-1.06). There is a high frequency of knowledge of evacuation routes among participants. However, basic notions of prevention culture are still needed. This research contributes to policy development on earthquake preparation at the community level.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder after the 6.1 Magnitude Earthquake in Piura, Peru: A Cross-Sectional Study.

In Peru, major disasters like the 2007 Pisco earthquake have produced high rates of post-traumatic stress. However, evidence is still needed to strengthen interventions. In 2021, a major earthquake struck Piura, in northern Peru. In this context, we aimed to assess the prevalence of PTSD and its associated factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted during August-September 2021 in people who experienced the 6.1 Piura earthquake on 30 July 2021. The questionnaire included the PCL-C, CD-RISC, ISI, HFIAS, and additional demographic data. Generalized linear models were used. The prevalence of PTSD was 20.3%. Household income was between PEN 2001 and 3000 (PR = 4.26, 95% CI: 1.08-16.75), smoking (PR = 2.49, 95% CI: 1.03-6.01), experience of a nervous breakdown (PR = 1.83, 95% CI: 1.09-3.09), moderate food insecurity (PR = 2.91, 95% CI: 1.10-7.73), and severe insomnia (PR = 8.25, 95% CI: 2.22-30.71) increased the prevalence of PTSD. One out of five individuals experienced post-traumatic stress symptoms after the 2021 earthquake in Piura, which varies depending on socioeconomic, psychosocial, and individual factors. Further research should strengthen these findings to ensure a fair and early mental health intervention against new seismic events in this and other Peruvian regions.

Mental Health Disturbance after a Major Earthquake in Northern Peru: A Preliminary, Cross-Sectional Study.

Little has been studied in Peru on the mental health repercussions after a major earthquake. We aimed to explore the factors associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms in people who experienced a 6.1 magnitude earthquake in Piura, Peru, on 30 July 2021. A preliminary cross-sectional study was conducted in the general population between August-September 2021. An online questionnaire was provided using PHQ-9, GAD-7, and other relevant measures. Generalized linear models were applied. Of the 177 participants, the median age was 22 years, the majority were female (56%), and many experienced depressive (52%) or anxiety symptoms (52%). Presence of depressive symptoms was associated with a personal history of mental disorder, moderate housing damage, social/material support from politicians, moderate food insecurity, and insomnia. Presence of anxiety symptoms was associated with physical injury caused by the earthquake, mild food insecurity, and insomnia. The development of depressive and anxiety symptoms following the 2021 earthquake experienced in Piura depended on multiple individual and socioeconomic factors. Additional studies should reinforce the factors identified here given the methodological limitations, such as the study design, sampling method, and sample size. This would lead to effective intervention measures to mitigate the impact of earthquakes on mental health.

Dengue with Hemorrhagic Manifestations and Acute Pancreatitis: Case Report and Review.

Dengue fever is an acute viral disease transmitted by arthropods, which has become a major public health problem, especially in tropical and subtropical areas. We found 17 reported cases of dengue complicated with pancreatitis in the world literature, 13 cases were found in Asia, one in Europe, and two in Latin America. This is the first and an unusual case of dengue with hemorrhagic manifestations complicated with acute pancreatitis in Panama. A 37-year-old woman with an unknown past medical history presented to Santo Tomas Hospital (Panama City, Panama) with sudden abdominal pain in the epigastrium and left hypochondrium, described as a burning-like pain radiating towards the back. Five days before the admission, the patient had fever, chills, headache, retro-orbital pain, dizziness, arthralgia, loss of appetite, and fatigue. In the emergency room, a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis was made and the patient was hospitalized. Physical examination showed bleeding gums, and laboratory tests show leukopenia and thrombocytopenia, which suggested an infection caused by the dengue virus. The dengue infection was confirmed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The patient received supportive treatment and the symptoms resolved. She was discharged on the ninth day of hospitalization without any sequela. The final diagnosis was hemorrhagic dengue complicated by acute pancreatitis.