Prevalencia y factores asociados al virus Zika en embarazadas / Prevalence and associated factors with Zika virus in pregnant women

La evidencia de epidemias e infecciones se manifestó en las Américas -destacando Panamá entre los países afectados-, África y otros lugares. En el año 2016 la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) declaró una emergencia internacional por la presencia de casos de microcefalia y otros trastornos neurológicos en algunas áreas afectadas por el virus Zika. Actualmente se han notificado infecciones por este virus transmitidas por mosquitos en un total de 86 países y territorios. El presente artículo tiene como objetivo estimar la prevalencia e identificar los factores de riesgo del virus Zika en embarazadas de Panamá, como grupo vulnerable ante esta afección. Si la infección por el virus del Zika es mayormente leve en adultos, en las gestantes se deben temer riesgos fetales graves en los casos de infección en el primer trimestre del embarazo. Sin embargo, todavía no hay suficientes investigaciones que aporten datos científicos para conocer el alcance de este riesgo y las consecuencias precisas de una infección fetal(AU)

The evidence of epidemics and infections was manifested in the Americas -Panama standing out among the affected countries-, Africa and other places. In 2016, the world Health Organization (WHO) declared an international emergency due to the presence of cases of microcephaly and other neurological disorders in some areas affected by the Zika virus. Mosquito-borne infections with this virus have now been reported from a total of 86 countries and territories. The objective of this article is to estimate the prevalence and identify the risk factors of the Zika virus in pregnant women in Panama, as a vulnerable group to this disease. If Zika virus infection is mostly mild in adults, serious fetal risks should be feared in pregnant women in cases of infection in the first trimester of pregnancy. However, there is still not enough research that provides scientific data to know the extent of this risk and the precise consequences of a fetal infection(AU)

Reflexiones sobre la evolución histórica y antropocéntrica del concepto de la salud ambiental / Reflections on the historical and anthropocentric evolution of the concept of environmental health

La salud ambiental es un concepto multifactorial, desarrollado por el logro interdisciplinario nacido a la luz de las comprensiones multidinámicas de sus factores determinantes. Estos aspectos que le conforman, hacen del concepto de salud ambiental una combinación plurifactorial de saberes desarrollados en el tiempo y que son la base de esta construcción conceptual, enriquecida a la luz de la comprensión del hombre, de sus interrelaciones con el medio ambiente y su papel determinante en la preservación del mismo, para beneficio de las presentes y futuras generación. Esta evaluación crítica de nuestro papel como especie en el control y cuidado del medio ambiente, ha favorecido la toma de consciencia de que nuestras acciones son determinantes en resarcir el daño realizado, donde por factores como la contaminación del aire, el agua, la deposición de residuos peligrosos, entre otros, está causando un daño y afectando sensiblemente la salud de la población, con repercusiones a nivel mundial. Por otra parte, esta toma de consciencia está generando acciones muy positivas en pro del ambiente, dando el debido reconocimiento constitucional que la Madre Tierra se merece, siendo reconocida en la Constitución de la República del Ecuador como un Sujeto de Derecho y no como un Objeto, como una contribución de los países Latinoamericanos a las profundas transformaciones que en materia de salud ambiental, requiere el mundo actual, en beneficio directo de la salud pública del planeta y todos los seres vivos que en el habitan(AU)

Environmental health is a multifactorial concept, developed by interdisciplinary achievement born in light of multidynamic understandings of its determining factors. These aspects that make it up, make the concept of environmental health a multifactorial combination of knowledge developed over time and that are the basis of this conceptual construction, enriched in the light of the understanding of man, his interrelationships with the environment and his determining role in its preservation, for the benefit of present and future generations. This critical evaluation of our role as a species in the control and care of the environment has favored the awareness that our actions are decisive in compensating for the damage done, where factors such as air pollution, water, the deposition of hazardous waste, among others, is causing damage and significantly affecting the health of the population, with repercussions worldwide. On the other hand, this awareness is generating very positive actions in favor of the environment, giving due constitutional recognition that Mother Earth deserves, being recognized in the constitution of the Republic of Ecuador as a Subject of Law and not as an Object. , as a contribution of the Latin American countries to the profound transformations that the current world requires in terms of environmental health, for the direct benefit of the public health of the planet and all the living beings that inhabit it(AU)

Palatal Position of Patient Tracker for Magnetic Neuronavigation System: Technical Note.

OBJECTIVE: Recently, the neuronavigation system (NS) has become an essential intraoperative tool for many neurosurgical procedures, allowing for precise lesion localization. It is particularly important to avoid errors during the navigation process. Here we report a novel technique using palatal positioning of the patient tracker to ensure optimal accuracy during magnetic navigation in various neurosurgical procedures. METHODS: This retrospective study included a total of 34 patients treated in our institution between June 2017 and January 2018. The patients were split into 2 groups who underwent surgery under general anesthesia: a microscopic transcranial group and an endoscopic endonasal group. Preoperative and postoperative navigation accuracy was assessed by 2 neurosurgeons. RESULTS: After our surgical planning navigation protocol was applied, both transcranial and endonasal procedures were successfully performed under navigation guidance in all but 1 patient. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications related to the tracker mounted under the hard palate. In 33 cases a maximal tracking view and optimal navigation accuracy was achieved, for a success rate of 97%. CONCLUSIONS: The positioning of the patient tracker under the hard palate proved safe, accurate, and feasible in 97% of our patients. In our case series, it met the main goal of avoiding device displacement without a sense of invasiveness and postoperative patient discomfort.