Novel set of electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy markers

La hipertrofia ventricular izquierda (HVI) induce cambios en las fases de despolarización y repolarización cardíaca. No obstante, pocos marcadores electrocardiográficos ncluyen parámetros de la repolarización en su diagnóstico. Objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar si la repolarización mejora el diagnóstico electrocardiográfico de la HVI. Material y Métodos: Se estudiamos los vectores QRS y T en el plano horizontal definido por las derivaciones precordiales V1 -V6 y el plano frontal definido por las derivaciones I-aVF en una serie de 40 pacientes con HVI y 34 sujetos control. Resultados: Los índices de HVI se construyeron como combinaciones de parámetros asociados a los vectores de despolarización y repolarización y su rendimiento se comparó con el rendimiento de los criterios de Sokolow-Lyon y Cornell. Los índices que incluyeron parámetros de repolarización mejoraron la sensibilidad de dichos criterios. Sobre los mismos, se construyeron estimativos a partir de medidas directas de amplitud del ECG, con el fin de obtener criterios de fácil medición en la práctica clínica. Para un 90% de especificidad, el mejor criterio, consistiendo en el voltaje de repolarización en la derivación V6 , produjo un 56% de sensibilidad, por encima del 30% de Sokolow-Lyon y el 40% de Cornell. Conclusiones: la repolarización contribuyó al diagnóstico electrocardiográfico de HVI y alentamos la búsqueda de nuevos índices en esta dirección.Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) induces changes in both depolarization and repolarization phases. However, little efforts were made to include repolarization features in its diagnosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the repolarization improves ECG diagnosis of LVH. Methods: To do this, we studied the QRS and T vectors in the horizontal plane (HP) defined by the chest leads V1 -V6 and the frontal plane (PF) defined by the limb leads I-aVF in a series of 40 LVH patients and 34 control subjects. Results: LVH indices were constructed as combinations of parameters associated with depolarization and repolarization vectors and their performance was compared to the performance of Sokolow-Lyon and Cornell. Those indices, which included repolarization parameters, improved the sensitivity of these criteria. The latter were selected to construct estimates from direct measurements of ECG amplitudes, in order to obtain easy measurement criteria in the clinical practice. The best estimate, consisting of the repolarization voltage on lead V6 , produced a 56% sensitivity at 90% specificity, above Sokolow-Lyon (sensitivity 30%) and Cornell (sensitivity 40%). Conclusions: repolarization contributed to the electrocardiographic diagnosis of LVH and we encourage the search for new indices in this direction.Fil: Bonomini, Maria Paula. Universidad de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Ingallina, Fernando Juan. Universidad de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Barone, Valeria. Universidad de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Antonucci, Ricardo. Universidad de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Arini, Pedro David. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Saavedra 15. Instituto Argentino de Matemática Alberto Calderon; Argentin

LONGIBUCCA CATESBEIANAE (NEMATODA: CYLINDROCORPORIDAE) EN LA RANA-TORO LITHOBATES CATESBEIANUS (ANURA: AMPHIBIA) DE LAS GRANJAS DE RANAS EN EL ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO, BRASIL

Most parasites represent a serious socioeconomic problem, because they affect pets, commercially raised, wild, and zoonotic animals. Weight loss, growth retardation, predisposition to other diseases and death are symptoms presented by the parasitized animals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the helminth fauna in bull-frog Lithobates catesbeianus raised for sale. We worked with five frog farms in the Vale do Paraíba, São Paulo, Brazil, and examined a total of 185 animals. The autopsies were performed, and all bodies that may have parasites were examined. Diagnostic parasitology tests were also performed. We found one species of nematode, Longibucca catesbeianae, with a prevalence of 1.7%, mean abundance of 14.16 and an average intensity of 850 (with a range of 729 to 1014). Given that most studies of parasitology in amphibians is conducted in free-living animals, more research on frogs in captivity should be performed to better understand these pests and prevent future problems in the operations frog farm.La mayoría de los parásitos representan un problema socioeconómico grave, porque afectan a las mascotas, a los animales criados para la venta y a los animales salvajes, y algunos también son zoonóticos. La pérdida de peso, retraso del crecimiento, la predisposición a otras enfermedades y la muerte son los síntomas presentados por los animales parasitados. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la helmintofauna en la rana-toro Lithobates catesbeianus criada para la venta. Se trabajó con cinco granjas de rana en el Vale do Paraíba, São Paulo, Brasil, y se examinaron un total de 185 animales. Las necropsias se realizaron, y todos los órganos que pueden tener parásitos fueron examinados. Exámenes de diagnóstico coproparasitológico también fueron realizados. Se encontró una sola espécie de nematodo y se identificó como Longibucca catesbeianae, con una prevalencia de 1,7%, abundancia media de 14,16 y una intensidad media de 850 (con un rango de 729 a 1.014). Teniendo en cuenta que la mayoría de los estudios de parasitología en los anfibios se llevan a cabo en animales de vida libre, más investigación en ranas en cautiverio se debe realizar con el fin de comprender mejor a estos parásitos y evitar futuros problemas en las operaciones comerciales de granjas de rana

Social network types and functional dependency in older adults in Mexico

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Social networks play a key role in caring for older adults. A better understanding of the characteristics of different social networks types (TSNs) in a given community provides useful information for designing policies to care for this age group. Therefore this study has three objectives: 1) To derive the TSNs among older adults affiliated with the Mexican Institute of Social Security; 2) To describe the main characteristics of the older adults in each TSN, including the instrumental and economic support they receive and their satisfaction with the network; 3) To determine the association between functional dependency and the type of social network.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Secondary data analysis of the 2006 Survey of Autonomy and Dependency (N = 3,348). The TSNs were identified using the structural approach and cluster analysis. The association between functional dependency and the TSNs was evaluated with Poisson regression with robust variance analysis in which socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle and medical history covariates were included.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We identified five TSNs: diverse with community participation (12.1%), diverse without community participation (44.3%); widowed (32.0%); nonfriends-restricted (7.6%); nonfamily-restricted (4.0%). Older adults belonging to widowed and restricted networks showed a higher proportion of dependency, negative self-rated health and depression. Older adults with functional dependency more likely belonged to a widowed network (adjusted prevalence ratio 1.5; 95%CI: 1.1-2.1).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The derived TSNs were similar to those described in developed countries. However, we identified the existence of a diverse network without community participation and a widowed network that have not been previously described. These TSNs and restricted networks represent a potential unmet need of social security affiliates.</p

Technology and employment. Twelve stylized facts for the digital age

Twelve stylized facts on the relationship between technology and employment are proposed in this paper as a summary of current trends, conceptual issues, methodological approaches and research results. They include the following: 1. Technology is shaped by social relations; 2. Technology saves human labour; technological unemployment is a serious concern; 3. In the digital age the nature and boundaries of work are changing; 4. Different technological strategies have contrasting employment effects; 5. Industries differ in their employment dynamics and role of technology; 6. We can see the employment impact of technology at the firm, industry and macroeconomic levels; 7. Technological change is a disequilibrium process; demand and structural change matter; 8. Business cycles affect technological change and its employment impact; 9. The impact of technology is different across occupations and skills; 10. Labour market conditions are relevant, but employment outcomes are not determined in labour markets alone; 11. In emerging countries employment outcomes are jointly affected by technology and catching up; 12. Technology is an engine of inequality; profits benefit more than wages, wage disparities increase. They have important policy implications in several areas of public action

Longibucca Catesbeianae (Nematoda: Cylindrocorporidae) en la Rana-Toro. Lithobates Catesbeianus (Anura: Amphibia) de las granjas de Ranas en el estado de Sau Paulo, Brasil.

Most parasites represent a serious socioeconomic problem, because they affect pets, commercially raised, wild, and zoonotic animals. Weight loss, growth retardation, predisposition to other diseases and death are symptoms presented by the parasitized animals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the helminth fauna in bull-frog Lithobates catesbeianus raised for sale. We worked with five frog farms in the Vale do Paraíba, São Paulo, Brazil, and examined a total of 185 animals. The autopsies were performed, and all bodies that may have parasites were examined. Diagnostic parasitology tests were also performed. We found one species of nematode, Longibucca catesbeianae, with a prevalence of 1.7%, mean abundance of 14.16 and an average intensity of 850 (with a range of 729 to 1014). Given that most studies of parasitology in amphibians is conducted in free-living animals, more research on frogs in captivity should be performed to better understand these pests and prevent future problems in the operations frog farm

Left ventricular hypertrophy index based on a combination of frontal and transverse planes in the ECG and VCG: Diagnostic utility of cardiac vectors

The changes that left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) induces in depolarization and repolarization vectors are well known. We analyzed the performance of the electrocardiographic and vectorcardiographic transverse planes (TP in the ECG and XZ in the VCG) and frontal planes (FP in the ECG and XY in the VCG) to discriminate LVH patients from control subjects. In an age-balanced set of 58 patients, the directions and amplitudes of QRS-complexes and Twave vectors were studied. The repolarization vector significantly decreased in modulus from controls to LVH in the transverse plane (TP: 0.45±0.17mV vs. 0.24±0.13mV, p<0.0005; XZ: 0.43±0.16mV vs. 0.26±0.11mV, p<0.005) while the depolarization vector significantly changed in angle in the electrocardiographic frontal plane (Controls vs. LVH, FP: 48.24±33.66◦ vs. 46.84±35.44◦ , p<0.005, XY: 20.28±35.20◦ vs. 19.35±12.31◦ , NS). Several LVH indexes were proposed combining such information in both ECG and VCG spaces. A subset of all those indexes with AUC values greater than 0.7 was further studied. This subset comprised four indexes, with three of them belonging to the ECG space. Two out of the four indexes presented the best ROC curves (AUC values: 0.78 and 0.75, respectively). One index belonged to the ECG space and the other one to the VCG space. Both indexes showed a sensitivity of 86% and a specificity of 70%. In conclusion, the proposed indexes can favorably complement LVH diagnosisFil: Bonomini, Maria Paula. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Ingeniería Biomédica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Saavedra 15. Instituto Argentino de Matemática Alberto Calderón; ArgentinaFil: Ingallina, Fernando Juan. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Barone, Valeria. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Antonucci, Ricardo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Valentibuzzi, Maximo E.. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Ingeniería Biomédica; ArgentinaFil: Arini, Pedro David. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Saavedra 15. Instituto Argentino de Matemática Alberto Calderón; ArgentinaXX Congreso Argentino de Bioingeniería y IX Jornadas de Ingeniería ClínicaSan NicolásArgentinaSociedad Argentina de Bioingenieri

First record of Tuxophorus caligodes (Siphonostomatoida, Tuxophoridae) in sea-farmed cobia, Rachycentron canadum, in Brazil Primeiro relato de Tuxophorus caligodes (Siphonostomatoida, Tuxophoridae) em cultivo de cobias, Rachycentron canadum, no Brasil

The cobia is the only representative of the Rachycentridae family and, because of its zootechnical qualities, production of this fish has been implemented in several countries, such as the United States, Mexico and Brazil. Tuxophorus caligodes is a widespread parasite of marine fish worldwide. For the present report, 15 juvenile cobias were collected from net cages on a fish farm in Ilhabela, state of São Paulo, Brazil, in the winter of 2011. The fish were sacrificed by means of cerebral concussion, and then weighed (280 ± 70.5 g) and measured (27 ± 1.97 cm). After external examination under a stereomicroscope, ectoparasites present on the body surface were collected, fixed and processed for identification. Out of the 15 fish examined, two were parasitized with Tuxophorus caligodes, thus indicating a prevalence of 13.3%. This is the first report of Tuxophorus caligodes in cobias in Brazil.<br>O cobia é o único representante da família Rachycentridae e, devido às suas qualidades zootécnicas, a produção desse peixe tem sido implementada em vários países, tais como os Estados Unidos, México e Brasil. Tuxophorus caligodes é um parasito de peixes marinhos amplamente distribuído no mundo. Para o presente relato, 15 juvenis de cobias foram coletados de tanques-rede, em uma fazenda marinha em Ilhabela, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil, no inverno de 2011. Os peixes foram sujeitos à eutanásia por meio de concussão cerebral, pesados (280 ± 70,5 g) e medidos (27 ± 1,97 cm). Após exame externo sob um estereomicroscópio, os ectoparasitos presentes na superfície do corpo foram coletados, fixados e processados para identificação. Dos 15 peixes examinados, dois apresentavam-se parasitados indicando a prevalência de 13,3%. Esse é o primeiro relato de Tuxophorus caligodes em cobias no Brasil