The Influence of Psychosocial Factors on the Successful Formal Education Trajectories of Young Spanish People in Vulnerable Situations.

Young people in vulnerable situations tend to have more difficulties realizing successful formal education trajectories. It is extremely important to conduct studies that explore the key dimensions that can help young people overcome the conditioning of vulnerable situations, assisting in the achievement of academic success. According to the existing literature, one of these key dimensions is psychosocial well-being. Thus, this qualitative research aims to identify and analyze psychosocial factors that favor successful school pathways among young people in vulnerable situations. Through a case study approach, 12 in-depth interviews were carried out with 12 young Spanish people who not only have a vulnerable background but also successful formal education trajectories. The data were explored through qualitative content analysis-NVivo11. The results revealed that young people generally associate their successful educational trajectory with the positive impact of psychosocial factors, such as the following: positive caregivers' valuation of formal education and positive school experiences and support networks. Young people also point to many negative school experiences that have been overcome via positive attitudes and individual protective factors. The youngsters suggest changes in the educational system and teachers' skills in order to improve the levels of psychosocial support in formal education contexts. The study's implications and limitations and recommendations for future research are discussed.

Three-Stage Power Supply System Model for a Wearable IoT Device for COVID-19 Patients.

During the current crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Wearable IoT (WIoT) health devices have become essential resources for remote monitoring of the main physiological signs affected by this disease. As well as sensors, microprocessor, and wireless communication elements are widely studied, the power supply unit has the same importance for the WIoT technology, since the autonomy of the system between recharges is of great importance. This letter presents the design of the power supply system of a WIoT device capable of monitoring oxygen saturation and body temperature, sending the collected data to an IoT platform. The supply system is based on a three-stage block consisting of a rechargeable battery, battery charge controller, and dc voltage converter. The power supply system is designed and implemented as a prototype in order to test performance and efficiency. The results show that the designed block provides a stable supply voltage avoiding energy losses, which makes it an efficient and rapidly developing system.

Interrelaciones entre el sentido de la vida, la actividad física, la red de apoyo social, la edad y el género en adultos mayores / Interrelationships between the meaning of life, physical activity, social support network, age, and gender in older adults

Resumen Introducción: los adultos mayores que asisten a los centros diurnos tienen la oportunidad de interactuar con sus pares y realizar actividades, lo cual podría incidir en su sentido de la vida. Objetivo: evidenciar las asociaciones entre el sentido de la vida, la actividad física, la red de apoyo social, la edad y el género en siete centros diurnos de la provincia de Heredia, Costa Rica. Metodología: el estudio es cuantitativo de corte transversal. Se eligieron siete centros diurnos de los cuales se seleccionó una muestra por conveniencia de 77 adultos mayores. Las variables investigadas fueron el sentido de la vida, la actividad física, la red de apoyo social, la edad y el género. Para la recolección de datos se utilizaron autoreportes y los investigadores ayudaron a aclarar dudas sobre las preguntas. Resultados: el 46 % de las personas mayores reportó una falta de sentido de la vida y un 36 % un nivel de actividad física baja. Se determinó una asociación significativa entre la red de apoyo social y el sentido de la vida (.= .911; p < .001), entre la edad y la red de apoyo social (.=.30 .=.048), y entre el apoyo social y el género femenino (.=-6.08, .=.010). Conclusiones: la red de apoyo social es un predictor del sentido de la vida, así como la edad y el género predicen la red de apoyo social; pero no la actividad física reportada sobre las variables investigadas.

Abstract Introduction. Older adults attending daycare centers are in an environment in which different variables are interrelated and could shape their meaning of life, among other aspects. Objective: To analyze the associations between the meaning of life, physical activity, social support network, age, and gender in seven-day centers in the province of Heredia, Costa Rica. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional quantitative study. Seventy-seven older adults were recruited from seven-day centers. The variables investigated were the meaning of life, physical activity, social support network, age, and gender. Self-reports were collected and researchers clarified any doubts. Results: 46% of the participants reported a meaningless life and 36% low levels of physical activity. Significant associations were found between social support network and meaning of life (. = .91; . <.001), age and social support network (. = .30 . = .048), and social support and female gender (. = -6.08, . = .010). Conclusions: The social support network is a predictor of the meaning of life and age and gender predict the social support network, but not the physical activity reported in the variables investigated.

Diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis with oral involvement in a patient of Northern Mexico.

Diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis is a rare chronic infectious disease, associated with Leishmania mexicana and L. amazonensis, presenting as multiple non-ulcerative painless nodules, with a tendency to relapse soon after treatment. We report a case of a 56-year-old Mexican woman exhibiting nodular lesions, plaques, crusts and scars involving the whole body. A solitary nodule was present at the junction between hard and soft palates. Diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis is a disfiguring disease resulting in severe scarring if untreated.

Hyperpigmentation of hard palate induced by chloroquine therapy.

The antimalarials are one of the most commonly prescribed drugs for conditions such as lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis, and the side effects, though infrequent, are well known. The antimalarial agent chloroquine diphosphate usually causes pigmentary changes in the oral mucosa characterized by a bluish-grey to black discolorations mainly in the hard palate. Considering only the hard palate hyperpigmentation caused by chloroquine, to the best of our knowledge, only 13 cases have been reported in the English language literature. We described an additional case of palate hyperpigmentation related to the chronic use of chloroquine diphosphate in a 60-year-old Mexican woman. Although the diagnosis is usually made based on medication history and clinical presentation, a biopsy specimen may be helpful to confirm the diagnosis. Clinicians must be aware of these drugs and their adverse effects in order to make the correct diagnosis and decide on the optimal treatment for the condition. Key words:Oral cavity, hard palate, hyperpigmentation, chloroquine, antimalarials.

Impacto en la morbilidad y estancia hospitalaria del paciente quirúrgico no traumatizado con terapia transfusional / Impact of Transfusional Therapy on Morbidity and Length of Stay in Non-Trauma Surgical Patients

Introduccion: La transfusión de hemoderivado ha sido asociada con un número importante de complicaciones. El objetivo del estudio es determinar el riesgo asociado a la tranfusión de hemocomponentes en la morbilidad, mortalidad y estancia hospitalaria de los pacientes que ameritaron amputación supracondílea de la extremidad inferior. Materiales Y Metodos: Revisión retrospectiva, observacional, descriptiva de pacientes que ameritaron amputación supracondilea de la extremidad inferior realizada de enero del 2009 a enero del 2013. Se analizó edad, genero, nivel de hemoglobina pre y post operatoria, número de unidades trasfundidas, niveles de creatinina pre y post transfusión, nitrógeno de urea sérico, y la presencia de comorbilidades. Resultados Fueron incluidos un total de 56 pacientes, 75% (41) eran masculinos con un promedio de edad de 75 años. No hubo diferencia estadísticamente significativa en las características demográficas y comorbilidades previo a la transfusión. Un total de 21 pacientes (38%) fueron trasfundidos con al menos una unidad de hemocomponentes. Los pacientes que recibieron terapia transfusional tienen estadía hospitalaria más larga comparada contra los no trasfundidos (49 vrs 16 días, p=0.001), más alta frecuencia de infección de herida operatoria (61.9% vrs 3.0%,p=0.001), más alta incidencia de descompensación metabólica (47.6% vrs. 9.1%,p=0.001), y complicaciones pulmonares (33.3% vrs. 0%, p=0.001). No hubo diferencia estadísticamente significativa con relación a la mortalidad. Conclusion: La transfusión de hemocomponentes durante el perioperatorio en pacientes que van a amputación supracondilea de la extremidad inferior está asociado de manera estadísticamente significativa con infección de herida operatoria, descompensación metabólica, complicaciones pulmonares y prolonga la estancia hospitalaria.

Introduction: Blood components transfusion has been associated with an increased risk of developing complications. The aim of the study is to determine the impact that the use of blood transfusion hason themorbidity, mortality and length of hospital stay in patients that require an above knee amputation. Materials and Methods: A retrospective, descriptive observational review of patients who required an above knee amputation between January 2009 and January 2013, was carried out. The analyzed variables were age, gender, hemoglobin levels before and after transfusion, number of units transfused, levels of creatinine before and after transfusion, blood urea nitrogen and the presence of co-morbidities. Results:A total of 56 patients were included 75%(41) were male and the mean age was 75 years. There was no statistically significant difference in patient demographics and co-morbidities prior to transfusion. A total of 21 patients (38%) were transfused with at least one unit of blood or blood components. Patients who were transfused had a longer hospital stay (49 versus 16 days, p=0.001), higher rate of surgical site infection (61.9% versus 3.0%,p=0.001). A higher incidence of metabolic derangements (47.6% versus 9.1%,p=0.001) and pulmonary complications (33.3% versus 0%, p=0.001). Mortality was equal amongst both groups. Conclusion:The transfusion of blood and blood components during the perioperative period in patients undergoing above knee amputation is associated with a statistically significant increase in the number of surgical site infections, metabolic derangements, pulmonary complications and length of hospital stay.