Extremely Low-Frequency Magnetic Fields and the Risk of Childhood B-Lineage Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in a City With High Incidence of Leukemia and Elevated Exposure to ELF Magnetic Fields.

It is important to study the relationship between extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MFs) and childhood leukemia, particularly in locations with a high incidence of this neoplasm in children and an elevated exposure to ELF-MF, such as Mexico City. The aim was to investigate the association between ELF-MF exposure and the risk of B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). A case-control study was conducted in Mexico City during the period from 2010 to 2011. Residential 24-h ELF-MF measurements were obtained for 290 incident B-ALL patients and 407 controls, aged less than 16 years. Controls were frequency-matched by sex, age (±18 months), and health institution. The adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. ELF-MF exposure at <0.2 µT was used to define the reference group. ELF-MF exposure at ≥0.3 µT was observed in 11.3% of the controls. Different ELF-MF intensity cutoff values were used to define the highest exposure category; the highest exposure category for each cutoff value was associated with an increased risk of B-ALL compared with the corresponding lower exposure categories. The aORs were as follows: ≥0.2 µT = 1.26 (95% CI: 0.84-1.89); ≥0.3 µT = 1.53 (95% CI: 0.95-2.48); ≥0.4 µT = 1.87 (95% CI: 1.04-3.35); ≥0.5 µT = 1.80 (95% CI 0.95-3.44); ≥0.6 µT = 2.32 (95% CI: 1.10-4.93). ELF-MF exposure as a continuous variable (per 0.2 µT intervals) was associated with B-ALL risk (aOR = 1.06; 95% CI: 1.01-1.12). In the present study, the proportion of children exposed to ≥0.3 µT is among the highest reported worldwide. Additionally, an ELF-MF exposure ≥0.4 µT may be associated with the risk of B-ALL. Bioelectromagnetics. © 2020 Bioelectromagnetics Society.

Tendencias del consumo y precio promedio ponderado sobre los costos de los medicamentos anti-infecciosos en un hospital pediátrico / Tendency of the consumption and weighted average price over the cost of anti-infective drugs in a pediatric hospital

Introducción. Se evalúa la tendencia de consumo, precio promedio ponderado (PPP) y costo total, así como la influencia del consumo y PPP sobre los costos totales, en los subgrupos de medicamentos (dosis diaria definida/100 días-cama) antibacterianos, antimicóticos, antimicobacterianos y antivirales de 2005 a 2007. Métodos. De la base de datos de la farmacia del hospital, se calcularon, para cada medicamento, su consumo, PPP y costo total de los cuatro subgrupos terapéuticos. El análisis estadístico fue regresión lineal múltiple y coeficiente de correlación de Spearman. Resultados. El subgrupo con mayor consumo y costo fue el de antibacterianos, y el de mayor precio ponderado el de los antivirales. Se identificó que el consumo y los precios ponderados influyeron significativamente en los costos totales. El cambio por cada unidad de consumo y de precio ponderado produjo un incremento de $190,893.8 USD (IC95% 118,196.1-263,591.6) y de $3,050.4 USD (IC95% 1,912.5-4,188.3), respectivamente. Conclusiones. El aumento porcentual progresivo del costo de los antiinfecciosos en comparación con el total de grupos terapéuticos del hospital fue consecuencia del consumo y de los PPP. El análisis estadístico empleado y el uso de las variaciones porcentuales permitieron identificar, por subgrupos terapéuticos, el efecto que los consumos y los PPP tienen sobre los costos totales. El análisis individual de los medicamentos de alto costo también permitió interpretar algunos comportamientos; por lo que se recomienda efectuar este tipo de evaluaciones para identificar las diversas variables que influyen en los costos.

Background. We undertook this study to evaluate the tendency of the consumption (defined as daily doses/100 bed-days), the weighted average price (WAP) and the total cost of antibacterials, antimycotics, antimycobacterials and antiviral subgroups from 2005 to 2007, as well as the influence of the consumption and the WAP on the total costs. Methods. We used the database of the hospital pharmacy in order to calculate consumption, WAP and total cost of each drug for therapeutic subgroups. Multiple linear regression and Spearman correlation coefficient were used for statistical analyses. Results. The antibacterial subgroup showed the highest consumption and the total cost. The antiviral subgroup showed the highest WAP. Consumption and WAP had a significant influence on the total costs. The change by each unit of consumption and WAP produced an increase of 190,893.8 USD (95% CI 118,196.1-263,591.6) and 3,050.4 USD (95% CI 1,912.5-4,188.3), respectively. Conclusion. The progressive percentage increase of the total cost of anti-infective drugs in comparison with the total cost of hospital's therapeutic subgroups was due to the consumption and WAP. Statistical analysis and percentage of variations can identify the effect of consumption and WAP on total costs according to therapeutic subgroups. The analysis of high-cost drugs allows interpretation of some behaviors. Therefore, it is recommended to carry out these types of evaluations so as to identify the different variables that can influence costs.

Perfil de lípidos en recién nacidos sanos y su correlación con los niveles de lípidos maternos / Lipid profile in healthy newborns and their mothers

Objetivo. Determinar los niveles séricos de lípidos, colesterol, triglicéridos y lipoproteínas de un grupo de recién nacidos y sus madres, y conocer si existe correlación entre los valores de ambas poblaciones. Material y métodos. Se tomaron muestras de sangre de 200 recién nacidos sanos, así como de sus madres, las muestras fueron procesadas por el autoanalizador. Los datos se analizaron en el programa Epi Info 6. Se obtuvieron mediciones de tendencia central, y sus dispersiones análisis de varianza y coeficiente de correlación de pearson. Resultados. Los niveles promedio de lípidos totales en los recién nacidos fueron de 625.2 ñ 130 mg/dl; colesterol 158.8 ñ 44 mg/dl, triglicéridos 136.9 ñ 97 mg/dl, LDL 70.5 ñ 23.9 mg/dl, HDL 52.7 ñ 14 mg/dl, VLDL 26.5 ñ 15.5 mgdl. Conclusiones. Los niveles de colesterol en los recién nacidos fueron semejantes a los encontrados por Alpers y superiores a los reportados por el Comité Americano de Bioquímica Pediátrica en Estados Unidos de América (EUA). Se encontró discreta asociación entre los niveles maternos y de sus recién nacidos