Competition among physical, chemical, and hybrid gelation mechanisms in biopolymers.

Depending on how they form their linkages, biopolymer gelatin gels are commonly classified as physical, chemical, or hybrid; in gelatin hybrid gels, the physical and chemical crosslinking mechanisms occur simultaneously. The viscoelastic behavior of gels following different gelation processes was determined around the gel point. Their gel fractal dimensions were obtained using the BST-scaling model from large amplitude oscillatory shear results. The fractal dimension of hybrid gels is between 1.46 and 1.60, depending on the dominant crosslinking process. The main features of the Lissajous-Bowditch curves were determined for maturated gels that follow different gelation processes, and it is possible to observe the dominant gelation mechanism. The gelation kinetics process is followed by measuring the mean squared displacement (MSD) of microspheres embedded in gelatin solutions using diffusion wave spectroscopy, which in turn allows evaluating G'(ω) and G''(ω), the persistence length, and the mesh size as a function of time throughout the gelation process. The MSD, as a function of elapsed time from the start of the gelation process, follows a behavior that depends on the gelation processes. As time elapses after gelation starts, the persistence length of the unstructured, non-bonded flexible polymer sections decreases due to the formation of bonds. In the hybrid case, it is not a mixture of both processes; they are not independent when occurring simultaneously. The time evolution of the gel network's mesh size roughly follows an exponential decay.

A mobile phone intervention to reduce heavy drinking: a preliminary analysis of anchoring heuristics.

BACKGROUND: Preliminary evidence has been presented for interventions focused on preventing alcohol consumption or reducing the occurrence of episodes of excessive drinking. The anchoring text message intervention is a newly proposed theory-based approach to reducing heavy drinking among youth. The current study tests the preliminary efficacy of this intervention for reducing heavy drinking among Mexican youth. METHODS: Focusing on a sample of sixteen Mexican youths-nine not-heavy drinkers and seven heavy drinkers-the participants completed a survey on alcohol consumption and anchoring heuristics. Pretest and post-test questionnaire data were collected to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention. The anchoring text messages consisted of strategies to limit alcohol use and feedback reminder messages. Assessments were conducted at baseline, four weeks of intervention, and post-intervention. RESULTS: Logistic regression analyses indicated a significant effect on heavy drinking episodes post-intervention. The post-intervention anchoring effects among the heavy drinker participants were different from those among the non-heavy drinkers in terms of reporting heavy drinking and future drinking. The anchoring heuristic-based intervention reduced the quantity of drinking and the future estimation of drinking and improved the ability to reject alcohol in the heavy drinker group. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide preliminary support for the effectiveness of the anchoring heuristic-based intervention, conducted through text messages sent by mobile phone to reduce alcohol consumption. The intervention promoted a reduction in alcohol consumption. Future research should be directed toward investigating the anchoring effects among heavy drinkers.

Psychometric Properties of a New Mexican Optimism Scale: Ethnopsychological Approach.

BACKGROUND: In this paper, a Mexican Optimism Scale was constructed to investigate and estimate psychometric properties (reliability and validity based on the measurement model). The convergent validity and validity criterion were evaluated for a sample of young Mexicans. METHODS: The scale was presented to 848 Mexican young people aged between 17 and 30 years from three different regions of Mexico. The scale was reduced to 20 items on the basis of CFA and analyses of internal consistency. RESULTS: The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) suggested a three-factor structure of optimism: affective resources, positive vision and hope. The data provided evidence for convergent validity with positive affect, negative affect and coping. Additionally, males scored higher on affective resources and positive vision than females. Finally, the results support the reliability of the instrument. CONCLUSIONS: The psychometric properties of the Mexican Optimism Scale proved to be highly acceptable and allow for a novel assessment of optimism from an ethnopsychological perspective. Validity, reliability and invariance were determined, as well as percentiles for the practical use of the scale. This scale may be of crucial importance for future research on optimism and health.

Análisis multivariado de factores pronósticos en niños con traumatismo craneoencefálico grave que requirieron craneotomía descompresiva / Multivariate Analysis of Prognostic Factors in Children with Severe Cranioencephalic Trauma Requiring Decompressive Craniotomy

Introducción: El traumatismo craneoencefálico en edades pediátricas constituye un problema de salud relevante a nivel mundial y en Cuba. Objetivo: Determinar los factores pronósticos del trauma craneoencefálico grave en niños que requirieron craneotomía descompresiva. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio transversal correlacional, de tipo serie de casos, en el Servicio de Neurocirugía del Hospital Pediátrico de Camagüey durante el período comprendido desde enero de 2019 a diciembre de 2021. Fueron estudiados un total de 27 niños con traumatismo craneoencefálico grave, que cumplieron con los criterios de selección de la investigación. Las variables analizadas incluyeron: grupo etario, sexo, intensidad de la lesión, técnica quirúrgica, perfusión cerebral y resultados quirúrgicos obtenidos. Resultados: Predominó el grupo etario de 11-18 años (45,5 porciento) y el sexo masculino (72,7 porciento). El mayor puntaje en la variable intensidad de la lesión correspondió con la realización de craneotomías bilaterales (media = 78,63). Se halló disminución significativa (p = 0,024) de la perfusión cerebral en los pacientes con edad menor o igual a 8 años (media = 61,6387) y se encontró más disminuida en los pacientes que requirieron craneotomía bilateral (p = 0,001). Los peores resultados obtenidos correspondieron a los pacientes con edad biológica igual o menor a 8 años, que requirieron craneotomía bilateral. Conclusiones: La edad menor a 8 años se relacionó con mayor deterioro de la perfusión cerebral y peores resultados. La necesidad de craneotomías bilaterales se asoció con mayor intensidad de la lesión encefálica, presión intracraneal preoperatoria más elevada y deterioro de la perfusión cerebral(AU)

Introduction: Cranioencephalic trauma in pediatric ages is a relevant health problem worldwide and in Cuba. Objective: To determine the prognostic factors of severe cranioencephalic trauma in children who required decompressive craniotomy. Methods: A cross-sectional and correlational study of case series type was carried out at the neurosurgery service of Hospital Pediátrico de Camagüey during the period from January 2019 to December 2021. A total of 27 children with severe cranioencephalic trauma who met the research selection criteria were studied. The analyzed variables included age group, sex, injury intensity, surgical technique, cerebral perfusion and obtained surgical outcomes. Results: The age group 11-18 years (45.5 percent) and male sex (72.7 percent) predominated. The highest score in the variable injury intensity corresponded to the realization of bilateral craniotomies (mean = 78.63). A significant decrease (p = 0.024) in cerebral perfusion was found in patients aged 8 years or under (mean = 61.6387) and it was found to be more diminished in patients who required bilateral craniotomy (p = 0.001). The worst obtained outcomes corresponded to patients with a biological age of 8 years or under, who required bilateral craniotomy. Conclusions: Age under 8 years was associated with greater cerebral perfusion impairment and worse outcomes. The need for bilateral craniotomies was associated with greater intensity of the encephalic injury, higher preoperative intracranial pressure and cerebral perfusion impairment(AU)

Daily Functioning of Veterans With Type 2 Diabetes: Protocol for an Ambulatory Assessment Study.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes impacts nearly 25% of veterans. Many veterans do not engage in recommended physical activity and other diabetes self-management behaviors. Type 2 diabetes is generally asymptomatic; as such, the long-term consequences of inadequate self-management and benefits of consistent self-management are not salient in the short term. Furthermore, self-management behaviors typically take place outside of medical visits; however, self-management-related factors are only assessed during medical visits, likely missing large amounts of variability. Thus, ambulatory assessment methods such as ecological momentary assessment (EMA), accelerometry, and continuous glucose monitoring are needed to understand the dynamics of daily self-management and identify potential intervention targets. OBJECTIVE: The overarching goal of this study is to understand daily, time-varying factors (comorbid affective symptoms and social context) that influence physical activity, diabetes self-management, glycemic management, daily functioning, and quality of life in participants' natural environments. METHODS: We are recruiting veterans with type 2 diabetes (target N=100). Participants are required to complete a battery of baseline assessments related to mental health, psychosocial factors, and self-management behaviors. Participants then receive 5 momentary EMA surveys and 1 daily EMA survey per day, in which veterans report comorbid affective symptoms (mood, stress, and pain), social support, social interactions, physical activity, and other self-management behaviors. Momentary surveys are delivered randomly during daily preprogrammed intervals over a 14-day sampling period. Accelerometry and continuous glucose monitoring are also used to assess physical activity and blood glucose, respectively. The first 6 participants also completed interviews assessing their experience in the study and barriers to participation. These test participants informed modifications to the protocol for the remaining participants. RESULTS: The project received funding in April of 2023. Enrollment began in March of 2023 and is planned to be completed in April 2025. Among the 6 test participants, the overall EMA response rate was 87% (range 74%-95%). The response rate for the EMA survey including daily items (67%, range 21%-93%) was lower than the earlier shorter EMA surveys (89%, range 81%-96%). The mean rate of valid accelerometer wear of at least 20 hours per day was 93% (SD 11%), and continuous glucose monitoring data were available for 91% (SD 17%) of days on average. Participants reported few barriers to completing EMA surveys but noted the random timing of questions made it difficult to plan around, and the end-of-day survey was long. Two participants reported survey items reminded or motivated them to engage in diabetes self-management behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Assessment tools developed from this study can inform clinical decision-making by considering barriers to self-management that occur in daily life. Clinical applications include tailored, adaptive technology-supported interventions to improve self-management that provide the right type and amount of support at the right time by adapting to an individual's changing internal and contextual state. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/53874.

Diffusion tensor imaging of the physis: the ABC's.

The physis, or growth plate, is the primary structure responsible for longitudinal growth of the long bones. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a technique that depicts the anisotropic motion of water molecules, or diffusion. When diffusion is limited by cellular membranes, information on tissue microstructure can be acquired. Tractography, the visual display of the direction and magnitude of water diffusion, provides qualitative visualization of complex cellular architecture as well as quantitative diffusion metrics that appear to indirectly reflect physeal activity. In the growing bones, DTI depicts the columns of cartilage and new bone in the physeal-metaphyseal complex. In this "How I do It", we will highlight the value of DTI as a clinical tool by presenting DTI tractography of the physeal-metaphyseal complex of children and adolescents during normal growth, illustrating variation in qualitative and quantitative tractography metrics with age and skeletal location. In addition, we will present tractography from patients with physeal dysfunction caused by growth hormone deficiency and physeal injury due to trauma, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Furthermore, we will delineate our process, or "DTI pipeline," from image acquisition to data interpretation.

Balance decisional sobre el uso del condón asociado a la conducta sexual de riesgo en universitarios / Decisional balance of condom use associated with risky sexual behavior in university students

Resumen La adquisición de alguna Infección de Transmisión Sexual (ITS) y los embarazos no planificados son riesgos a los que se enfrentan los jóvenes ante la decisión de no usar condón al tener relaciones sexuales. La aproximación del balance decisional enfatiza qué costos y beneficios están asociados a la conducta sexual de riesgo. Las decisiones acerca del uso del condón son un precursor de la conducta y este proceso puede estar influido por los beneficios que se perciban sobre él. El objetivo de la presente investigación es identificar la relación de las ganancias y pérdidas del uso del condón con la conducta sexual de riesgo. Se evaluó la conducta sexual de riesgo y el uso del condón masculino en sus relaciones sexuales. Se midieron las ganancias y las pérdidas del condón con una escala de medición, en una muestra de 257 universitarios, con una edad entre 18 y 39 años (. = 22.34; DE = 3.6) de Querétaro, México. La evaluación del balance decisional indica que las ganancias son mayores que las pérdidas (costos) del uso consistente del condón en las relaciones sexuales. Se encontraron asociaciones entre las ganancias y las pérdidas con indicadores de la conducta sexual de riesgo. Se observa que los universitarios que no utilizan condón manifiestan mayores pérdidas por utilizarlo. En las ganancias, se aprecia un aumento en las puntuaciones cuando se usa condón. Lo encontrado provee apoyo para el desarrollo de intervenciones que promuevan las ganancias o beneficios para incrementar el uso consistente del condón.

Abstract The acquisition of a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) and unplanned pregnancies are risks that young people deal when deciding not to use a condom when having sexual intercourse. During the decision-making process, individuals value the benefits (gains) and losses (costs) associated with a behavior. Cost-benefit analysis has been investigated to examine the differential impact of gains and losses on risky behaviours. The decisional balance approach emphasizes that costs and benefits are associated with risky sexual behavior. Decisions about condom use are a precursor to behavior, and this process may be influenced by perceived benefits. In the present study, it is proposed that the balance between the benefit and the loss of condom use contributes to consistent condom use. These factors as determinants of behaviour must be considered under the cultural context in which they are carried out. The objective of this research is to identify the relationship of gains and losses from condom use with risky sexual behaviour. It was hypothesized that: 1) Young people will evaluate the benefits (gains) with higher scores compared to the losses (costs) in deciding to use a condom in sexual intercourse. 2) The gains will be greater in those college students who use a condom more frequently and the losses will not be the same among those who use a condom. To evaluate risky sexual behavior and the use of the male condom in their sexual relations were considered. Condom gains and losses were measured with a measurement scale in a sample of 257 university students, aged between 18 and 39 years (. = 22.34; SD = 3.6) from Querétaro, México. With reference to sexual behavior, it was found that 89.1 % have started their sexual activity. The average age of initiation of sexual life is 15.41 years. The frequency of sexual activity is once or twice each month. The mean of sexual partners is 4.2, with a median of 3. The 68.5 % reported using some contraceptive method and regarding the use of condoms, 27.8 % always use it and 5.7 % never use it. To evaluate the decisional balance, subtracting the gain and loss factors created a net difference score. The gain factor was subtracted from its counterpart of the loss factor to indicate the preference for having sex with a condom. The decisional balance assessment indicates that the gains are greater than the losses (costs) of consistent condom use in sexual intercourse. Associations were found between gains and losses with indicators of risky sexual behavior. It is observed that university students who do not use a condom show greater losses from using it. In gains, there is an increase in scores when using a condom. Additionally, it is observed that university students, who sometimes use a condom, show greater losses for using it, unlike those who always use it, which show low scores in the losses of using it. In gains factor, there is an increase in the scores when using a condom, that is, those who never or almost never use a condom have the lowest scores and as the scores increase, the frequency of using a condom in their sexual relations also increases. In conclusion, gains and losses from male condom use are associated with risky sexual behavior (age of sexual activity, number of partners and condom use) in the university context. The findings provide support for the development of interventions that promote gains or benefits to increase consistent condom use. It is important to consider in specific interventions those young people who decide to continue having sex without using a condom despite the costs and possible consequences of not using it.

Analysis of the reduction processes at the bottom of Lake Meirama: a singular case of lake formation.

The formation of natural lakes is a process that takes place over thousands of years, although the volumetric formation depends on hydrological and climatological phenomena, reaching a stationary hydraulic regime, the evolution of hydrochemistry is more complex and obeys not only phenomena of stoichiometry and chemical kinetics but also diffusion processes. Depending on the depth of the lakes, the anoxization process originating from the bottom is the first phase of the lake's methanogenesis. For this, the course of many thousands of years is necessary, so the studies carried out in the lakes are limited to the current knowledge of the state in which they are, without being able to have real information in this process of methanogenesis. There are no data available on the generation process of a natural lake in its primary stages. In this case, taking advantage of the rehabilitation of the old open-pit mining of Meirama (Northwest Spain), consisting of the controlled flooding of the hole by groundwater, by stopping the perimeter pumping, and the derivation of the nearby streams, whose contribution was the majority with respect to the subterranean contribution, there has been the opportunity to physically and chemically monitor the complete filling of the said hole. The present study focuses on the analysis of the evolution of the different processes initiated in the methanogenesis of the lake bottom identified in the well-known Redox ladder: obtaining oxygen from the reduction of nitrogenous compounds and metallic oxides, from the reduction of the sulfate and the generation of methane from carbon compounds, the latter phase without reaching. Although the methanization process is very slow, it has had the opportunity to know the formation of a lake at its origin, from the hydrochemical point of view. It has been possible to verify that the methanization processes at the bottom, given the anoxia conditions, are in a very primitive phase with the reduction of nitrate and nitrite to ammonium and beginning a reduction of metal oxides and sulfate.

Plastic debris in lakes and reservoirs.

Plastic debris is thought to be widespread in freshwater ecosystems globally1. However, a lack of comprehensive and comparable data makes rigorous assessment of its distribution challenging2,3. Here we present a standardized cross-national survey that assesses the abundance and type of plastic debris (>250 µm) in freshwater ecosystems. We sample surface waters of 38 lakes and reservoirs, distributed across gradients of geographical position and limnological attributes, with the aim to identify factors associated with an increased observation of plastics. We find plastic debris in all studied lakes and reservoirs, suggesting that these ecosystems play a key role in the plastic-pollution cycle. Our results indicate that two types of lakes are particularly vulnerable to plastic contamination: lakes and reservoirs in densely populated and urbanized areas and large lakes and reservoirs with elevated deposition areas, long water-retention times and high levels of anthropogenic influence. Plastic concentrations vary widely among lakes; in the most polluted, concentrations reach or even exceed those reported in the subtropical oceanic gyres, marine areas collecting large amounts of debris4. Our findings highlight the importance of including lakes and reservoirs when addressing plastic pollution, in the context of pollution management and for the continued provision of lake ecosystem services.

Perceived Stress Is Directly Associated with Major Consumption of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages among Public University Students.

Stress is a condition that has been related to the development of risk behaviors for health such as sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) consumption. The aim of this study was to examine the link between SSBs consumption and perceived stress level in university students. This was an observational, cross-sectional and single-time-point study where the subjects were recruited as a non-probabilistic sample of first-year university students. The students reported their SSBs consumption through a validated questionnaire, as well as their perceived stress level, evaluated through the Cohen scale. Comparisons were made between the means of all variables. Factorial analysis of variance was conducted to explore the effect of the variables' interaction on the stress level. One-way analysis of variance was performed to assess differences between the sexes. Men consumed more SSBs (6101.17 ± 3772.50 mL/week) compared to women (4294.06 ± 3093.8 mL/week). However, women had higher scores of perceived stress and showed a strong association of stress with the SSBs consumption pattern (r and p-value). This study shows for the first time the association that exists between stress and SSBs consumption and indicates that it is related to sex in the young population.

A competing risk survival analysis of the sociodemographic factors of COVID-19 in-hospital mortality in Ecuador.

This study aimed to analyze the effect of sociodemographic characteristics on COVID-19 in-hospital mortality in Ecuador from March 1 to December 31, 2020. This retrospective longitudinal study was performed with data from publicly accessible registries of the Ecuadorian National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INEC). Data underwent a competing risk analysis with estimates of the cumulative incidence function (CIF). The effect of covariates on CIFs was estimated using the Fine-Gray model and results were expressed as adjusted subdistribution hazard ratios (SHR). The analysis included 30,991 confirmed COVID-19 patients with a mean age of 56.57±18.53 years; 60.7% (n = 18,816) were men and 39.3% (n = 12,175) were women. Being of advanced age, especially older than or equal to 75 years (SHR = 17.97; 95%CI: 13.08-24.69), being a man (SHR = 1.29; 95%CI: 1.22-1.36), living in rural areas (SHR = 1.18; 95%CI: 1.10-1.26), and receiving care in a public health center (SHR = 1.64; 95%CI: 1.51-1.78) were factors that increased the incidence of death from COVID-19, while living at an elevation higher than 2,500 meters above sea level (SHR = 0.69; 95%CI: 0.66-0.73) decreased this incidence. Since the incidence of death for individuals living in rural areas and who received medical care from the public sector was higher, income and poverty are important factors in the final outcome of this disease.

Analysis of Socio-demographic, Economic and Individual Reasons for COVID-19 Vaccination Hesitancy in Ecuador: A Nationwide Longitudinal Study.

The current outbreak of SARS-Cov-2, a virus responsible for COVID-19, has infected millions and caused a soaring death toll worldwide. Vaccination represents a powerful tool in our fight against the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Ecuador is one of the Latin American countries most impacted by COVID-19. Despite free COVID-19 vaccines, Ecuadorians still hesitate to get vaccinated. A multivariate binary logistic regression was used to analyze data from the Ecuadorian National Institute of Statistics and Censuses. This study investigated socio-demographics, economic, and individual reasons associated with a person having "no intention" to receive COVID-19 vaccine across the study period of October 2021 to March 2022. The survey revealed an increase of unvaccinated people having no intention of COVID-19 vaccination from 57.4% (October-December 2021) to 72.9% (January-March 2022). COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy was dependent on factors like sex, age and ethnicity. Socio-economic characteristics and education level were not found to be statistically significant in lack of vaccine intention, but most vaccination hesitancy was due to distrust in the COVID-19 vaccine. People who believed that the vaccine could be unsafe because of possible side effects represented half of the surveyed participants, a proportion that barely diminished during the progress of the vaccination campaign across October-December 2021 (57.04%) and January-March 2022 (49.59%) periods. People who did not believe that the vaccine was effective enough increased from 11.47 to 18.46%. Misbeliefs about effectiveness and safety of vaccines should be considered in the implementation of public health initiatives of communication, education and intervention to improve vaccination campaigns.

Improving the patient experience during musculoskeletal interventional procedures.

In the patient-centered practice of musculoskeletal interventional radiology, pre-procedure, intra-procedure, and post-procedure factors impact the patient's overall experience. Opportunities to improve the patient experience begin before the patient procedure starts, with smooth scheduling of the appointment, a positive office environment, and appropriate communication by the musculoskeletal interventional radiology staff before the procedure, including clear expectations regarding wait times. The initial conversation between the radiologist and the patient, including the informed consent process, is a crucial opportunity for creating rapport with the patient and generating trust in the radiologist. Being able to interpret a patient's verbal and non-verbal cues during this conversation can reduce anxiety and enhance relaxation. During the procedure, there are interventions which can decrease anxiety and reduce the perception of pain by the patient. These include psychological interventions such as self-induced hypnosis, communication-based interventions such as empathic communication to mold a patient's interpretation of anxiety and painful stimuli, and the use of ancillary tools such as music or video stimulation. Finally, clear post-procedure expectations regarding post-procedure pain and its management and assurances of access to the musculoskeletal interventional radiology team can facilitate an uncomplicated post-procedure recovery.

Suicide rates in Ecuador: A nationwide study from 2011 until 2020.

Suicide, suicide ideations, and psychiatric disorder rates tend to increase after natural disasters such as earthquake. In 2016 Ecuador experienced a 7.8Mw earthquake and, more recently, the Covid-19 confinement. Both events may have negatively affected the mental health of the Ecuadorian population. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the suicide rates and choice of suicide method in the Ecuadorian population between January 2011 and December 2020. The dataset used is publicly available on the Ecuadorian National Institute of Statistics and Censuses. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (OR) for potential sociodemographic factors associated with each suicide method compared to other reported suicide methods. There were 10,380 registered cases of suicide in Ecuador between 2011 and 2020. Significant suicide rates per provinces were seen in Napo with 12.63 and Azuay with 12.52, followed by Bolívar with 12.30, and Orellana with 11.36 suicides/100,000 habitants. Hanging accounted for 7082 cases (68.2 %). The mestizos (82 %) were the most prevalent ethnicity of all suicide cases. School-age children with 6-12 years (OR 8.83, 95 % CI 5.34-14.59) and adolescents with 13-19 years (OR 1.46, 95 % CI 1.29-1.66) were more likely to use hanging as method of suicide. In conclusion, we observed an increase of suicide rates from 8.15 per 100,000 in 2011 to 8.81 in 2020. The confinement of COVID-19 pandemic in the period evaluated did not significantly affect the suicide rates. An increased suicide rate was observed in the province hardest hit by the 2016 earthquake.

A competing risk survival analysis of the sociodemographic factors of COVID-19 in-hospital mortality in Ecuador / Un análisis de supervivencia de riesgos competitivos de los factores sociodemográficos de la mortalidad intrahospitalaria por COVID-19 en Ecuador / Uma análise concorrente de sobrevida de risco dos fatores sociodemográficos da mortalidade intra-hospitalar por COVID-19 no Equador

This study aimed to analyze the effect of sociodemographic characteristics on COVID-19 in-hospital mortality in Ecuador from March 1 to December 31, 2020. This retrospective longitudinal study was performed with data from publicly accessible registries of the Ecuadorian National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INEC). Data underwent a competing risk analysis with estimates of the cumulative incidence function (CIF). The effect of covariates on CIFs was estimated using the Fine-Gray model and results were expressed as adjusted subdistribution hazard ratios (SHR). The analysis included 30,991 confirmed COVID-19 patients with a mean age of 56.57±18.53 years; 60.7% (n = 18,816) were men and 39.3% (n = 12,175) were women. Being of advanced age, especially older than or equal to 75 years (SHR = 17.97; 95%CI: 13.08-24.69), being a man (SHR = 1.29; 95%CI: 1.22-1.36), living in rural areas (SHR = 1.18; 95%CI: 1.10-1.26), and receiving care in a public health center (SHR = 1.64; 95%CI: 1.51-1.78) were factors that increased the incidence of death from COVID-19, while living at an elevation higher than 2,500 meters above sea level (SHR = 0.69; 95%CI: 0.66-0.73) decreased this incidence. Since the incidence of death for individuals living in rural areas and who received medical care from the public sector was higher, income and poverty are important factors in the final outcome of this disease.

Este estudio tuvo como objetivo analizar el efecto de las características sociodemográficas en la mortalidad intrahospitalaria de los pacientes con COVID-19 confirmado en Ecuador entre el 1 de marzo y el 31 de diciembre de 2020. Se trató de un estudio longitudinal retrospectivo realizado con datos extraídos de registros de acceso público reportados por el Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) de Ecuador. Los datos se analizaron empleando un enfoque de riesgo competitivo, utilizando estimaciones de la función de incidencia acumulada (FIA). El efecto de las covariables sobre las FIA se estimó mediante el modelo de Fine-Gray, y los resultados se expresaron como cocientes de riesgos de subdistribución (CRS) ajustados. El análisis incluyó 30.991 casos confirmados de COVID-19 con una edad media de 56,57±18,53 años; el 60,7% (n = 18.816) eran hombres y el 39,3% (n = 12.175) mujeres. Los factores que aumentaron la incidencia de muerte por COVID-19 fueron una edad avanzada, con mayor riesgo para los mayores o iguales a 75 años (CRS = 17,97; IC95%: 13,08-24,69); ser hombre (CRS = 1,29; IC95%: 1,22-1,36); residir en zonas rurales (CRS = 1,18; IC95%: 1,10-1,26); y recibir atención en un centro sanitario público (CRS = 1,64; IC95%: 1,51-1,78); mientras que un factor que disminuyó la incidencia de muerte fue residir en altitudes superiores a los 2.500 metros sobre el nivel del mar (CRS = 0,69; IC95%: 0,66-0,73). La mayor incidencia de muerte entre los que residían en zonas rurales y los que recibían atención médica del sector público sugiere que los ingresos y la pobreza son factores importantes en el desenlace final de esta enfermedad.

O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar o efeito de características sociodemográficas sobre a mortalidade intra-hospitalar de pacientes com COVID-19 confirmada no Equador, entre 1º de março e 31 de dezembro de 2020. Este é um estudo longitudinal e retrospectivo desenvolvido com dados extraídos de registros de acesso público declarados pelo Instituto Nacional de Estatística e Censos do Equador (INEC). Os dados foram analisados usando uma abordagem de risco concorrente com estimativas da função de incidência cumulativa (FIC). O efeito das covariáveis sobre as FICs foi estimado pelo modelo de Fine-Gray e os resultados expressos em índices de risco de subdistribuição (IRS) ajustados. A análise incluiu 30.991 casos confirmados da COVID-19 em pacientes com idade média de 56,57±18,53 anos; sendo 60,7% (n = 18.816) do sexo masculino e 39,3% (n = 12.175) do sexo feminino. Os fatores que aumentaram a incidência de óbitos por COVID-19 foram idade avançada, com maior risco para aqueles com 75 anos ou mais (IRS = 17,97; IC95%: 13,08-24,69); ser do sexo masculino (IRS = 1,29; IC95%: 1,22-1,36); residir em áreas rurais (IRS = 1,18; IC95%: 1,10-1,26); e receber atendimento em unidade pública de saúde (IRS = 1,64; IC95%: 1,51-1,78); ao passo que um fator que diminuiu a incidência de óbitos foi residir em altitudes superiores a 2.500 metros acima do nível do mar (IRS = 0,69; IC95%: 0,66-0,73). A maior incidência de óbitos naqueles que residiam em áreas rurais e que receberam atendimento médico do setor público sugere que a renda e a pobreza são fatores importantes no desfecho dessa doença.

Outcomes of neonates born to women with Covid-19.

Not available.

Pediatric Emergency MRI.

There is an overall increase in the use of imaging in the pediatric emergency room setting, which is accompanied by a reduction in computed tomography examinations performed mainly due to the increased awareness of the risks of ionizing radiation. Advances in MRI technology have led to shortened scan time, decreased motion sensitivity, and improved spatial resolution. With increased access to MRI in the emergency room setting, the goal of this article is to review major applications of MR in pediatric emergency room patients.

Micellar entanglement and its relation to the elastic behavior of wormlike micelle fluids.

HYPOTHESIS: The elastic contribution to the fluid dynamics of wormlike micellar solutions makes these fluids unique due to the distinctive self-assembled micellar network formed by tubular micelles. Measured mesoscopic scales of the micellar network related to the degree of entanglement can give guidelines for understanding the origin of elastic forces and their effect on rheological response. EXPERIMENTS: Different experiments were made as flow curves, rotating the internal or external cylinder in a Couette geometry, small and large oscillatory shear tests, and linear shear banding observations, all of them to determine how elastic forces modify the rheological behavior in systems made of different ratios of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)/sodium salicylate (NaSal) and different ratios of CTAB/NaNO3. Diffusive wave spectroscopy micro-rheology was also performed to measure the mean square displacements of microspheres embedded in the micellar fluids to obtain their high-frequency viscoelastic spectra. With this information, the entanglement index κ, the ratio of the total contour of the micelles to the entanglement length, was estimated and correlated with the rheological behavior. FINDINGS: The entanglement index is a valuable piece of information to understand the origin of the contribution of the elastic forces from a molecular point of view on the fluid dynamics of wormlike micelle solutions.

Pediatric chronic post-surgical pain prevalence, pain scores, and quality-of-life: results of an exploratory patient survey at a single-center tertiary care children's hospital.

PURPOSE: Twenty percent of children may develop chronic post-surgical pain (CPSP), but studies investigating pediatric CPSP are limited in scope. In an exploratory patient survey, we sought to assess CPSP prevalence among children of all ages, across a wide range of surgeries, and over an extended period of time after surgery. METHODS: We conducted a survey study, including patients < 19 years of age at the time of their surgery at a single-center, quaternary care academic pediatric hospital. Pediatric patients who underwent surgery from May 2014 to August 2019 were included. Via electronic survey, patients/caregivers were asked whether the child had any pain related to their last surgery at the pediatric hospital. Patients/caregivers who answered yes were asked 11 additional questions about the child's pain and pain-related quality of life. The primary outcome was CPSP prevalence; secondary outcomes were pain scores, quality-of-life scores, and the associations of CPSP with time since surgery, preoperative pain, and patient age. RESULTS: The response rate of completed surveys was 4.0%. 30% of respondents reported CPSP; the median pain score was 4.0 on an 11 point scale (0 to 10). Responses to quality of life questions indicated CPSP negatively impacted many children's lives. Preoperative pain was associated with an odds ratio for CPSP of 1.09 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.58, 2.04], each year after surgery with an odds ratio of 0.94 (95% CI 0.80, 1.10), and each year of age at surgery with an odds ratio of 1.07 (95% CI 1.02, 1.12). CONCLUSION: While limited by a low response rate, results from this exploratory survey suggest that CPSP is a considerable problem for children who undergo surgery across many specialties, with marked effects on patient well-being even years after surgery.