Techniques for bone assessment and characterization: porcine hard palate case study.

The hard palate plate has an important structural function that separates the nasal cavity and the nasopharynx. Incomplete regeneration of palatal fistulae in children with a cleft palate deformity after primary palatoplasty is a relatively common complication. To date, the information about the physicochemical bone features of this region is deficient, due to the low availability of human samples. Swine and human bone share anatomical similarities. Specifically, pig bones are widely used as experimental animal models in dental, orthopedic, or surgical techniques. The aim of this study was to show different techniques to evaluate and characterize alternative properties of pig hard palate bone, compared to commercial hydroxyapatite, one of the most used biomaterials for bone tissue regeneration. Chemical analyses by Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) showed calcium and phosphate ions as the main constituents of bone, while magnesium, iron, sodium, potassium, and zinc ions were minor constituents. The calcium phosphate molar ratio (Ca/P) in the bone was low (1.1 ± 0.2) due to the very young specimen sample used. The FTIR spectrum shows the presence of phosphates ions (PO4 3-) and the main characteristics of collagen type I. The XRD results showed that the hard palate bone has a mixture of calcium, octacalcium dihydrogen phosphate (OCP), and apatite, where OCP is the predominant phase. Besides, this research demonstrated that the young bone has low crystallinity and small crystal size compared with commercial hydroxyapatite (HA). The palatine process of maxilla density and porosity data reported, suggest that the palate bone is getting closer to the compact bone with a 52.78 ± 2.91% porosity and their mechanical properties depend on the preparation conditions and the area of the bone analyzed.

Incidencia de eventos adversos posquirúrgicos en un hospital de tercer nivel / Incidence of postoperative adverse events in a tertiary hospital

Objetivos. Determinar la proporción de reintervenciones, mortalidad, incidencia, gravedad y grado de evitabilidad de eventos adversos posquirúrgicos (EAP) en un hospital de tercer nivel. Métodos. Revisión retrospectiva de una muestra aleatoria de 350 cirugías realizadas en 2009 en pacientes mayores de 14 años. Para identificar los EAP, determinar su gravedad y establecer su grado de evitabilidad se utilizaron clasificaciones preestablecidas. Resultados. Se detectaron 113 EAP en 61 pacientes, el 17,4% de los 350 pacientes estudiados. El 4,3% de los pacientes fue reintervenido y la mortalidad a los 30 días fue del 2,6%. Los EAP más frecuentes fueron: infección de herida quirúrgica (15,0%), hematoma o hemorragia de herida (9,7%) y anemia por sangrado (8,8%). Los factores asociados a los pacientes que adquirieron un EAP fueron el uso anestesia general, grado ASA≥3, estancia media, edad media y servicios con cirugía de mayor repercusión sistémica. Cerca del 70% de los EAP estaban recogidos en el informe de alta. El 72,6% de EAP fueron de gravedad leve, el 11,5% de gravedad moderada y el 15,9% muy graves. Un 39,9% de EAP tenían una probabilidad alta de haberse evitado. No se encontró relación entre la evitabilidad y la gravedad de los EAP. Conclusiones. La alta proporción de pacientes intervenidos con EAP, las reintervenciones consecuentes y la mortalidad en el postoperatorio inmediato señalan la importancia de implantar acciones para reducir la magnitud y el impacto de los eventos adversos, teniendo en cuenta que más del 40% de los EAP podría ser evitado(AU)

Objectives. To determine the proportion of reoperations, mortality, incidence, severity and degree of preventability of postoperative adverse events (PAE) in a teaching hospital. Methods. Retrospective review a random sample of 350 surgical interventions realized in 2009 in patients over 14 years. To identify PAE, determine its severity and its degree of preventability, we used a previous classification. Results. Were detected PAE 113 in 61 patients, 17.4% of the 350 patients studied. 4.3% of patients were reoperated and mortality at 30 days was 2.6%. The most frequent PAE were: infection of surgical wound (15,0%), hematoma or hemorrhage of wound (9,7%) and anemia for bled (8,8%). The factors associated with the patients who acquire a PAE were the use general anesthesia, ASA>3, average stay, average age and more complex surgical services. About 70% of CP were included in the discharge report. The 72.6% of PAE were classified as mild in severity, 11.5% of moderate severity and 15.9% as very serious. 39,9% of the PAE had a high probability of having been avoided. One did not find relation between the preventability and the gravity of the PAE. Conclusions. The high proportion of patients surgically operated with PAE, the consequent reoperations and the mortality in the post operatory immediate indicates the importance of implementing actions to reduce the magnitude and impact of these adverse events, especially considering that over 40% of same could be avoided(AU)

[Incidence of postoperative adverse events in a tertiary hospital]. / Incidencia de eventos adversos posquirúrgicos en un hospital de tercer nivel.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the proportion of reoperations, mortality, incidence, severity and degree of preventability of postoperative adverse events (PAE) in a teaching hospital. METHODS: Retrospective review a random sample of 350 surgical interventions realized in 2009 in patients over 14 years. To identify PAE, determine its severity and its degree of preventability, we used a previous classification. RESULTS: Were detected PAE 113 in 61 patients, 17.4% of the 350 patients studied. 4.3% of patients were reoperated and mortality at 30 days was 2.6%. The most frequent PAE were: infection of surgical wound (15,0%), hematoma or hemorrhage of wound (9,7%) and anemia for bled (8,8%). The factors associated with the patients who acquire a PAE were the use general anesthesia, ASA>3, average stay, average age and more complex surgical services. About 70% of CP were included in the discharge report. The 72.6% of PAE were classified as mild in severity, 11.5% of moderate severity and 15.9% as very serious. 39,9% of the PAE had a high probability of having been avoided. One did not find relation between the preventability and the gravity of the PAE. CONCLUSIONS: The high proportion of patients surgically operated with PAE, the consequent reoperations and the mortality in the post operatory immediate indicates the importance of implementing actions to reduce the magnitude and impact of these adverse events, especially considering that over 40% of same could be avoided.

Response of standard silver halide emulsions to mid-infrared radiation.

It is shown, to our knowledge for the first time, that commercially available silver halide film emulsions may be used to record infrared radiation (10.6 µm) without the use of visible light as the coactivator. We present a film characterization study.

[Prevalence of mental health problems in parents of children with malnutrition in one area of Tegucigalpa, Honduras]. / Prevalencia de problemas de salud mental en padres de niños desnutridos en un área de Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

Prevalence of mental disorders in parents is one of major causes of serious malnutrition levels in children. A high proportion of III-grade malnutrition in parents, however, was found among individuals with no mental pathology whatever. The only explanation for this is, of course, people's distressing economic level and social condition. A positive correlation was also established between disability caused by mental diseases, and the malnutrition level in children. The commonest mental diseases to be found were, firstly, mixed neurosis; secondly, intermittent alcoholism, and finally mixed alcoholism.

Prevalencia de problemas de salud mental en padres de niños desnutridos en un área de Tegucigalpa, Honduras. / [Prevalence of mental health problems in parents of children with malnutrition in one area of Tegucigalpa, Honduras]

Prevalence of mental disorders in parents is one of major causes of serious malnutrition levels in children. A high proportion of III-grade malnutrition in parents, however, was found among individuals with no mental pathology whatever. The only explanation for this is, of course, peoples distressing economic level and social condition. A positive correlation was also established between disability caused by mental diseases, and the malnutrition level in children. The commonest mental diseases to be found were, firstly, mixed neurosis; secondly, intermittent alcoholism, and finally mixed alcoholism.