Comparison of DNA damage in granulosa cells of women undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation in in vitro fertilization protocols with the recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormones Corneumon®, Gonal-F®, Pergoveris® and Puregon®: a randomized trial.

PURPOSE: To compare the DNA damage in granulosa cells (GCs) of women undergoing ovarian-stimulated cycles with four widely used recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormones (rhFSH) in in vitro fertilization (IVF) protocols (Corneumon®, Gonal-F®, Pergoveris® and Puregon®). METHODS: A randomized trial was carried out at a Mexican hospital. GCs were isolated from 18 women with infertility undergoing assisted reproductive techniques (ART). Four controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) protocols including Corneumon®, Gonal-F®, Pergoveris® or Puregon® were used. GCs DNA damage was assessed by the Comet assay. Two parameters were measured: comet tail length (CTL), and Olive tail moment (OTM, the percentage of DNA in the tail multiplied by the distance between the center of the tail and head). RESULTS: Use of the different hrFSH in COS caused variable and statistically significant levels of DNA damage in GCs of infertile women. CTL was similar in the Corneumon® and Pergoveris® groups (mean values of 48.73 and 55.18, respectively) and Corneumon® CTL was significantly lower compared to the Gonal-F® and Puregon® groups (mean values of 61.98 and 91.17, respectively). Mean OTM values were significantly lower in Corneumon® and Pergoveris® groups, compared to Gonal-F® and Puregon® groups (25.59, 27.35, 34.76, and 47.27, respectively). CONCLUSION: Use of Corneumon® and Pergoveris® in COS caused statistically significantly lower levels of DNA damage in GCs of infertile women undergoing ART, which could potentially correlate with better reproductive outcomes.

Dietary Patterns of Adolescents from the Chilean Growth and Obesity Cohort Study Indicate Poor Dietary Quality.

Diet during adolescence can have lasting effects on nutritional status, health, and development. We hypothesized that dietary patterns with low-quality nutrition are associated with overweightness. We collected data for 882 Chilean adolescents from the Growth and Obesity Cohort Study (mean age: 12 years). Dietary intake was assessed through 24-h recalls and weight status data were obtained during clinical visits. Dietary patterns were obtained through exploratory factor analysis. Multiple logistic regression models were used to examine cross-sectional associations between dietary patterns and overweight (BMI z-score ≥ 1SD). Four dietary patterns were identified: "Breakfast/Light dinner", "Natural foods", "Western", and "Snacking". "Breakfast/Light dinner", "Western", and "Snacking" patterns provided higher energy and excess nutrients (sodium, saturated fat, and added sugar). Moreover, adolescents with higher adherence to "Western" or " Snacking" patterns (third tertile) had higher odds of being classified as overweight (OR = 1.67; 95%CI: 1.103-2.522 and OR = 1.86; 95%CI: 1.235-2.792, respectively) than those with lower adherence (first tertile). "Natural foods" pattern was also associated with overweightness (OR = 1.83; 95%CI: 1.219-2.754). These dietary patterns were associated with overconsumption of nutrients of public health concern. Three of the four main dietary patterns were associated with overweightness. These results highlight the need of prioritizing adolescents on obesity prevention strategies.

Motherhood inmigrant women in Chile: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: The adverse impact of poverty and migration in pregnant women is expressed in diverse results in reproductive, mental and child health, all of which are related to lack of documentation to reside in the country, absence of health insurance and no economic resources to pay private services, or either not understanding the administrative procedures. OBJECTIVE: To understand the experience of immigrant women in the process of motherhood and rearing infants under 6 months, in the context of social vulnerability in an urban area of Santiago de Chile. DESIGN: Qualitative research design, with descriptive analysis data and interpretation gradually given to explicity the findings relevant the study with women from a healthcare center in the urban region of Chile. PARTICIPANTS: The sample was deliberate by criterion, the participants were thirteen immigrant women between the ages of 18 and 40 years old. Guided open-ended interview were performed after providing informed consent. In the analysis of information, the following criteria was applied: credibility, authenticity, possibility of confirmation, dependence and transferability. FINDINGS: From immigrant's women discourses, difficulties to access the health system could be observed, due to institutional and structural barriers that represented a limitation for social and cultural integration. In addition, feelings of mistrust, tension and insecurity about reaching for healthcare and social support for them and their family, produces a series of problems for the women and their children. CONCLUSION: Immigrant women face cultural and institutional barriers, as well as social and personal adversities that conditions a complex process of social vulnerability to take responsibility for a safe motherhood and rearing. Living the phases of the migration process and an unwanted pregnancy - in most cases - made the women face the challenge of rearing in another country, in economic vulnerability, emotional instability with their partners and with social and cultural barriers with healthcare teams. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: It is necessary to mention the role of the midwifery and nursing from the point of view of assistance, due to their responsibility in accompanying the child-rearing period for both native and immigrant women for years. It is worth mentioning the theory of culturation, referring to the need for knowledge of the cultural and social structure of an individual, family and community, which provides an integrated, interdisciplinary and cross-cultural approach to care in contexts of vulnerability conditioned by migration.

Immobilized fibrinogen activates human platelets through glycoprotein VI.

Glycoprotein VI, a major platelet activation receptor for collagen and fibrin, is considered a particularly promising, safe antithrombotic target. In this study, we show that human glycoprotein VI signals upon platelet adhesion to fibrinogen. Full spreading of human platelets on fibrinogen was abolished in platelets from glycoprotein VI- deficient patients suggesting that fibrinogen activates platelets through glycoprotein VI. While mouse platelets failed to spread on fibrinogen, human-glycoprotein VI-transgenic mouse platelets showed full spreading and increased Ca2+ signaling through the tyrosine kinase Syk. Direct binding of fibrinogen to human glycoprotein VI was shown by surface plasmon resonance and by increased adhesion to fibrinogen of human glycoprotein VI-transfected RBL-2H3 cells relative to mock-transfected cells. Blockade of human glycoprotein VI with the Fab of the monoclonal antibody 9O12 impaired platelet aggregation on preformed platelet aggregates in flowing blood independent of collagen and fibrin exposure. These results demonstrate that human glycoprotein VI binds to immobilized fibrinogen and show that this contributes to platelet spreading and platelet aggregation under flow.

Platelet tissue factor activity and membrane cholesterol are increased in hypercholesterolemia and normalized by rosuvastatin, but not by atorvastatin.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: High plasma LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) and platelet responses have major pathogenic roles in atherothrombosis. Thus, statins and anti-platelet drugs constitute mainstays in cardiovascular prevention/treatment. However, the role of platelet tissue factor-dependent procoagulant activity (TF-PCA) has remained unexplored in hypercholesterolemia. We aimed to study platelet TF-PCA and its relationship with membrane cholesterol in vitro and in 45 hypercholesterolemic patients (HC-patients) (LDL-C >3.37 mmol/L, 130 mg/dL) and 37 control subjects (LDL-C <3.37 mmol/L). The effect of 1-month administration of 80 mg/day atorvastatin (n = 21) and 20 mg/day rosuvastatin (n = 24) was compared. METHODS: Platelet TF-PCA was induced by GPIbα activation with VWF-ristocetin. RESULTS: Cholesterol-enriched platelets in vitro had augmented aggregation/secretion and platelet FXa generation (1.65-fold increase, p = 0.01). HC-patients had 1.5-, 2.3- and 2.5-fold increases in platelet cholesterol, TF protein and activity, respectively; their platelets had neither hyper-aggregation nor endogenous thrombin generation (ETP). Rosuvastatin, but not atorvastatin, normalized platelet cholesterol, TF protein and FXa generation. It also increased slightly the plasma HDL-C levels, which correlated negatively with TF-PCA. CONCLUSIONS: Platelets from HC-patients were not hyper-responsive to low concentrations of classical agonists and had normal PRP-ETP, before and after statin administration. However, washed platelets from HC-patients had increased membrane cholesterol, TF protein and TF-PCA. The platelet TF-dependent PCA was specifically expressed after VWF-induced GPIbα activation. Rosuvastatin, but not atorvastatin treatment, normalized the membrane cholesterol, TF protein and TF-PCA in HC-patients, possibly unveiling a new pleiotropic effect of rosuvastatin. Modulation of platelet TF-PCA may become a novel target to prevent/treat atherothrombosis without increasing bleeding risks.

Fibrin and D-dimer bind to monomeric GPVI.

Fibrin has recently been shown to activate platelets through the immunoglobulin receptor glycoprotein VI (GPVI). In the present study, we show that spreading of human platelets on fibrin is abolished in patients deficient in GPVI, confirming that fibrin activates human platelets through the immunoglobulin receptor. Using a series of proteolytic fragments, we show that D-dimer, but not the E fragment of fibrin, binds to GPVI and that immobilized D-dimer induces platelet spreading through activation of Src and Syk tyrosine kinases. In contrast, when platelets are activated in suspension, soluble D-dimer inhibits platelet aggregation induced by fibrin and collagen, but not by a collagen-related peptide composed of a repeat GPO sequence or by thrombin. Using surface plasmon resonance, we demonstrate that fibrin binds selectively to monomeric GPVI with a KD of 302 nM, in contrast to collagen, which binds primarily to dimeric GPVI. These results establish GPVI as the major signaling receptor for fibrin in human platelets and provide evidence that fibrin binds to a distinct configuration of GPVI. This indicates that it may be possible to develop agents that selectively block the interaction of fibrin but not collagen with the immunoglobulin receptor. Such agents are required to establish whether selective targeting of either interaction has the potential to lead to development of an antithrombotic agent with a reduced effect on bleeding relative to current antiplatelet drugs.

Strain auricular izquierdo y biomarcadores cardíacos como predictores de accidente cerebrovascular en pacientes con fibrilación auricular de reciente comienzo / Left atrial strain and biomarkers for stroke in patients with recent onset atrial fibrillation

Introducción: La miopatía y fibrosis auricular representan el sustrato protrombótico y proarrítmico en pacientes con fibrilación auricular (FA). Estudios recientes muestran relación entre el strain auricular izquierdo (SAI), eventos cardiovasculares y recurrencia en pacientes con FA. La asociación entre SAI y bio-marcadores cardíacos como predictores de accidente cerebrovascular silente (ACVs) en pacientes con FA de reciente comienzo (FArc) no ha sido estudiada. Objetivo: Determinar si la asociación entre SAI y biomarcadores cardíacos contribuye a la predicción de ACV en pacientes con FArc. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio prospectivo que permitió reclutar 57 pacientes con FArc (primer episodio de < de 8 semanas de evolución). Obtenido consentimiento informado (CI) se realizó recolección de datos clínicos y muestras de sangre para determinación de Pro-BNP, Dimero-D y GDF-15. Se realizó resonancia nuclear magnética cerebral (RNMc) y ecocardiograma transtorácico (ETT) durante los primeros 3 días de inclusión y en ritmo sinusal. Para la evaluación de SAI se consideró la curva de deflexión positiva durante la sístole ventricular (SAIs), derivada de speckle tracking, considerando el promedio de 5 ciclos. Se utilizó Mann Whitney U test y Spearman Rho para análisis estadístico. Resultados: La edad promedio fue 70±8,2 años y el 70% fueron hombres. El CHA2DS2-VASc score promedio fue 3,1±1 y el promedio de pro-BNP, Di-mero-D y GDF-15 fue 96,1±12,4 pg/ml, 990±140 ng/ ml y 12 ng/ml respectivamente. 15% de los pacientes (n=9) presentaban ACVs en la RNMc al momento del diagnóstico. Se observó, además, que los pacientes con ACV presentaban un SAIs más bajo que los pacientes sin eventos (5,5±1,1% y 14,6±7,3% respectivamente p=0.04). Adicionalmente, se encontró una correlación significativa entre SAIs y pro-BNP, Dimero-D y GDF-15. Conclusiones: En este trabajo se evidenció que el 15% de los pacientes con FArc presenta ACVs al momento del diagnóstico. El SAIs bajo se correlaciona de forma inversa con los biomarcadores de sobrecarga, trombogénesis, fibrosis auricular y presencia de ACV silente. Estos resultados pueden ser utilizados para una mejor estratificación del riesgo de ACV en pacientes con FA.

Introduction: Atrial myopathy and fibrosis constitute a pro-arrhythmic and pro-thromboembolic substrate in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Recent studies using left atrial strain (LAS) have shown that LAS contributes to predict AF recurrence in patients with paroxysmal AF. The association between LAS and cardiac biomarkers in predicting silent stroke (SS) in patients with new AF has not been studied. Aim: The association of LAS and cardiac biomarkers contribute to predict SS in patients with new AF. Methods: We have prospectively evaluated 57 consecutive patients with new AF (first episode with less than 8 weeks of evolution). Baseline clinical characteristics and blood samples for determinations of Pro-BNP, D-Dimer and GDF-15 were obtained. Brain magnetic resonance (BMRI) and 2D Echo were performed within 3 days. In sinus rhythm, the positive deflection during ventricular systole of the LAS curve derived from speckle tracking was considered (mean of 5 cycles) (LASS). Mann Whitney U test and Spearman Rho were used for statistical analysis. Results: Mean age was 70±8,2 years, 70% were men. The mean CHA2DS2-VASc score was 3,1±1. Mean pro-BNP, D-Dimer and GDF-15 were 96,1±12,4 pg/ml, 990±140 ng/ml and 12 ng/ml, respectively. Fifteen percent of patients (n=9) had evidence of previous SS in BMRI. Patients with SS had significantly less LASS than patients without events (5,5±1,1% and 14,6±7,3% respectively p=0,04). In addition, a significant correlation between LASs and pro-BNP, D-Dimer and GDF-15 was found. Conclusion: Evidence of SS was found in 15% of patients with new AF. This was associated with LASs impairment, which was inversely correlated with cardiac biomarkers of LV overload, thrombogenesis and LA fibrosis. These findings could be utilized for a better risk stratification of stroke in patients with new AF.

[Application of a social capital scale in older women attending public primary care clinics]. / Capital social de las mujeres mayores usuarias de la red pública de la Atención Primaria de Salud.

BACKGROUND: Social capital is an economical idea that refers to connections between individuals and entities that can be economically valuable. AIM: To establish the relationship of social capital as a health care asset, with sociodemographic variables of older women attending public health care services. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Chen’s Personal Social Capital scale was applied to 113 women aged between 64 and 80 years during 2014. Cronbach’s alpha of the instrument was calculated. RESULTS: The Cronbach’s alpha of the instrument was 0.86. The average score for social capital was 23.9 points of a maximum of 50. Bridging capital scores had the higher disparity, specifically in participation in community organizations and the representation of their interest in them. Bonding capital decreased along with a higher age of interviewed women (r = -0,43, p < 0,01). Higher territorial roots were associated with a lower perception of social community resource availability (r = -0,42, p < 0,01). CONCLUSIONS: The social capital scores in these women were low. Their better support networks were close relationships and relatives. The sensation of solitude increased with age.

Capital social de las mujeres mayores usuarias de la red pública de la Atención Primaria de Salud / Application of a social capital scale in older women attending public primary care clinics

Background: Social capital is an economical idea that refers to connections between individuals and entities that can be economically valuable. Aim: To establish the relationship of social capital as a health care asset, with sociodemographic variables of older women attending public health care services. Material and Methods: Chen’s Personal Social Capital scale was applied to 113 women aged between 64 and 80 years during 2014. Cronbach’s alpha of the instrument was calculated. Results: The Cronbach’s alpha of the instrument was 0.86. The average score for social capital was 23.9 points of a maximum of 50. Bridging capital scores had the higher disparity, specifically in participation in community organizations and the representation of their interest in them. Bonding capital decreased along with a higher age of interviewed women (r = -0,43, p < 0,01). Higher territorial roots were associated with a lower perception of social community resource availability (r = -0,42, p < 0,01). Conclusions: The social capital scores in these women were low. Their better support networks were close relationships and relatives. The sensation of solitude increased with age.

Cardiac ScoreCard: A Diagnostic Multivariate Index Assay System for Predicting a Spectrum of Cardiovascular Disease.

Clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) have the potential to save lives and reduce unnecessary costs through early detection and frequent monitoring of both traditional risk factors and novel biomarkers for cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the widespread adoption of CDSSs for the identification of heart diseases has been limited, likely due to the poor interpretability of clinically relevant results and the lack of seamless integration between measurements and disease predictions. In this paper we present the Cardiac ScoreCard-a multivariate index assay system with the potential to assist in the diagnosis and prognosis of a spectrum of CVD. The Cardiac ScoreCard system is based on lasso logistic regression techniques which utilize both patient demographics and novel biomarker data for the prediction of heart failure (HF) and cardiac wellness. Lasso logistic regression models were trained on a merged clinical dataset comprising 579 patients with 6 traditional risk factors and 14 biomarker measurements. The prediction performance of the Cardiac ScoreCard was assessed with 5-fold cross-validation and compared with reference methods. The experimental results reveal that the ScoreCard models improved performance in discriminating disease versus non-case (AUC = 0.8403 and 0.9412 for cardiac wellness and HF, respectively), and the models exhibit good calibration. Clinical insights to the prediction of HF and cardiac wellness are provided in the form of logistic regression coefficients which suggest that augmenting the traditional risk factors with a multimarker panel spanning a diverse cardiovascular pathophysiology provides improved performance over reference methods. Additionally, a framework is provided for seamless integration with biomarker measurements from point-of-care medical microdevices, and a lasso-based feature selection process is described for the down-selection of biomarkers in multimarker panels.

Invisibility of social vulnerability and social rights to a comprehensive health care in Chile / (in)visibilidade da vulnerabilidade social e do direito ao cuidado integral da saúde no Chile / In-visibilidad de la vulnerabilidad social y el derecho al cuidado de salud integral en Chile

ABSTRACT Objective: To estimate the magnitude of perception of invisibility of social vulnerability and its impact on the access to universal and specific services of the Comprehensive Childhood Protection System in Chile. Method: Cross-sectional study in 50 vulnerable dyads, who were registered in a family health care center (Metropolitan Region, Chile; 2012). After the informed consent, mothers were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. A correspondence analysis model was applied. Results: The invisibility of social vulnerability estimated for mothers (92.0%) and children (86.0%), and a better access was observed to universal services by children and to specific services by mothers. Conclusion: The invisibility of vulnerability limits the opportunities of social protection for disadvantaged groups. Therefore, public policy does not correct social inequalities, which deserve attention by the public health managers in Chile.

RESUMO Objetivo: estimar a magnitude da percepção da invisibilidade da vulnerabilidade social e suas consequências no acesso aos serviços universais e específicos do Sistema de Proteção Integral à Infância no Chile. Método: estudo transversal em 50 díades vulneráveis, registrados em um centro de saúde familiar (Região Metropolitana, Chile; 2012). Depois do consentimento informado, as mães foram entrevistadas usando um questionário estruturado. Um modelo de análise de correspondência foi aplicado. Resultados: a invisibilidade da vulnerabilidade social foi estimada para mães (92.0%) e filhos (86.0%), observando-se um melhor acesso aos serviços universais pelas crianças e aos específicos pelas mães. Conclusão: a invisibilidade da vulnerabilidade limita as oportunidades de proteção social a grupos em desvantagem. Consequentemente, a política pública não corrige as desigualdades sociais, que merecem a atenção dos gestores da saúde pública chilena.

RESUMEN Objetivo: estimar la magnitud de la percepción de la in-visibilidad de la vulnerabilidad social y sus consecuencias en el acceso a servicios universales y específicos del Sistema de Protección Integral de la Infancia en Chile. Método: estudio transversal en 50 díadas vulnerables, registradas en un centro de salud familiar (Región Metropolitana, Chile; 2012). Después de la firma de consentimiento informado, las madres fueran entrevistadas usando un cuestionario estructurado. Se aplicó un modelo de análisis de correspondencias. Resultados: la in-visibilidad de la vulnerabilidad social fue estimada para madres (92.0%) y hijos (86.0%), observándose un mejor acceso a los servicios universales a los infantes y específicos a las madres. Conclusión: la in-visibilidad de la vulnerabilidad limita las oportunidades de protección social a grupos desventajados. Como consecuencia, la política pública no corrige las desigualdades sociales, que merecen atención de los gestores de la salud pública chilena.

Asociación entre factores ambientales y pautas de crianza con el Índice de Masa Corporal de preescolares de hogares infantiles de Floridablanca, Colombia / Relationship between environmental factors and child rearing practices on body mass index of preschool children residents of children's homes from Floridablanca, Colombia

The association of environmental factors and child rearing practices with body mass index z-score (BMIZ) in children residents of Children's Homes from Floridablanca, Colombia was studied. A random sample of 176 preschool children aged 3-6 years was weighed and measured, their parents or caregiver were also measured and they answered a survey. The generalized linear model showed that BMIZ increased significantly with children's age (β=0.02), children's sex (male β=0.27), mother's occupation (homemaker β=0.29), mother's overweight (β=0.20), person who accompanies children while they eat (relatives β=0,49; anyone or non-relative β=0.40), person who cooks (grandmother β=0.55), adequate time spent on eating by children (β=0.54), and overeating (0.51). BMIZ decreased significantly with mother's occupation (looking for a job or student β=-0.43), maternal history of hypertension (β=-0.26), motivation to eat (β=-0.59) and pressure to eat (β=-0.55).

El objetivo del estudio fue determinar la asociación de factores ambientales y estilos de crianza con el puntaje z del Indice de Masa Corporal (IMCZ) en preescolares de los Hogares Infantiles de Floridablanca, Colombia. Una muestra aleatoria de 176 preescolares de 3 a 6 años fueron medidos y pesados; sus padres o cuidadores fueron medidos y respondieron una encuesta. El modelo lineal generalizado mostró que el IMCZ aumenta significativamente con la edad (β=0,02) y sexo del preescolar (masculino β=0,27), ocupación (ama de casa β=0,29) y sobrepeso de la madre (β=0,20), persona que lo acompaña mientras come (familiares β=0,49; ninguno o no familiares β=0,40), persona que prepara los alimentos (abuela β=0,55), comer en un tiempo adecuado (β=0,54), y comer demasiado (0,51). El IMCZ disminuye significativamente con la ocupación de la madre (buscando trabajo o estudianteβ=-0,43), antecedentes de hipertensión arterial maternos (β=-0,26), motivación para comer (β=-0,59), y presión para comer (β=-0,55).

Social protection systems in vulnerable families: their importance for the public health.

OBJECTIVE To analyze the effectiveness of the Chilean System of Childhood Welfare in transferring benefits to socially vulnerable families. METHODS A cross-sectional study with a sample of 132 families from the Metropolitan Region, Chile, stratified according to degree of social vulnerability, between September 2011 and January 2012. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with mothers of the studied families in public health facilities or their households. The variables studied were family structure, psychosocial risk in the family context and integrated benefits from the welfare system in families that fulfill the necessary requirements for transfer of benefits. Descriptive statistics to measure location and dispersion were calculated. A binary logistic regression, which accounts for the sample size of the study, was carried out. RESULTS The groups were homogenous regarding family size, the presence of biological father in the household, the number of relatives living in the same dwelling, income generation capacity and the rate of dependency and psychosocial risk (p ≥ 0.05). The transfer of benefits was low in all three groups of the sample (≤ 23.0%). The benefit with the best coverage in the system was the Single Family Subsidy, whose transfer was associated with the size of the family, the presence of relatives in the dwelling, the absence of the father in the household, a high rate of dependency and a high income generation capacity (p ≤ 0.10). CONCLUSIONS The effectiveness of benefit transfer was poor, especially in families that were extremely socially vulnerable. Further explanatory studies of benefit transfers to the vulnerable population, of differing intensity and duration, are required in order to reduce health disparities and inequalities.

Social protection systems in vulnerable families: their importance for the public health / Sistemas de protección social en familias vulnerables: su importancia en la salud pública

OBJECTIVE To analyze the effectiveness of the Chilean System of Childhood Welfare in transferring benefits to socially vulnerable families. METHODS A cross-sectional study with a sample of 132 families from the Metropolitan Region, Chile, stratified according to degree of social vulnerability, between September 2011 and January 2012. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with mothers of the studied families in public health facilities or their households. The variables studied were family structure, psychosocial risk in the family context and integrated benefits from the welfare system in families that fulfill the necessary requirements for transfer of benefits. Descriptive statistics to measure location and dispersion were calculated. A binary logistic regression, which accounts for the sample size of the study, was carried out. RESULTS The groups were homogenous regarding family size, the presence of biological father in the household, the number of relatives living in the same dwelling, income generation capacity and the rate of dependency and psychosocial risk (p ≥ 0.05). The transfer of benefits was low in all three groups of the sample (≤ 23.0%). The benefit with the best coverage in the system was the Single Family Subsidy, whose transfer was associated with the size of the family, the presence of relatives in the dwelling, the absence of the father in the household, a high rate of dependency and a high income generation capacity (p ≤ 0.10). CONCLUSIONS The effectiveness of benefit transfer was poor, especially in families that were extremely socially vulnerable. Further explanatory studies of benefit transfers to the vulnerable population, of differing intensity and duration, are required in order to reduce health disparities and inequalities. .

OBJETIVO Analizar la efectividad de las transferencias de beneficios del Sistema de Protección Integral de la Infancia a familias de Chile socialmente vulnerables. MÉTODOS Estudio transversal analítico con 132 familias, estratificadas según vulnerabilidad social en la Región Metropolitana, Chile, entre septiembre de 2011 y enero de 2012. Se aplicó entrevista semiestructurada a madres de familias en centros de salud públicos o en sus domicilios. Las variables fueron: estructura familiar, riesgo psicosocial del entorno familiar y beneficios integrados del sistema de protección social requeridos en las familias que cumplían con el requisito de aplicabilidad para la transferencia del beneficio. Se calcularon estadígrafos descriptivos, de posición y dispersión. Fue realizada regresión logística binaria, pertinente por el tamaño de la muestra. RESULTADOS Los grupos fueron homogéneos en cuanto a tamaño de la familia, presencia del progenitor y número de allegados, capacidad generadora de ingresos, tasa de dependencia y riesgo psicosocial (p ≥ 0,05). La transferencia de los beneficios fue baja en los tres grupos (≤ 23,0%). La mejor cobertura estuvo representada por el Subsidio Único Familiar, cuya entrega se relacionó con el tamaño de la familia, la presencia de allegados, progenitor ausente, la alta tasa de dependencia y alta capacidad generadora de ingresos (p ≤ 0,10). CONCLUSIONES La efectividad de entrega de los beneficios fue baja, especialmente en familias de extrema vulnerabilidad social. Nuevos estudios explicativos de formas de transferencia de beneficios deben ser realizados con diferentes niveles de intensidad y tiempos de exposición en poblaciones vulnerables, para disminuir las disparidades y desigualdades en salud. .

Effectiveness of the Comprehensive Childhood Protection System for vulnerable mothers and children.

OBJECTIVES: To establish the effectiveness of the public benefits and services of the "Chile Grows with You" and "Protect Network" programs for socially vulnerable women and children in an urban community in the Metropolitan Region of Chile. METHOD: Descriptive study employing a questionnaire. The sample consisted of 132 mothers and their 133 infants, all grouped according to social vulnerability. Primary data were collected via a structured interview of the mothers and were complemented with institutional (secondary) data. Descriptive and associative analyses were performed. RESULTS: The perception of social vulnerability by the professionals was low at the time of admission into the program. The effectiveness of the universal and specific benefits was low, with better results for the children than for the mothers. However, no significant differences were observed according to vulnerability. Another finding was the low access to specific benefits for children with psychosocial risk and psychomotor delay, especially in the most vulnerable group. CONCLUSION: The results revealed a gap in the access to the benefits guaranteed by law. To overcome this situation, nurses must strengthen their skills in contextualized health practices and the comprehensive administration of interdisciplinary and intersectoral networks.

Effectiveness of the Comprehensive Childhood Protection System for vulnerable mothers and children / Efetividade do Sistema de Protecao Integral da Infancia em maes e criancas vulneraveis / Efectividad del Sistema de Proteccion Integral de la Infancia en madres y ninos vulnerables

OBJECTIVES: to establish the effectiveness of the public benefits and services of the "Chile Grows with You" and "Protect Network" programs for socially vulnerable women and children in an urban community in the Metropolitan Region of Chile. METHOD: Descriptive study employing a questionnaire. The sample consisted of 132 mothers and their 133 infants, all grouped according to social vulnerability. Primary data were collected via a structured interview of the mothers and were complemented with institutional (secondary) data. Descriptive and associative analyses were performed. RESULTS: the perception of social vulnerability by the professionals was low at the time of admission into the program. The effectiveness of the universal and specific benefits was low, with better results for the children than for the mothers. However, no significant differences were observed according to vulnerability. Another finding was the low access to specific benefits for children with psychosocial risk and psychomotor delay, especially in the most vulnerable group. CONCLUSION: the results revealed a gap in the access to the benefits guaranteed by law. To overcome this situation, nurses must strengthen their skills in contextualized health practices and the comprehensive administration of interdisciplinary and intersectoral networks. .

OBJETIVO: estabelecer a efetividade da oferta pública de benefícios e/ou de prestações do Programa Chile Cresce Contigo e a Rede Protege, em crianças e mulheres socialmente vulneráveis de um bairro da Região Metropolitana do Chile. MÉTODO: estudo descritivo, com a utilização de um questionário. A amostra foi constituída por 132 mães de 133 crianças e estratificada segundo grupos de vulnerabilidade social. A informação primária foi coletada através de uma entrevista estruturada às mães e complementada com dados das fontes secundárias institucionais. Realizaram-se análises descritiva e de associação. RESULTADOS: houve baixa percepção de vulnerabilidade social pelos profissionais quando do ingresso do controle. A efetividade dos benefícios universais e específicos foi baixa, com melhores resultados nas crianças e nas mães, contudo, não foram observadas diferenças significativas, segundo a vulnerabilidade. Outro resultado foi o baixo acesso aos benefícios específicos nas crianças com risco psicossocial e atraso psicomotor, especialmente no grupo mais vulnerável. CONCLUSÃO: os resultados mostram uma lacuna no acesso aos benefícios garantidos por lei. Para superar essa situação, as enfermeiras/os necessitam fortalecer competências nas práticas sanitárias contextualizadas e de gestão integrada nas redes interdisciplinares e intersetoriais. .

OBJETIVO: establecer la efectividad de la oferta pública de beneficios y/o prestaciones del Programa Chile Crece Contigo y la Red Protege, en niños y mujeres socialmente vulnerables en una comuna urbana de la Región Metropolitana de Chile. MÉTODO: estudio descriptivo con uso de la técnica de la encuesta, la muestra constituida por 132 madres de 133 niños fue estratificada según grupos de vulnerabilidad social; la información primaria fue obtenida con una entrevista estructurada a las madres y complementada con datos de fuentes secundarias institucionales. Se calcularon estadísticas descriptivas y de asociación. RESULTADOS: hubo baja percepción de vulnerabilidad social de las diadas, por las profesionales al ingreso del control; la efectividad de beneficios universales y específicos fue baja, con mejores resultados en hijos que en madres, no obstante, no se observaron diferencias significativas según vulnerabilidad; un hallazgo fue la baja accesibilidad a beneficios específicos en niños con riesgo psicosocial y retraso del desarrollo psicomotor, especialmente en el grupo más vulnerable. CONCLUSIÓN: los resultados muestran una brecha en el acceso a beneficios garantizados por ley; para superar esta situación, las enfermeras/os requieren fortalecer competencias para prácticas sanitarias contextualizadas y de gestión integrada, en redes interdisciplinarias e intersectoriales. .

The motherhood experience in the context of social vulnerability: a comprehensive approach to social phenomenology.

OBJECTIVE: to understand the future expectations and experience of vulnerable mothers from pregnancy to their child's early years. METHODS: this qualitative study used the social phenomenology of Alfred Schütz as a framework. From January to April 2011, nine mothers from the 2009 program "Chile Grows with You" were interviewed at health centers in an urban Santiago de Chile community. RESULTS: analysis of the "lived type" led to an understanding of the mothers' real-world experience. Unexpected pregnancies in extremely vulnerable mothers are associated with feelings of hopelessness then resignation. There is no plan for the future; the mother lives in the present with great uncertainty. CONCLUSIONS: from the mothers' stories, significant patterns were identified in their experiences, yielding insights into society from these women's perspectives. For humanized, comprehensive nursing care, this expertise directs interventions designed to overcome despair in women excluded because of their invisibility and poverty.

The motherhood experience in the context of social vulnerability: a comprehensive approach to social phenomenology / Vivenciando a maternidade em contextos de vulnerabilidade social: uma abordagem compreensiva da fenomenologia social / Vivenciando la maternidad en contextos de vulnerabilidad social: un enfoque comprensivo de la fenomenología social

OBJECTIVE: to understand the future expectations and experience of vulnerable mothers from pregnancy to their child's early years. METHODS: this qualitative study used the social phenomenology of Alfred Schütz as a framework. From January to April 2011, nine mothers from the 2009 program "Chile Grows with You" were interviewed at health centers in an urban Santiago de Chile community. RESULTS: analysis of the "lived type" led to an understanding of the mothers' real-world experience. Unexpected pregnancies in extremely vulnerable mothers are associated with feelings of hopelessness then resignation. There is no plan for the future; the mother lives in the present with great uncertainty. CONCLUSIONS: from the mothers' stories, significant patterns were identified in their experiences, yielding insights into society from these women's perspectives. For humanized, comprehensive nursing care, this expertise directs interventions designed to overcome despair in women excluded because of their invisibility and poverty. .

OBJETIVO: compreender a vivência de mães em situação de vulnerabilidade da gestação até os primeiros anos de vida do filho, assim como as suas expectativas para o futuro. MÉTODO: estudo qualitativo que utilizou a fenomenologia social de Alfred Schütz como referencial filosófico. Entre janeiro e abril de 2011, foram entrevistadas, em centros de saúde de uma comunidade urbana de Santiago do Chile, nove mães matriculadas no programa Chile Cresce Contigo, em 2009. RESULTADOS: a análise compreensiva do tipo vivido permitiu compreender a vivência do mundo de vida cotidiano. Numa situação de extrema vulnerabilidade, ser mãe é uma notícia imprevista, com sentimentos de desesperança que se transformam em resignação. Não existe projeto de futuro, mas vive-se o aqui e o agora com incerteza. Com base nos relatos das mulheres-mães, foram identificados padrões significativos do vivido no âmbito pessoal e familiar, que contribuem com conhecimentos para uma compreensão mais acurada do mundo social, com base nas perspectivas particulares das mulheres. CONCLUSÕES: para a prática do cuidado humanizado e compreensivo da saúde na área de enfermagem, o presente estudo traz conhecimentos necessários para o desenho de intervenções que permitam vencer a desesperança das mulheres excluídas devido à sua invisibilidade e à sua condição de pobreza. .

OBJETIVO: comprender la vivencia de las madres en situación de vulnerabilidad, desde la gestación hasta los primeros años de vida de su hijo y sus expectativas para el futuro. MÉTODO: estudio cualitativo, que utilizó como referencial filosófico la Fenomenología Social de Alfred Shutz; fue realizado entre enero y abril de 2011, en centros de salud de una comuna urbana de Santiago de Chile, fueron entrevistadas nueve madres adscritas al programa Chile Crece Contigo en el año 2009. RESULTADOS: el análisis comprensivo del tipo vivido permitió comprender la vivencia del mundo de vida cotidiano; ser madre en situación de extrema vulnerabilidad es una noticia imprevista, con sentimientos de desesperanza, que evoluciona en resignación; no existe proyecto de futuro, vive el aquí y el ahora con incertidumbre. CONCLUSIONES: a partir de los relatos de las mujeres-madres, se identificaron patrones significativos de lo vivido en el ámbito personal y familiar, que aportan conocimientos para una mejor comprensión del mundo social desde las perspectivas particulares de las mujeres; para enfermería, en la práctica del cuidado humanizado y comprensivo de salud, se aportan conocimientos para el diseño de intervenciones que permitan superar la desesperanza en mujeres excluidas por su invisibilidad y condición de pobreza. .

Porous bead-based diagnostic platforms: bridging the gaps in healthcare.

Advances in lab-on-a-chip systems have strong potential for multiplexed detection of a wide range of analytes with reduced sample and reagent volume; lower costs and shorter analysis times. The completion of high-fidelity multiplexed and multiclass assays remains a challenge for the medical microdevice field; as it struggles to achieve and expand upon at the point-of-care the quality of results that are achieved now routinely in remote laboratory settings. This review article serves to explore for the first time the key intersection of multiplexed bead-based detection systems with integrated microfluidic structures alongside porous capture elements together with biomarker validation studies. These strategically important elements are evaluated here in the context of platform generation as suitable for near-patient testing. Essential issues related to the scalability of these modular sensor ensembles are explored as are attempts to move such multiplexed and multiclass platforms into large-scale clinical trials. Recent efforts in these bead sensors have shown advantages over planar microarrays in terms of their capacity to generate multiplexed test results with shorter analysis times. Through high surface-to-volume ratios and encoding capabilities; porous bead-based ensembles; when combined with microfluidic elements; allow for high-throughput testing for enzymatic assays; general chemistries; protein; antibody and oligonucleotide applications.

Programmable bio-nanochip technology for the diagnosis of cardiovascular disease at the point-of-care.

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the world and continues to serve as the major contributor to healthcare costs. Likewise, there is an ever-increasing need and demand for novel and more efficient diagnostic tools for the early detection of cardiovascular disease, especially at the point-of-care (POC). This article reviews the programmable bio-nanochip (P-BNC) system, a new medical microdevice approach with the capacity to deliver both high performance and reduced cost. This fully integrated, total analysis system leverages microelectronic components, microfabrication techniques, and nanotechnology to noninvasively measure multiple cardiac biomarkers in complex fluids, such as saliva, while offering diagnostic accuracy equal to laboratory-confined reference methods. This article profiles the P-BNC approach, describes its performance in real-world testing of clinical samples, and summarizes new opportunities for medical microdevices in the field of cardiac diagnostics.