Análisis de la seroprevalencia frente a sarampión, rubeola y parotiditis en trabajadores sanitarios / Analysis of seroprevalence against measles, rubella and mumps in health workers of two health departments of the Valencian Community (Spain)

FUNDAMENTOS: El personal sanitario es un colectivo profesional expuesto a riesgos ocupacionales. El objetivo de este trabajo fue estimar la ausencia de seroprotección frente a sarampión, rubeola y parotiditis de los trabajadores sanitarios vinculados a dos Departamentos de Salud de la Comunidad Valenciana, considerando edad, sexo, categoría profesional, riesgo laboral y área de desempeño. MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio observacional transversal. Los datos fueron recogidos de informes de vigilancia de la salud, que incluían resultados serológicos de 2.674 trabajadores. Las variables sociodemográficas fueron: sexo; grupos de edad (18-34; 35-49; >50 años); clasificación del servicio (riesgo/no riesgo); categoría profesional; área de desempeño profesional (atención primaria/ atención hospitalaria). La variable dependiente fue la ausencia de inmunización frente a sarampión, rubeola y parotiditis identificada por ausencia de niveles serológicos. Para las enfermedades estudiadas se estimó la prevalencia de ausencia de seroprotección y se evaluó la asociación entre la no inmunización con el resto de variables. RESULTADOS: La prevalencia de no inmunización fue del 7,8%, 3,7% y 16,1% para sarampión, rubeola y parotiditis, respectivamente. El análisis mediante regresión logística mostró diferencias estadísticamente significativas en la prevalencia de no inmunización a sarampión en función de grupos de edad (ORa 11,8 y ORa 5,8) y área de desempeño (ORa 0,5), frente a parotiditis en función de grupos de edad (ORa 4,9 y ORa 3,6) y categoría profesional 1 (médicos, farmacéuticos, odontólogos y psicólogos) (ORa 0,6) y frente a rubeola en función del sexo (ORa 4,6). CONCLUSIONES: Es necesario potenciar la vacunación entre los sanitarios, especialmente en aquellos que ejercen sus funciones en áreas de riesgo y entre el personal de menor edad. La vacunación debe promoverse dentro de políticas de seguridad laboral.(AU)

BACKGROUND: Health Personnel are a professional group exposed to occupational risks. The aim of this paper was to estimate the absence of seroprotection against measles, rubella and mumps in health workers linked to two Health Departments of the Valencian Community (Spain) and to study the relationship with age, sex, professional category, occupational risk and performance área. METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study was made. Data were collected from health surveillance reports, which included serological results from 2,674 health workers. The socio-demographic variables were: sex, age groups (18-34; 35-49; >50 years), service classification (risk/no risk), professional category, professional performance area (primary care/hospital care) and the dependent variable was absence of immunization against measles, rubella and mumps identified by the absence of serological levels. For the diseases studied, the prevalence of absence of seroprotection was estimated and the association between non-immunization and the rest of variables was evaluated. RESULTS: Prevalence of non-immunization was 7.8%, 3.7% and 16.1% for measles, rubella and mumps, respectively. Logistic regression analysis showed a significant differences in the prevalence of non-immunization to measles according to age groups (adjusted OR 11.8 and adjusted OR 5.8) and professional performance area (adjusted OR 0.5), compared to mumps according to age groups (adjusted OR 4.9 and adjusted OR 3.6) and professional category 1 (doctors, pharmacists, dentists and psychologists) (adjusted OR 0.6) and against rubella according to sex (adjusted OR 4.6). CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to maintain vaccination among health workers, especially those who perform their functions in risk areas and among younger personnel. Vaccination should be promoted within occupational safety policies.(AU)

The Role of Global Appearance of Omnidirectional Images in Relative Distance and Orientation Retrieval.

Over the last few years, mobile robotics has experienced a great development thanks to the wide variety of problems that can be solved with this technology. An autonomous mobile robot must be able to operate in a priori unknown environments, planning its trajectory and navigating to the required target points. With this aim, it is crucial solving the mapping and localization problems with accuracy and acceptable computational cost. The use of omnidirectional vision systems has emerged as a robust choice thanks to the big quantity of information they can extract from the environment. The images must be processed to obtain relevant information that permits solving robustly the mapping and localization problems. The classical frameworks to address this problem are based on the extraction, description and tracking of local features or landmarks. However, more recently, a new family of methods has emerged as a robust alternative in mobile robotics. It consists of describing each image as a whole, what leads to conceptually simpler algorithms. While methods based on local features have been extensively studied and compared in the literature, those based on global appearance still merit a deep study to uncover their performance. In this work, a comparative evaluation of six global-appearance description techniques in localization tasks is carried out, both in terms of accuracy and computational cost. Some sets of images captured in a real environment are used with this aim, including some typical phenomena such as changes in lighting conditions, visual aliasing, partial occlusions and noise.

Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in a Sample of Health Workers in Two Health Departments of the Valencian Community in Spain.

Health care personnel constitutes the most vulnerable group of professionals, as they are employed in a work context with higher exposure to SARS-CoV-2 infection. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in health personnel (n = 2858) of two health departments in the Valencian community between March 2020 and April 2021, as well as the sociodemographic and work variables predicting higher infection prevalence in this group. A cross-sectional descriptive study was performed on health workers from the health departments of Torrevieja and Elche-Crevillente of the Valencian Community (Spain). After obtaining the samples, the cases were identified through an active infection diagnostic test (AIDT). The analyzed variables were: sex, age (18-34/35-49/>50 years), professional category, health care, risk service, and AIDT. A total of 2858 staff members were studied. Of them, 55.4% (1582) underwent an AIDT, with 9.7% (277) of positive cases. Infection predominated in the age group of 18 to 34 years, 12.6% (OR = 1.98, 95% CI [1.26, 3.11]); nurses, 12.1% (OR = 1.5, 95% CI [1.00, 2.23]); and at-risk services, 11.4% (OR = 1.3, 95% CI [1.06, 1.81]). A very low positivity rate was identified in the health personnel linked to the health departments analyzed during the 14 months of the study period. Based on our results, prevention strategies could focus more intensively on the most at-risk groups, specifically young nurses who work in at-risk services, mainly in emergency and internal medicine.

Estado inmunológico frente a la Hepatitis B del personal sanitario en dos departamentos de salud de la Comunidad Valenciana (España) / Immunological Status against Hepatitis B among Healthcare Workers in Two Public Health Departments of the Valencian Community (Spain)

OBJETIVO: Estimar la prevalencia de inmunización frente al virus de la Hepatitis B del personal sanitario, vinculado a los Departamentos de Salud de Torrevieja y Elche-Crevillente, de la Comunidad Valenciana. MÉTODOS: Estudio descriptivo transversal en todos los trabajadores sanitarios de dos departamentos de Salud. Obtenida la muestra se identificó los niveles de anticuerpos de superficie del virus de la Hepatitis B a través de los resultados serológicos ubicados en las historias clínicas. Se consideró inmunizado a títulos de anti-HBs ≥ 10 mlU/ml. Las variables analizadas fueron categorizadas según: Departamento; Género; Edad (18-34; 35-49; > 50 años); categoría profesional (facultativos/Enfermería/Otro personal sanitario/Personal no sanitario); Servicio riesgo contagio (Si/No); Inmunidad (≥ 10 mlU/ml / < 10 mlU/ml / No Dato) y Vacunacion sistemática anti-HBs según fecha nacimiento (Si/No). RESULTADOS: El personal estudiado ascendió a 2674. Predominó el género femenino 68,8%, el grupo de edad 35-49 años, 52,8%, y la categoría profesional de Enfermería, 32,2%. Un 74,9% de los resultados serológicos identificaron niveles de protección anti-HBs, frente al 11,3% no inmune, y un 13,8% que no disponían de información. Del personal con información serológica (2306), obtuvieron porcentajes de no protección más elevadas la categoría masculina, 17,8%. Los niveles de protección fueron inversamente proporcionales según la variable edad, menor inmunidad a mayor edad. El personal no sanitario y los facultativos arrojaron niveles de protección más bajos, 36,9% y 11,1% respectivamente. CONCLUSIONES: A pesar de identificarse una inmunidad elevada, el porcentaje de no inmunizados y de ausencia de información inmunológica plantea la necesidad de implementar nuevas estrategias de comunicación dirigidas a este colectivo

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of immunity against Hepatitis B virus among all healthcare workers linked to the Departments of Public Health in Torrevieja and Elx-Crevillent, two municipalities in the Valencian Community, Spain. Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study of healthcare workers in two different public health departments. Once the sample was obtained, the anti-hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBsAb) levels were abstracted based on serological test results recorded in the workers’ medical records. Titers of anti-HBsAB ≥ 10 mlU / ml were considered as evience of immunity. The variables analyzed were classified by department, gender, age (18-34; 35-49; ≥ 50 years); professional category (physicians / nursing / other health personnel / non-health personnel); service at risk of contagion (Yes / No); immunity (≥ 10 mlU/ml, < 10 mlU/ml, missing) and systematic anti-HBs vaccination by date of birth (Yes / No). RESULTS: The study population consisted of 2674 workers. The highest proportions of workers were female (68.8%), between 35 and 49 years of age (52.8%), and employed in nursing,(32.2%). Overall, 74.9% of employees had evidence of hepatitis B immunity, 11.3% had no inmunity, and 13.8% was missing information on serology. Among those employees with serological information (n = 2306), lack of immunity was highest among males (17.8%). Protective titers were inversely proportional to age, with the lowest titers being found in the oldest age groups. Non-healthcare personnel and physicians also had lower levels of protection (36.9% and 11.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Despite identifying high levels of immunity among healthcare workers, the percentages of non-immunized employees and those lacking immunological information underscores the need to implement new communication strategies aimed at these at-risk groups

[Immunological Status against Hepatitis B among Healthcare Workers in Two Public Health Departments of the Valencian Community (Spain)]. / Estado inmunológico frente a la Hepatitis B del personal sanitario en dos departamentos de salud de la Comunidad Valenciana (España).

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of immunity against Hepatitis B virus among all healthcare workers linked to the Departments of Public Health in Torrevieja and Elx-Crevillent,two municipalities in the Valencian Community, Spain. METHODS: Cross-sectional descriptive study of healthcare workers in two different public health departments. Once the sample was obtained, the anti-hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBsAb) levels were abstracted based on serological test results recorded in the workers' medical records. Titers of anti-HBsAB ≥10mlU / ml were considered as evience of immunity. The variables analyzed were classified by department, gender, age (18-34; 35-49;≥50 years); professional category (physicians / nursing / other health personnel / nonhealth personnel); service at risk of contagion (Yes / No); immunity (≥10mlU/ml, 〈10mlU/ml,missing) and systematic anti-HBs vaccination by date of birth (Yes / No). RESULTS: The study population consisted of 2674 workers. The highest proportions of workers were female(68.8%), between 35 and 49 years of age (52.8%), and employed in nursing,(32.2%). Overall, 74.9% of employees had evidence of hepatitis B immunity, 11.3% had no inmunity, and 13.8% was missing information on serology. Among those employees with serological information (n=2306), lack of immunity was highest among males (17.8%).Protective titers were inversely proportional to age, with the lowest titers being found in the oldest age groups. Non-healthcare personnel and physicians also had lower levels of protection (36.9% and 11.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Despite identifying high levels of immunity among healthcare workers, the percentages of non-immunized employees and those lacking immunological information underscores the need to implement new communication strategies aimed at these at-risk groups.

OBJETIVO: Estimar la prevalencia de inmunización frente al virus de la Hepatitis B del personal sanitario, vinculado a los Departamentos de Salud de Torrevieja y Elche-Crevillente, de la Comunidad Valenciana. MÉTODOS: Estudio descriptivo transversal en todos los trabajadores sanitarios de dos departamentos de Salud. Obtenida la muestra se identificó los niveles de anticuerpos de superficie del virus de la Hepatitis B a través de los resultados serológicos ubicados en las historias clínicas. Se consideró inmunizado a títulos de anti-HBs ≥10mlU/ml. Las variablesanalizadas fueron categorizadas según: Departamento; Género; Edad (18-34; 35-49; >50años); categoría profesional (facultativos/Enfermería/Otro personal sanitario/Personal no sanitario); Servicio riesgo contagio (Si/No); Inmunidad (≥10mlU/ml / 〈10mlU/ml / No Dato) y Vacunacion sistemática anti-HBs según fecha nacimiento (Si/No). RESULTADOS: El personal estudiado ascendió a 2674. Predominó el género femenino 68,8%, el grupo de edad 35-49 años, 52,8%, y la categoría profesional de Enfermería, 32,2%. Un 74,9% de los resultados serológicos identificaron niveles de protección anti-HBs, frente al 11,3% no inmune, y un 13,8% que no disponían de información. Del personal con información serológica (2306), obtuvieron porcentajes de no protección más elevadas la categoría masculina, 17,8%. Los niveles de protección fueron inversamente proporcionales según la variable edad, menor inmunidad a mayor edad. El personal no sanitario y los facultativosarrojaron niveles de protección más bajos, 36,9% y 11,1% respectivamente. CONCLUSIONES: A pesar de identificarse una inmunidad elevada, el porcentaje de no inmunizadosy de ausencia de información inmunológica plantea la necesidad de implementar nuevas estrategias de comunicación dirigidas a este colectivo.

Assessment of the Sensitizing Potential of Proteins in BALB/c Mice: Comparison of Three Protocols of Intraperitoneal Sensitization.

Most food allergy cases are associated with a limited group of allergens. This could be attributed to an increased ability of some foods to sensitize and trigger allergic reactions. However, there are no validated animal models to evaluate the sensitizing or allergenic potentials of proteins. Our aim was to evaluate three protocols of adjuvant-free intraperitoneal sensitization that differ in the time points for sample collection (days 14, 28 and 35 from beginning of the sensitization) and also in the number of immunizations (2, 5 and 3, respectively). Ovalbumin (OVA; 0.05 mg), cow milk proteins (CMP; 0.025, 0.05 and 0.25 mg), and potato acid phosphatase (PAP; low allergenic protein; 250.0 mg) were administered intraperitoneally (ip) to BALB/c mice (n = 4⁻6) and the protein-specific IgE and IgG antibody responses were evaluated using ELISA. Additional serum protein-specific IgE antibodies evaluations were carried out after IgG depletion. Anti-OVA IgE antibodies were detected in mice from all three protocols. The responses were higher in the group of mice that underwent the 28-day protocol than in those that underwent the 14- or 35-day protocols (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). Anti-CMP IgE antibodies were detected in both the 14- and 28-day protocols, but the response was higher in the group that underwent the 28-day protocol (p < 0.001). The anti-CMP IgE antibody response detection was improved after serum IgG depletion (p < 0.001). Anti-PAP IgE antibodies were not detected. Mice with undetectable serum levels of protein-specific IgE triggered anti-OVA, -CMP, and -PAP IgG responses. An adjuvant-free 28-day protocol with five ip immunizations seems appropriate for evaluation of the inherent sensitizing or allergenic capacity of the studied proteins. Reproducible results were obtained utilizing the BALB/c mouse strain. Inter-laboratory studies including a larger number of proteins should be carried out to validate this model.

[Influenza vaccination coverage (2011-2014) in healthcare workers from two health departments of the Valencian Community and hospital services more vulnerable to the flu.] / Cobertura de vacunación antigripal (2011-2014) en profesionales sanitarios de dos departamentos de salud de la Comunidad Valenciana y servicios hospitalarios más vulnerables a la gripe.

OBJECTIVE: Health care workers can transmit influenza to patients in health centers, therefore its vaccination is considered a preventive measure first order. The objective of this study was to know the coverage of vaccination against seasonal influenza in health professionals in two health departments of the Valencian Community (Torrevieja and Elx- Crevillent), in the seasons 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14. METHODS: TA cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out to determine the coverage of influenza vaccination through the Nominal Vaccine Registry (NVR) of the Conselleria de Sanitat de la Generalitat Valenciana. The services with the highest risk of contagion were detected through requests for PCR analysis in patients suspected of influenza during the 2013-14 season. RESULTS: A total of 2035 health professionals were surveyed who achieved an average vaccination coverage of 27.2% in the 2013-14 season, showing an upward trend from the 2011-12 season. Significant differences were observed between professional categories and, practitioners presented the lowest coverage. A total of 192 PCR requests were recorded in both departments. The services which concentrate a greater number of requests were: Internal Medicine (n = 100), urgency service (n = 37), intensive care unit (n = 25) and Pediatrics ( n=154); The influenza vaccination coverage of these services in the 2013-14 seasons was 27.0%, 32.3%, 34.3% and 25.3%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Although they show an upward trend, vaccination coverage is low in health care personnel. Nurses are the best vaccinated. It would be appropriate to implement immunization strategies aimed specifically at services that, because of their activity, pose a greater risk to the patient.

OBJETIVO: El personal asistencial puede ser transmisor de la gripe a los pacientes en los centros sanitarios, por ello, su vacunación es considerada una medida preventiva de primer orden. El objetivo de este estudio fue conocer la cobertura de vacunación contra la gripe estacional en los profesionales sanitarios en dos departamentos de salud de la Comunidad Valenciana (Torrevieja y Elx-Crevillent), en las temporadas 2011-12, 2012-13 y 2013-14. METODOS: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo transversal para determinar las coberturas de vacunación antigripal través del Registro Vacunal Nominal (RVN) de la Conselleria de Sanitad de la Generalitat Valenciana. Los servicios con mayor riesgo de contagio se detectaron a través de las solicitudes de análisis de PCR en pacientes sospechosos de gripe durante la temporada 2013-14. RESULTADOS: Se estudiaron 2.035 profesionales sanitarios que alcanzaron una cobertura vacunal media del 27,2% en la temporada 2013-14, mostrando una tendencia ascendente desde la temporada 2011-12. Se observaron diferencias significativas entre categorías profesionales, presentando los facultativos las coberturas más bajas. Se registraron un total de 192 peticiones de PCR en ambos departamentos, siendo los servicios que concentran un mayor número de solicitudes: Medicina Interna (n=100), Urgencias (n=37), UCI (n=25) y Pediatría (n=154); la cobertura vacunal antigripal de estos servicios en la temporada 2013-14 fue de un 27,0%, 32,3%, 34,3% y 25,3% respectivamente. CONCLUSIONES: Aunque muestran una tendencia ascendente, las coberturas vacunales son bajas en el personal asistencial. El personal de enfermería es el mejor vacunado. Convendría implementar estrategias de inmunización dirigidas específicamente a los servicios que por su actividad presentan un mayor riesgo para el paciente.

La gonococia. Prevención y tratamiento a lo largo de la historia / No disponible

Las infecciones de transmisión sexual (ITS) han adquirido una extraordinaria importancia, constituyendo actualmente uno de los principales problemas de salud pública a nivel mundial. La OMS estima que en 2012 hubo alrededor de 350 millones de ITS curables entre hombres y mujeres de 15 a 49 años de edad, de las cuales, más de 78 millones (22,3%) correspondieron a casos de gonococia. Un grave problema, además de las secuelas, complicaciones y elevado coste económico de esta enfermedad, es, desde hace décadas, la capacidad de Neisseria gonorrhoeae de desarrollar resistencia a los distintos antimicrobianos utilizados como tratamiento empírico de primera línea. Con el fin de dar respuesta a esta situación, la OMS puso en marcha un programa, a comienzos de 1990, para vigilar la tendencia de las resistencias antimicrobianas de Neisseria gonorrhoeae, y garantizar la efectividad de los antimicrobianos recomendados para su tratamiento

Sexually transmitted infections (STI) have acquired an extraordinary importance. They are one of the main problems in public health currently worldwide. The WHO estimates that there were around 350 million curable infections in men and women between 15 and 49 years old. Of these, 78 million (22,3%) were gonorrea infections. Besides the multiple complications and the high economic costs of this infectious disease, the resistance developed by Neisseria gonorrhoea to the antimicrobial drugs used against it, has become a major problem. The WHO developed a program in 1990 to observe this resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoea. It was aimed to guarantee the effect of the antimicrobial drugs reccommended for its treatment

Cobertura de vacunación antigripal (2011-2014) en profesionales sanitarios de dos departamentos de salud de la Comunidad Valenciana y servicios hospitalarios más vulnerables a la gripe / Influenza vaccination coverage (2011-2014) in healthcare workers from two health departments of the Valencian Community and hospital services more vulnerable to the flu

Fundamentos. El personal asistencial puede ser transmisor de la gripe a los pacientes en los centros sanitarios, por ello, su vacunación es considerada una medida preventiva de primer orden. El objetivo de este estudio fue conocer la cobertura de vacunación contra la gripe estacional en los profesionales sanitarios en dos departamentos de salud de la Comunidad Valenciana (Torrevieja y Elx-Crevillent), en las temporadas 2011-12, 2012-13 y 2013-14. Métodos. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo transversal para determinar las coberturas de vacunación antigripal través del Registro Vacunal Nominal (RVN) de la Conselleria de Sanitad de la Generalitat Valenciana. Los servicios con mayor riesgo de contagio se detectaron a través de las solicitudes de análisis de PCR en pacientes sospechosos de gripe durante la temporada 2013-14. Resultados. Se estudiaron 2.035 profesionales sanitarios que alcanzaron una cobertura vacunal media del 27,2% en la temporada 2013-14, mostrando una tendencia ascendente desde la temporada 2011-12. Se observaron diferencias significativas entre categorías profesionales, presentando los facultativos las coberturas más bajas. Se registraron un total de 192 peticiones de PCR en ambos departamentos, siendo los servicios que concentran un mayor número de solicitudes: Medicina Interna (n=100), Urgencias (n=37), UCI (n=25) y Pediatría (n=154); la cobertura vacunal antigripal de estos servicios en la temporada 2013-14 fue de un 27,0%, 32,3%, 34,3% y 25,3% respectivamente. Conclusiones. Aunque muestran una tendencia ascendente, las coberturas vacunales son bajas en el personal asistencial. El personal de enfermería es el mejor vacunado. Convendría implementar estrategias de inmunización dirigidas específicamente a los servicios que por su actividad presentan un mayor riesgo para el paciente

Background. Health care workers can transmit influenza to patients in health centers, therefore its vaccination is considered a preventive measure first order. The objective of this study was to know the coverage of vaccination against seasonal influenza in health professionals in two health departments of the Valencian Community (Torrevieja and Elx- Crevillent), in the seasons 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14. Methods. TA cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out to determine the coverage of influenza vaccination through the Nominal Vaccine Registry (NVR) of the Conselleria de Sanitat de la Generalitat Valenciana. The services with the highest risk of contagion were detected through requests for PCR analysis in patients suspected of influenza during the 2013-14 season. Results. A total of 2035 health professionals were surveyed who achieved an average vaccination coverage of 27.2% in the 2013-14 season, showing an upward trend from the 2011-12 season. Significant differences were observed between professional categories and, practitioners presented the lowest coverage. A total of 192 PCR requests were recorded in both departments. The services which concentrate a greater number of requests were: Internal Medicine (n = 100), urgency service (n = 37), intensive care unit (n = 25) and Pediatrics ( n=154); The influenza vaccination coverage of these services in the 2013-14 seasons was 27.0%, 32.3%, 34.3% and 25.3%, respectively. Conclusions. Although they show an upward trend, vaccination coverage is low in health care personnel. Nurses are the best vaccinated. It would be appropriate to implement immunization strategies aimed specifically at services that, because of their activity, pose a greater risk to the patient

Recurrencia de infección y diversidad de cepas de Helicobacter pylori en adultos tratados con terapia triple estándar empírica en una población de México / Recurrence of infection and diversity of Helicobacter pylori strains in an adult population in Mexico treated with empirical standard triple therapy

Introducción: posterior al tratamiento erradicador de Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), podría presentarse recurrencia de infección debido a recrudescencia o reinfección. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la recurrencia de infección por H. pylori e identificar cepas virulentas de H. pylori al año posterior de su erradicación con terapia triple estándar. Material y métodos: se realizó un estudio cuasiexperimental. La población estudiada fueron pacientes con enfermedades digestivas asociadas a H. pylori que recibieron terapia triple estándar. Todos los pacientes antes del tratamiento erradicador, y solo aquellos pacientes con prueba de aliento con carbono 14 positivo un año posterior al tratamiento se les realizaron cultivos y reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR) de biopsias gástricas para identificación de cepas. Se realizó análisis estadístico mediante el test t de Student y prueba exacta de Fisher, con un nivel de significancia de 0,05. Resultados: se revisaron 128 pacientes, 51 (39,8%) hombres y 77 (60,2%) mujeres, con una edad promedio de 54,8 (DE 13,8) años. Se halló recurrencia anual de infección por H. pylori en 12 (9,3%) pacientes y reinfección y recrudescencia anual en nueve (7%) y tres (2,3%) pacientes respectivamente. La tasa de recrudescencia en proteína antigénica (cagA) fue de 1/30 (3,3%) pacientes y en citotoxina vacuolizante (vacA) fue de 2/112 (1,8%) pacientes. La tasa de reinfección en cagA fue 3/30 (10%) pacientes y en vacA 6/112 (5,3%) pacientes. Conclusiones: en este estudio la recurrencia de infección fue mayor que en países desarrollados con baja prevalencia de H. pylori y menor que en países en vías de desarrollo con mayor prevalencia de H. pylori. Las cepas cagA o vacA s2/m2 fueron aisladas en reinfección y recrudescencia (AU)

Background. After eradication treatment for Helicobacter pylori, infection could recur due to recrudescence or re-infection. The objective of this study was to determine the recurrence of Helicobacter pylori infection and identify virulent Helicobacter pylori strains one year after eradication with standard triple therapy. Material and methods. A quasi-experimental study was performed that included a patient population with digestive diseases associated with Helicobacter pylori who had received standard triple therapy. Cultures and Polymerase Chain Reaction was performed on gastric biopsies for strain identification in all patients prior to eradication treatment and those with a positive carbon 14 breath test one year after eradication treatment. Statistical analysis was performed using the student T test and Fisher’s exact test, statistical significance was set at 0.05. Results. 128 patients were studied, 51 (39.8%) were male and 77 (60.2%) were female with an average age of 54.8 years (DE 13.8). There was an annual recurrence of Helicobacter pylori infection in 12 (9.3%) patients. An annual re-infection and recrudescence occurred in 9 (7 %) and 3 (2.3%) patients respectively. The recrudescence rate for cagA was 1/30 (3.3%) patients and 2/112 (1.8%) patients for vacA. The re-infection rate for cagA was 3/30 (10%) patients and 6/112 (5.3%) patients for vacA. Conclusions. The recurrence of infection in this study was higher than that recorded in developed countries with a low prevalence of H. pylori and lower than that recorded in developing countries with a higher prevalence of H. pylori. The cagA or vacA s2/m2 strains were isolated after re-infection and recrudescence (AU)

Recurrence of infection and diversity of Helicobacter pylori strains in an adult population in Mexico treated with empirical standard triple therapy.

BACKGROUND: After eradication treatment for Helicobacter pylori, infection could recur due to recrudescence or re-infection. The objective of this study was to determine the recurrence of Helicobacter pylori infection and identify virulent Helicobacter pylori strains one year after eradication with standard triple therapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A quasi-experimental study was performed that included a patient population with digestive diseases associated with Helicobacter pylori who had received standard triple therapy. Cultures and Polymerase Chain Reaction was performed on gastric biopsies for strain identification in all patients prior to eradication treatment and those with a positive carbon 14 breath test one year after eradication treatment. Statistical analysis was performed using the student T test and Fisher's exact test, statistical significance was set at 0.05. RESULTS: 128 patients were studied, 51 (39.8%) were male and 77 (60.2%) were female with an average age of 54.8 years (DE 13.8). There was an annual recurrence of Helicobacter pylori infection in 12 (9.3%) patients. An annual re-infection and recrudescence occurred in 9 (7 %) and 3 (2.3%) patients respectively. The recrudescence rate for cagA was 1/30 (3.3%) patients and 2/112 (1.8%) patients for vacA. The re-infection rate for cagA was 3/30 (10%) patients and 6/112 (5.3%) patients for vacA. CONCLUSIONS: The recurrence of infection in this study was higher than that recorded in developed countries with a low prevalence of H. pylori and lower than that recorded in developing countries with a higher prevalence of H. pylori. The cagA or vacA s2/m2 strains were isolated after re-infection and recrudescence.

Improvement of Chia Seeds with Antioxidant Activity, GABA, Essential Amino Acids, and Dietary Fiber by Controlled Germination Bioprocess.

Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) plant is native from southern Mexico and northern Guatemala. Their seeds are a rich source of bioactive compounds which protect consumers against chronic diseases. Germination improves functionality of the seeds due to the increase in the bioactive compounds and associated antioxidant activity. The purpose of this study was to obtain functional flour from germinated chia seeds under optimized conditions with increased antioxidant activity, phenolic compounds, GABA, essential amino acids, and dietary fiber with respect to un-germinated chia seeds. The effect of germination temperature and time (GT = 20-35 °C, Gt = 10-300 h) on protein, lipid, and total phenolic contents (PC, LC, TPC, respectively), and antioxidant activity (AoxA) was analyzed by response surface methodology as optimization tool. Chia seeds were germinated inside plastic trays with absorbent paper moisturized with 50 mL of 100 ppm sodium hypochlorite dissolution. The sprouts were dried (50 °C/8 h) and ground to obtain germinated chia flours (GCF). The prediction models developed for PC, LC, TPC, and AoxA showed high coefficients of determination, demonstrating their adequacy to explain the variations in experimental data. The highest values of PC, LC, TPC, and AoxA were obtained at two different optimal conditions (GT = 21 °C/Gt = 157 h; GT = 33 °C/Gt = 126 h). Optimized germinated chia flours (OGCF) had higher PC, TPC, AoxA, GABA, essential amino acids, calculated protein efficiency ratio (C-PER), and total dietary fiber (TDF) than un-germinated chia seed flour. The OGCF could be utilized as a natural source of proteins, dietary fiber, GABA, and antioxidants in the development of new functional beverages and foods.

Propuesta de un modelo de respuesta de los delirios esquizofrénicos a los antipsicóticos / Proposal of a model of schizophrenic delusions’ response to antipsychotics

Pese al gran avance experimentado por la psicofarmacología, hay preguntas obvias en la práctica cotidiana que no suelen centrar la atención de los investigadores. Se propone un modelo que explique la respuesta variable que se observa en los delirios esquizofrénicos al tratamiento antipsicótico. Se trata de un modelo compuesto por dos polos. En uno de ellos rige el paradigma de la inhibición de la respuesta de evitación condicionada, que remite al efecto ataráxico o neuroléptico de estos fármacos. El otro polo se basa en una aplicación de la fenomenología de Husserl a la psicopatología, que permite la organización de diferentes fenómenos característicos de la esquizofrenia. Las ganancias en este ámbito se ponen en relación con la hipersaliencia dopaminérgica característica del brote esquizofrénico. Por último, se reconocen las limitaciones del modelo propuesto, que no dejan de ser las mismas que las de la psiquiatría, obligada a moverse entre la neurociencia y la persona, ámbitos de conocimiento mutuamente irreductibles (AU)

Despite recent advances in psychopharmacology, some obvious questions regarding the day-to-day practice do not use to draw attention of researchers. Our model tries to explain the variable response of schizophrenic delusions to antipsychotic drugs. It is a model composed of two poles. In one of them the principle of conditioned avoidance response applies, which refers to the ataraxic or neuroleptic effect of antipsychotic drugs. At the other end of the model Husserl’s phenomenology is applied to psychopathology in order to organize diverse and distinctive phenomena of schizophrenia. Results of this research are then related to the dopaminergic aberrant salience occurring in the schizophrenic outbreak. Finally, constraints of this work are pointed out, which are the same for the very foundations of psychiatry, a medical specialty compelled to move between fields of knowledge mutually irreducible such as neuroscience and human experience (AU)

[Concordance among invasive diagnostic procedures for Helicobacter pylori infection in adults]. / Concordancia entre procedimientos diagnósticos invasivos para la infección por Helicobacter pylori en adultos.

OBJECTIVE: Compare the strength of concordance between culture, histology, rapid urease test for diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection and histopathological findings relationship and frequency of positivity among such diagnostic procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Diagnostic test study. The study population were subjects with endoscopy and take samples of gastric antral. Rapid urease test (one sample), histology (two samples) and culture (two samples), and histopathological findings of gastric mucosa were performed. Statistical design with Student's t, Fisher exact test, Kappa coefficient. RESULTS: We reviewed 108 subjects, 28 (25.9%) men, 80 (74.1%) women, mean age was 49.1 years (SD 15.1). The Kappa coefficient was 0.729 and 0.377 between culture with histology and rapid urease test, respectively; likewise the Kappa coefficient was 0.565 between histology and rapid urease test. CONCLUSIONS: The strength of concordance was higher between histology with culture and rapid urease test; the most recommended being histology in clinical practice for the detection of Helicobacter pylori infection.

Concordancia entre procedimientos diagnósticos invasivos para la infección por Helicobacter pylori en adultos / Concordance among invasive diagnostic procedures for Helicobacter pylori infection in adults

Objetivo. Comparar la concordancia entre cultivo, histología y prueba rápida de la ureasa para el diagnóstico de infección por Helicobacter pylori, así como la relación de hallazgos histopatológicos y frecuencia de positividad entre dichos procedimientos diagnósticos. Material y métodos. Estudio de pruebas diagnósticas. Población de sujetos con endoscopía digestiva y toma de muestras gástricas antrales en un hospital de especialidades en México. Se realizó prueba rápida de la ureasa (una muestra), histología (dos muestras) y cultivo (dos muestras). Análisis estadístico con coeficiente de Kappa. Resultados. Se estudiaron 108 sujetos: 28 (25.9%) hombres y 80 (74.1%) mujeres; la edad promedio fue 49.1 (DE 15.1) años. El coeficiente de Kappa fue 0.729 y 0.377 entre cultivo con histología y prueba rápida de la ureasa respectivamente; asimismo, el coeficiente de Kappa fue 0.565 entre histología y prueba rápida de la ureasa. Conclusiones. La fuerza de concordancia fue mayor entre histología con cultivo y la prueba rápida de la ureasa, por lo cual la histología es lo más recomendable en la práctica clínica para la detección de la infección por Helicobacter pylori.

Objective. Compare the strength of concordance between culture, histology, rapid urease test for diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection and histopathological findings relationship and frequency of positivity among such diagnostic procedures. Materials and methods. Diagnostic test study. The study population were subjects with endoscopy and take samples of gastric antral. Rapid urease test (one sample), histology (two samples) and culture (two samples), and histopathological findings of gastric mucosa were performed. Statistical design with Student's t, Fisher exact test, Kappa coefficient. Results. We reviewed 108 subjects, 28 (25.9%) men, 80 (74.1%) women, mean age was 49.1 years (SD 15.1). The Kappa coefficient was 0.729 and 0.377 between culture with histology and rapid urease test, respectively; likewise the Kappa coefficient was 0.565 between histology and rapid urease test. Conclusions. The strength of concordance was higher between histology with culture and rapid urease test; the most recommended being histology in clinical practice for the detection of Helicobacter pylori infection.

Evaluación de una novedosa campaña de vacunación de la gripe en personal sanitario en la temporada 2011-2012 / Evaluation of a novel flu vaccination campaign among health personnel for the 2011-2012 season

El objetivo del trabajo ha sido evaluar el programa de vacunación antigripal en personal sanitario en la temporada 2011-2012. La campaña incluyo actuaciones novedosas (tríptico informativo, recomendación de utilizar mascarilla en no vacunados, cartas de agradecimiento, etc.). Se comparó la cobertura y las características de los profesionales vacunados con la de la temporada previa con la prueba de la Ji cuadrado. La cobertura vacunal en la temporada 2011-2012, fue del 26,5%, frente al 24,5% del 2010-2011 (p=0,052). La mejora encontrada en la cobertura vacunal está en el límite de la significación estadística pero sigue siendo muy baja. Para mejorar las bajas coberturas vacunales, habría que plantearse otro tipo de estrategias, tales como políticas de incentivos o de obligatoriedad

The objective was to evaluate the healthcare personnel seasonal influenza immunization program in the 2011-2012 flu season. The campaign included several innovative actions (informational brochure, recommendations for unvaccinated staff to wear a mask, acknowledgement letters, etc). Coverage and characteristics of the health personnel were compared with the previous season using the chi-square test. Vaccination coverage for the 2011-12 flu season was 26.5%, compared to 24.5% achieved in 2010-2011 (p=0.052). The improvement in vaccination coverage approached statistical significance but remains very low. To improve these low vaccination levels, we recommend developing other strategies, such as incentive policies or making vaccination mandatory

[Evaluation of a novel flu vaccination campaign among health personnel for the 2011-2012 season]. / Evaluación de una novedosa campaña de vacunación de la gripe en personal sanitario en la temporada 2011-2012.

The objective was to evaluate the healthcare personnel seasonal influenza immunization program in the 2011-2012 flu season. The campaign included several innovative actions (informational brochure, recommendations for unvaccinated staff to wear a mask, acknowledgement letters, etc). Coverage and characteristics of the health personnel were compared with the previous season using the chi-square test. Vaccination coverage for the 2011-12 flu season was 26.5%, compared to 24.5% achieved in 2010-2011 (p=0.052). The improvement in vaccination coverage approached statistical significance but remains very low. To improve these low vaccination levels, we recommend developing other strategies, such as incentive policies or making vaccination mandatory.

El objetivo del trabajo ha sido evaluar el programa de vacunación antigripal en personal sanitario en la temporada 2011-2012. La campaña incluyo actuaciones novedosas (tríptico informativo, recomendación de utilizar mascarilla en no vacunados, cartas de agradecimiento, etc.). Se comparó la cobertura y las características de los profesionales vacunados con la de la temporada previa con la prueba de la Ji cuadrado. La cobertura vacunal en la temporada 2011-2012, fue del 26,5%, frente al 24,5% del 2010-2011 (p=0,052). La mejora encontrada en la cobertura vacunal está en el límite de la significación estadística pero sigue siendo muy baja. Para mejorar las bajas coberturas vacunales, habría que plantearse otro tipo de estrategias, tales como políticas de incentivos o de obligatoriedad.

Influenza vaccination among healthcare personnel after pandemic influenza H1N1.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the coverage rates for influenza vaccination among health-care personnel (HCP), and if the reasons for accepting influenza vaccine by HCP and the frequency of vaccine-related adverse events (AEs) in 2010-2011 were different compared to 2009-2010. The AEs were detected by telephoning the worker one week after the vaccination. The coverage for seasonal vaccination in 2009-2010 was 31.0%, whereas that for 2009 pandemic influenza (H1NI) was 22.2% and 24.4% (p<0.05) in 2010-2011. The most frequent reason for being vaccinated during the three campaigns was to "protect my health". Over 80.5% of the HCP reported 2009 pandemic influenza (H1N1) vaccine-related AEs compared to the 25.3% and 25.4% reporting seasonal vaccine-related AEs in 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 respectively (p<0.05). None of the AEs were severe. Specific measures should be implemented in our country to recover and improve poor vaccination coverage.