Influence of income on in-hospital mortality in older adults during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: results from the EDEN-33 study. / Influencia de la renta económica en la mortalidad intrahospitalaria de las personas mayores durante la primera ola de la pandemia por COVID-19: resultados del estudio EDEN-33.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether income was associated with unexpected in-hospital mortality in older patients treated in Spanish public health system hospital emergency departments. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty-one public health system hospital emergency departments in Spain voluntarily participated in the study. Together the hospitals covered 25% of the population aged 65 years or older included in all patient registers during a week in the pre-pandemic period (April 1-7, 2019) and a week during the COVID-19 pandemic (March 30 to April 5, 2020). We estimated a patient's gross income as the amount published for the postal code of the patient's address. We then calculated the standardized gross income (SGI) by dividing the patient's estimated income by the mean for the corresponding territory (Spanish autonomous community). The existence and strength of an association between the SGI and in-hospital mortality was evaluated by means of restricted cubic spline (RCS) curves adjusted for 10 patient characteristics at baseline. Odds ratios (ORs) for each income level were expressed in relation to a reference SGI of 1 (the mean income for the corresponding autonomous community). We compared the COVID-19 and pre-pandemic periods by means of first-order interactions. RESULTS: Of the 35 280 patients attended in the 2 periods, gross income could be ascertained for 21 180 (60%), 15437 in the pre-pandemic period and 5746 during the COVID-19 period. SGIs were slightly higher for patients included before the pandemic (1.006 vs 0.994; P = .012). In-hospital mortality was 5.6% overall and higher during the pandemic (2.8% pre-pandemic vs 13.1% during COVID-19; P .001). The adjusted RCS curves showed that associations between income and mortality differed between the 2 periods (interaction P = .004). Whereas there were no significant income-influenced differences in mortality before the pandemic, mortality increased during the pandemic in the lowest-income population (SGI 0.5 OR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.32-3.37) and in higher-income populations (SGI 1.5 OR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.04-1.68, and SGI 2 OR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.14-3.23). We found no significant differences between patients with COVID-19 and those with other diagnoses (interaction P = .667). CONCLUSION: The gross income of patients attended in Spanish public health system hospital emergency departments, estimated according to a patient's address and postal code, was associated with in-hospital mortality, which was higher for patients with the lowest and 2 higher income levels. The reasons for these associations might be different for each income level and should be investigated in the future.

OBJETIVO: Determinar si el nivel económico durante la primera ola pandémica tuvo una influencia diferente a la esperable en la mortalidad intrahospitalaria de los pacientes mayores atendidos en los servicios de urgencias (SU) de los hospitales públicos españoles. METODO: Cincuenta y un SU públicos españoles que participaron voluntariamente y que dan cobertura al 25% de la población incluyeron todos los registros de pacientes de edad 65 años atendidos durante una semana del periodo preCOVID (1-4-2019 a 7-4-2019) y una semana del periodo COVID (30-3-2020 a 5-4-2020). Se identificó la renta bruta (RB) asignada al código postal de residencia de cada paciente y se calculó la RB normalizada (RBN) dividiendo aquella por la RB media de su comunidad autónoma. La existencia y fuerza de la relación entre RBN y mortalidad intrahospitalaria se determinó mediante curvas spline cúbicas restringidas (SCR) ajustadas por 10 características basales del paciente. Las OR para cada situación económica se expresó en relación con una RBN de 1 (referencia, renta correspondiente a la media de la comunidad autónoma). La comparación entre periodo COVID y no COVID se realizó mediante el estudio de interacción de primer grado. RESULTADOS: De los 35.280 registros de pacientes atendidos en ambos periodos, se disponía de la RB en 21.180 (60%): 15.437 del periodo preCOVID y 5.746 del periodo COVID. La RBN de los pacientes incluidos fue discretamente superior en el periodo preCOVID (1,006 versus 0,994; p = 0,012). La mortalidad intrahospitalaria fue del 5,6%, y fue superior durante el periodo COVID (2,8% versus 13,1%; p 0,001). Las curvas SCR ajustadas mostraron una asociación entre nivel económico y mortalidad diferente entre ambos periodos (p interacción = 0,004): en el periodo preCOVID no hubo diferencias significativas de mortalidad en función de la RBN, mientras que en el periodo COVID la mortalidad se incrementó en rentas bajas (OR = 1,82, IC 95% = 1,32-3,37 para RBN de 0,5) y en rentas altas (OR = 1,32, IC 95% = 1,04-1,68 y OR = 1,92, IC 95% = 1,14-3,23 para RBN de 1,5 y 2, respectivamente), sin diferencias significativas entre pacientes con COVID y con otros diagnósticos (p interacción = 0,667). CONCLUSIONES: Durante la primera ola de la pandemia COVID, la RB asignada al código postal de residencia de los pacientes atendidos en los SU públicos españoles se asoció con la mortalidad intrahospitalaria, que aumentó en pacientes de rentas bajas y altas. Las razones de estas asociaciones pueden ser distintas para cada segmento económico y deben ser investigadas en el fututo.

Factores psicosocioculturales relacionados con la formación técnica o profesional del personal de enfermería en Tlaxcala, México / Psychosociocultural factors related to the technical or professional training of nursing staff in Tlaxcala, México

Introducción: las demandas actuales en el cuidado de los pacientes ameritan cambios curriculares en la formación del personal de enfermería y su relación con los factores socioculturales. Objetivo: identificar y describir los factores psico-socioculturales que se relacionan con la formación técnica o profesional del personal de enfermería en Tlaxcala. Metodología: se realizó un estudio transversal descriptivo en el Hospital General de Zona No. 1, con personal de enfermería en cursos de formación técnico o profesional, seleccionados de manera no probabilística. Variables: edad, sexo, factores psico-socioculturales. Análisis con frecuencias, porcentajes y medidas de dispersión. Resultados: de un total de 51 enfermeras, la edad promedio es de 46.4 ± 8.9 años y 44% son enfermeras generales. Los factores referidos por el personal son: nivel de preparatoria (98%), nivel técnico (46%), estudios de licenciatura (84%), problemas económicos (48%), apoyo familiar (82%), enfermedad (8%), trabajo y estudio (20%), cambio de residencia (10%), interés (94%), vocación (100%), escuela de procedencia (94%), rendimiento escolar (8%), programa académico (88%), forma de trabajo (10%), técnicas docentes (10%), carga académica (14%), ambiente académico (84%), reglamento escolar (2%) y prácticas (4%). Conclusiones: el género se relaciona con la formación de nivel licenciatura y la edad con el nivel técnico, nivel licenciatura, trabajo y estudio, y carga académica; el estado civil con el interés por estudiar; y la religión con el apoyo docente.

Abstract Introduction: Current demands in patient care warrant curricular changes in the training of nursing personnel and their relationship with sociocultural factors. Objective: Identify and describe the Psychosocial Cultural factors that are related to the technical or professional training of nursing staff in Tlaxcala. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out at the General Hospital of Zone No. 1, with nursing staff in technical or professional training courses, selected in a non-probabilistic manner. Variables: age, sex, Psychosociocultural factors. Analysis with frequencies, percentages and dispersion measures. Results: Of a total of 51 nurses, the average age is 46.4 ± 8.9 years and 44% are general nurses. The factors referred to by the staff are: high school level (98%), technical level (46%), bachelor's studies (84%), economic problems (48%), family support (82%), illness (8%), work and study (20%), change of residence (10%), interest (94%), vocation (100%), school of origin (94%), school performance (8%), academic program (88%), form of work (10%), teaching techniques (10%), academic load (14%), academic environment (84%), school regulations (2%) and practices (4%). Conclusions: Gender is related to bachelor's level training and age to technical level, bachelor's level, work and study, and academic load; marital status with interest in studying; and religion with teaching support.

Polymorphisms associated with fentanyl pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and adverse effects.

Fentanyl is an agonist of the µ-opioid receptor commonly used in the treatment of moderate-severe pain. In order to study whether pharmacogenetics explains some of the variability in the response to fentanyl, several genes related to fentanyl receptors, transporters and metabolic enzymes have been analysed. Thirty-five healthy volunteers (19 men and 16 women) receiving a single 300 µg oral dose of fentanyl were genotyped for 9 polymorphisms in cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes (CYP3A4 and CYP3A5), ATP-binding cassette subfamily B member 1 (ABCB1), opioid receptor mu 1 (OPRM1), catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) and adrenoceptor beta 2 (ADRB2) by real-time PCR. Fentanyl concentrations were measured by ultra-performance liquid chromatography combined with tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Fentanyl pharmacokinetics is affected by sex. Carriers of the CYP3A4*22 allele, which is known to reduce the mRNA expression, showed higher area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) and lower clearance (Cl) values. Although this finding might be of importance, its validity needs to be confirmed in other similar settings. Furthermore, carriers of the ABCB1 C1236T T/T genotype presented a lower AUC and higher Cl, as well as lower half-life (T1/2 ). As volunteers were blocked with naltrexone, the effect of fentanyl on pharmacodynamics might be biased; however, we could observe that fentanyl had a hypotensive effect. Moreover, ADRB2 C523A A allele carriers showed a tendency towards reducing systolic blood pressure. Likewise, OPRM1 and COMT minor allele variants were risk factors for the development of somnolence. CYP3A5*3, ABCB1 C3435T and ABCB1 G2677T/A were not associated with fentanyl's pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and safety profile.

Conocimiento y eficiencia de higiene de manos, un estudio comparativo entre enfermeras y médicos del INNN, de septiembre 2008 a junio 2009 / Knowledge and efficacy of hands hygiene, a comparative study between nurses and medical doctors at the INNN, from September 2008 to June 2009

El lavado de manos (LM), es la medida universal más efectiva y económica que se conoce para prevenir la transmisión de enfermedades infecciosas, para ello se requiere de agua corriente, jabón y toallas desechables, que en todas las salas de hospitalización existen, eficaz en la prevención de infecciones nosocomiales. Objetivo: identificar el conocimiento y eficiencia que tiene el personal de enfermería y médicos en el INNN en el lavado de manos. Material y métodos: tipo de diseño: descriptivo y comparativo. Universo: personal de enfermería y médicos del área de hospitalización del Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía INNN. Muestra: se tomará una muestra convencional de eventos de lavado de manos en 42 enfermeras y 33 médicos. Criterios de inclusión: enfermeras y médicos del área de hospitalización que deseen participar en el estudio. Exclusión y eliminación: se eliminarán a los participantes que no contesten de manera correcta la escala y aquellos que no deseen participar en el estudio. Variable identificada: nivel de conocimiento sobre lavado de manos, eficiencia, categoría, modalidad de higiene de manos. Procesamiento de datos: mediante el programa SPSS versión 17.0. Recolección: escala tipo Lickert de 29 ítems con 0 .60 de alfa de Crombach. Recuento: en SPSS. Presentación: en cuadros de doble entrada y gráficas. Análisis de datos: en frecuencias relativas. Aspectos éticos: investigación que no implique procesos que comprometan la confidencialidad de los entrevistados.

The hand washing is the universal technique most effective and economic that is known to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases, it requires running water, soap and disposables towels, in all the hospitalization rooms it’s the most economic and effective way to prevent nosocomial diseases. Objective: identify the knowledge and effectiveness that the nurse professional and physicians has inside the INNN. Material and methods: type of design: descriptive, comparative, Universe: Nurse professional from the National Neurosurgery and Neurological Institute INNN. Population: nurse professionals and physicians from the hospitalization area, sample: It be taken a conventional sample of hand washing events from 42 nurses and 33 physicians. Inclusion criteria: nurses and physicians from the hospitalization area. Elimination and exclusion: will disposed the cases that doesn’t respond in the correct way the scale. Identify variables: knowledge level about hand washing, effectiveness, category, hand washing mode. Data processing: through the program named SPSS 17.0 version. Recollection: Lickert scale of 29 items with 0.60 of Crombach alpha, Count. In SPSS, relative frequencies, Ethic aspects: the research doesn’t imply process that compromises the confidentiality of the interviewed people.

Acanthamoeba spp. in domestic tap water in houses of contact lens wearers in the metropolitan area of Mexico City.

A survey was carried out in the metropolitan area of Mexico City to determine the presence of Acanthamoeba in the tap water of houses of contact lens wearers. Water samples were taken from the mains water entry, bathroom sinks and storage containers (roof tanks, cisterns) of 27 houses; and from the solution contained in the contact lens cases. Samples were filtered and cultured onto NNE medium. The isolates were identified based on their morphological features and pathogenicity. Total and fecal coliforms, water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen and residual free-chlorine were measured by standard methods. Forty five isolates of Acanthamoeba from 200 water samples were obtained. The highest number of amoebae was isolated from cisterns and roof tanks. Most Acanthamoeba isolates were non-pathogenic, however, their presence in tap water is a potential hazard since some species can cause Acanthamoeba keratitis and granulomatous amoebic encephalitis.

Mortality predictive indexes in non-critical inpatients.

BACKGROUND: Mortality predictive indexes have not been applied to patients in general wards out of the ICU. METHODS: Retrolective study aimed to evaluate the value of mortality prediction indexes in a cohort of 944 non-critical patients. Three indexes were evaluated according to their calibration and discriminative power: the Mortality Probability Model II (MPMII), the Simplified Acute Physiology System II (SAPS II) and the Logistic Organ Dysfunction System (LODS). The bivariate calculation of relative risk (RR) to die was performed relative to the group of patients that had an expected probability to die > 10%, calculated by an index. To evaluate the calibration, data were arranged in descending order using the chi2 goodness-of-fit model. To evaluate discrimination power, ROC curves were used. RESULTS: SAPS II, MPM II and LODS predicted significant risks at levels of P < 0.005, (RR = 6.56, 4.03 and 3.44, respectively). Regarding the calibration, the null hypothesis was accepted only by using SAPS II (P = 0.664). CONCLUSIONS: The three evaluated indexes each had a good discriminative capacity to detect non-critical inpatients with high risk to die. SAPS II was the best index to predict mortality, as determined by both the bivariate and the calibration analysis. There is no reason for not using mortality predictive indexes for non-critical inpatients.