A pharmacoeconomic analysis of the collection and preservation of samples in the biobank of the "Instituto Nacional de Cancerología" in Mexico City.

In this work we estimated the budgetary impact of the samples produced by the biobank of the "Instituto Nacional de Cancerología" (BT-INCan) to set a recuperation fee from the perspective of the Health Ministry of Mexico. The study is an observational retrospective review of the direct medical costs (DMCs) of the processes involved in cryopreservation of the samples collected, on a per sample basis, including materials, laboratory tests, personnel, and administrative costs. Materials and labor costs were determined by information collected from the BT-INCan. DMCs were provided depending on the type of sample: plasma, tissue and biopsy; they were calculated according to the process required to preserve them. Sensitivity analysis was performed using bootstrap. Recuperation costs ranged from 130 to 155 USD. Costs were considered on a 5-year time frame for the maintenance per sample, which is the average time that a sample is kept in the BT-INCan. The cost analysis is perceived as an approximation to the most adequate recuperation fee per sample needed to guarantee the correct development of the BT-INCan. This work provides a basis and valuable information about costs, to enable several health institutions to strategically plan and manage a biobank or even motivate to establish their own biobank.

Cement dust exposition and bronchioalveolitis. A case report.

The goal of the current investigation was to report an unusual case of a worker acutely exposed to big amounts of cement dust. This exposure caused chemical bronchioalveolitis and dermatitis due to chromium contact. This person suffered the exposure when a cement deposit exploded at work. This exposed the worker to big amounts of cement dust. After the accident, the individual suffered dyspnea and bilateral basal pulmonary crackles. The subject also presented an atypical restrictive pattern, which could also be seen on X-rays as 1/1 q/q images of the classification of 2000 of the International Labour Organization (ILO), and a bulging of a pulmonary artery. A restrictive pattern pure atypical was observed, and arterial blood gas with hipoxemia. A treatment with steroids was prescribed and the worker showed some improvement. There is high risk of developing pulmonary fibrosis with the progressive evolution in stages of the bronchioalveolitis, even when the subject is isolated. Therefore, it would be very convenient to create a specialized medical center where workers that have this kind of accidents can have the proper care by qualified personnel.

El objetivo de esta publicación es informar del caso poco habitual de un trabajador expuesto de forma aguda a grandes cantidades de cemento, lo cual le produjo un cuadro de broncoalveolitis química industrial y dermatitis de contacto por cromo. El trabajador sufrió un accidente de trabajo cuando se rompió un depósito de cemento y lo expuso a cantidades muy elevadas del polvo de cemento. Presentó disnea de grandes esfuerzos, con estertores crepitantes basales bilaterales. Tuvo, asimismo, una frecuencia respiratoria de 32 por minuto y rash cutáneo. La espirometría mostró un patrón restrictivo atípico incipiente que se correlacionó radiográficamente con imágenes 1/1 q/q de la Clasificación del 2000 de la Organización Internacional del Trabajo (OIT) y abombamiento de la arteria pulmonar. En la gasometría arterial efectuada al trabajador se encontró hipoxemia en posición de decúbito supino. Se prescribió tratamiento esteroideo con mejoría del padecimiento. Dado que hay un alto riesgo de que la fase aguda de las broncoalveolitis termine en fibrosis pulmonar por su evolución en etapas (pues son progresivas aunque se suspenda la exposición), se sugiere crear un servicio especializado, atendido por personal calificado, para el manejo médico de este tipo de accidentes.

[Silicosis and industrial bronchitis by exposure to silica powders and cement].

OBJECTIVE: to identify the association between the exposure of workers to inorganic dust in a quarry and a cement factory and pulmonary diseases. METHODS: a transverse study on data from 32 quarry workers (QWs) and 57 cement production line workers (CFWs) to inorganic-dust exposure was performed. Pulmonary function tests and chest X ray were done in both groups. RESULTS: there were differences between QWs and the CFWs; QWs were younger, shorter and thinner. The number of sick individuals might be considered significantly different, showing a smaller proportion on the cement production line. The quarry workers have been on the company for a shorter period of time and, in the end, they present more serious pulmonary problems with an average of 3 years working. CONCLUSIONS: the amount of free-silica that is managed on the quarry affects the workers in some way, even when literature states that the evolution of industrial bronchitis and silicosis have a period development of approximately 10 years.

Objetivo: asociar la exposición a polvos inorgánicos en trabajadores de una cantera y una cementera y la generación de alteraciones pulmonares. Métodos: estudio transversal con 32 trabajadores expuestos a polvos inorgánicos en una cantera y 57 en una cementera. Se les realizaron pruebas de función respiratoria y telerradiografías de tórax. Se midieron polvos totales. Resultados: existieron diferencias demográficas significativas entre las dos líneas de producción: los empleados de la cantera fueron más jóvenes, menos altos y ligeramente más delgados. La proporción de enfermos fue significativamente diferente entre las dos áreas: en la cementera fue menor que en la cantera. Aun cuando los trabajadores de la cantera tuvieron una antigüedad menor, presentaron problemas pulmonares más graves. Conclusiones: la cantidad de sílice libre que se maneja en la cantera afecta gravemente la salud de los trabajadores, ya que con un promedio de tres años de antigüedad laboral presentaban silicosis. Por ello, deben establecerse mejores programas de higiene industrial para el control de los polvos.