LMDA Monthly Newsletter, February 2022

Contents include: Q&A: Anne Cattaneo; #LMDA2022 Update; Dramaturging the Phoenix 2.0: A Renewed Challenge for LMDA Members; Elliott Hayes Award LMDA Grant; LMDA Membership - Renew Today!; LMDA Monthly Member Check-In; Region Facebook Groups.https://soundideas.pugetsound.edu/lmdanewsletter/1049/thumbnail.jp

Educational Space of children´s Self-medication for Parents

Introducción: La automedicación, definida como la utilización de medicamentos por cuenta propia, es habitual en la población. Los niños constituyen un grupo vulnerable a los efectos que esta práctica puede causar. La eficacia del tratamiento farmacológico en recién nacidos, lactantes y niños demanda un saber acerca de los cambios vinculados a la maduración que median en la acción, el efecto, y otras características inherentes a la farmacocinética y a variaciones individuales. De no tener en cuenta estas consideraciones el tratamiento puede ser inoportuno, innecesario y perjudicial. Es fundamental que los padres tomen conciencia que el uso inapropiado de fármacos por cuenta propia, carente de control profesional, puede producir desde daños leves hasta la muerte. Objetivo: educar a padres que automedican a sus hijos sobre los peligros de la automedicación en niños.Introduction: Self-medication, defined as the use of medications on their own, is common in the population. Children are a vulnerable group to the effects that this practice can cause. The efficacy of pharmacological treatment in newborns, infants, and children requires knowledge about maturation-related changes that mediate action, effect, and other characteristics inherent in pharmacokinetics and individual variations. If these considerations are not taken into account, the treatment may be untimely, unnecessary and harmful. It is essential that parents become aware that the inappropriate use of drugs on their own, lacking professional control, can produce from minor injuries to death. Objective: educate parents who self-medicate their children about the dangers of self-medication in children.Facultad de Odontologí

How do drugs affect the skeleton? implications for forensic anthropology

Forensic anthropologists rely on a number of parameters when analyzing human skeletal remains to assist in the identification of the deceased, predominantly age-at-death, sex, stature, ancestry or population affinity, and any unique identifying features. During the examination of human remains, it is important to be aware that the skeletal features considered when applying anthropological methods may be influenced and modified by a number of factors, and particular to this article, prescription drugs (including medical and non-medical use) and other commonly used drugs. In view of this, this paper aims to review the medical, clinical and pharmacological literature to enable an assessment of those drug groups that as side effects have the potential to have an adverse effect on the skeleton, and explore whether or not they can influence the estimation of age-at-death, sex and other indicators of the biological profile. Moreover, it may be that the observation of certain alterations or inconsistencies in the skeleton may relate to the use of drugs or medication, and this in turn may help narrow down the list of missing persons to which a set of human remains could belong. The information gathered from the clinical and medical literature has been extracted with a forensic anthropological perspective and provides an awareness on how several drugs, such as opioids, cocaine, corticosteroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, alcohol, tobacco and others have notable effects on bone. Through different mechanisms, drugs can alter bone mineral density, causing osteopenia, osteoporosis, increase the risk of fractures, osteonecrosis, and oral changes. Not much has been written on the influence of drugs on the skeleton from the forensic anthropological practitioner perspective; and this review, in spite of its limitations and the requirement of further research, aims to investigate the current knowledge of the possible effects of both prescription and recreational drugs on bones, contributing to providing a better awareness in forensic anthropological practice and assisting in the identification process of the deceased

Clima y salud en la Argentina: diagnóstico de situación 2018

Fil: Domínguez, Diana Analía. Servicio Meteorológico Nacional. Dirección Nacional de Ciencia e Innovación en Productos y Servicios. Dirección Central de Monitoreo del Clima; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ciencias de la Atmósfera y los Océanos; Argentina.El presente diagnóstico de situación sobre Clima y Salud en Argentina fue realizado por la Mesa de Trabajo sobre Cambio Climático de la Secretaría de Gobierno de Salud. Se realizó un estudio de tipo descriptivo, en el cual se presenta por un lado el comportamiento de las variables meteorológicas y por otro, algunos eventos seleccionados en salud. Asimismo, se desarrolla el estado del conocimiento sobre la relación entre el clima y la salud en Argentina en el período comprendido entre los años 2005 y 2017. La descripción climática fue realizada por el Departamento de Climatología del Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (SMN). Las estadísticas se basan en valores medios (promedio) del periodo 1981-2010. Los efectos del clima sobre la salud humana fueron estudiados a partir de su clasificación en efectos directos e indirectos, entendiendo como efectos directos aquellos ocurridos a raíz de la ocurrencia de eventos meteorológicos extremos tales como olas de frío y calor, inundaciones, sequías y vientos fuertes. Para el análisis de estos eventos se realizó el análisis de la frecuencia y distribución espacial de los eventos extremos para el período 2005-2017. Para el estudio de las patologías sensible al clima se priorizaron las patologías más relevantes para ser descriptas en base a la evidencia científica. Se realizó una descripción de la evolución temporal de los casos entre 2005 y 2017, a partir de los datos obtenidos de la vigilancia clínica (a través del módulo C2 del SNVS). Por último se presentan las tendencias y retos que afrontará el sistema sanitario debido al cambio climático

Reflecting with older adults on vaccines and their importance

Introducción: Los programas de inmunización representan una de las intervenciones más eficaces en salud pública, dado que disminuyen la posibilidad de contagio al prevenir, e incluso contribuir a eliminar, enfermedades. Tanto en países desarrollados como en desarrollo, los decesos debidos a enfermedades prevenibles mediante vacunas, ocurren predominantemente en adultos. Esto es consecuencia, en gran parte, a que la inmunización de personas adultas no recibe la misma prioridad que la de niños y adolescentes. Los docentes de la asignatura de Farmacología y de la Tecnicatura Universitaria en Asistencia Odontológica pertenecientes a la FOUNLP, recibieron la preocupación de familiares de personas mayores de 65 años, sobre la falta de conciencia de sus seres queridos respecto a la importancia de recibir las vacunas correspondientes.Introduction: Immunization programs represent one of the most effective interventions in public health, since they reduce the possibility of contagion by preventing, and even helping to eliminate, diseases. In both developed and developing countries, deaths due to vaccine- preventable diseases occur predominantly in adults. This is largely due to the fact that immunization of adults does not receive the same priority as that of children and adolescents. The teachers of the Department of Pharmacology and the University Technician in Dental Assistance belonging to the of the School of Dentistry of UNLP (FOUNLP), received the concern of relatives of people over about the lack of awareness of their loved ones regarding the importance of receiving the corresponding vaccines.Facultad de Odontologí

Accompanying Older Adults In The Fight Against Covid 19

Introducción: La prevención constituye una de las medidas sanitarias que ha producido y sigue produciendo significativo beneficio a la humanidad. Para evitar la propagación de COVID 19, se recomienda seguir las recomendaciones de los organismos de salud pública tales como uso de mascarillas, lavado de manos y vacunación. Durante estos años de pandemia, tomo relevancia la inmunización contra el COVID 19 ya que el grupo de personas mayores fue uno de los más vulnerables. Es por esto, que los docentes de la asignatura de Farmacología y Tecnicatura Universitaria en Asistencia Odontologica de la FOUNLP han creído oportuno concientizar a este grupo etario sobre la importancia de la vacunación. Objetivo: Ayudar a comprender la importancia de las vacunas contra el COVID19 en adultos mayores.Introduction: Prevention is one of the health measures that has produced and continues to produce significant benefit to humanity. To prevent the spread of covid 19, it is recommended to follow the recommendations of public health organizations such as the use of masks, hand washing and vaccination. During these years of pandemic, immunization against Covid 19 became relevant since the group of older people was one of the most vulnerable. This is why the teachers of the Departament of Pharmacology and the University Technique in Dental Assistance of the School of Dentistry of UNLP (FOUNLP) courses have thought it appropriate to make this age group aware of the importance of vaccination.Facultad de Odontologí

Y si nos vacunamos? Parte 2 : Acompañar a adultos mayores en la concientización sobre la importancia de la vacunación

Introducción: La vacunación para la prevención de enfermedades tiene un alto grado de relevancia en adultos de más de 65 años debido a que el envejecimiento incrementa el riesgo de padecer enfermedades infecciosas y las posibilidades de que estas cursen con cuadros graves. Entre las enfermedades prevenibles por vacunas en estos mayores, las asociadas al virus de influenza y al neumococo son las que comprenden el grupo más extenso, existiendo actualmente, agentes inmunizantes eficaces y exclusivas para esta población. Además de las vacunas nombradas anteriormente, las recomendaciones incluyen la inmunización de este grupo etáreo contra difteria, tétanos, tos convulsa, hepatitis A y B y Covid-19. Por esto, los programas de vacunación dirigidos a adultos mayores son ahora más importantes que nunca´. Los cambios demográficos, el contexto epidemiológico y el progresivo envejecimiento de la población demandan de nuestra labor, ya que como docentes extensionistas de la Asignatura de Farmacología de la carrera de grado de Odontología y de la carrera Tecnicatura Universitaria en Asistencia Odontológica, debemos acompañar la misión de concientización y prevención de enfermedades a través de las vacunas en los mayores de 65 años.Facultad de Odontologí

Identification of co-expression gene networks, regulatory genes and pathways for obesity based on adipose tissue RNA Sequencing in a porcine model

Background: Obesity is a complex metabolic condition in strong association with various diseases, like type 2 diabetes, resulting in major public health and economic implications. Obesity is the result of environmental and genetic factors and their interactions, including genome-wide genetic interactions. Identification of co-expressed and regulatory genes in RNA extracted from relevant tissues representing lean and obese individuals provides an entry point for the identification of genes and pathways of importance to the development of obesity. The pig, an omnivorous animal, is an excellent model for human obesity, offering the possibility to study in-depth organ-level transcriptomic regulations of obesity, unfeasible in humans. Our aim was to reveal adipose tissue co-expression networks, pathways and transcriptional regulations of obesity using RNA Sequencing based systems biology approaches in a porcine model. Methods: We selected 36 animals for RNA Sequencing from a previously created F2 pig population representing three extreme groups based on their predicted genetic risks for obesity. We applied Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) to detect clusters of highly co-expressed genes (modules). Additionally, regulator genes were detected using Lemon-Tree algorithms. Results: WGCNA revealed five modules which were strongly correlated with at least one obesity-related phenotype (correlations ranging from -0.54 to 0.72, P <0.001). Functional annotation identified pathways enlightening the association between obesity and other diseases, like osteoporosis (osteoclast differentiation, P = 1.4E(-7)), and immune-related complications (e. g. Natural killer cell mediated cytotoxity, P = 3.8E(-5); B cell receptor signaling pathway, P = 7.2E(-5)). Lemon-Tree identified three potential regulator genes, using confident scores, for the WGCNA module which was associated with osteoclast differentiation: CCR1, MSR1 and SI1 (probability scores respectively 95.30, 62.28, and 34.58). Moreover, detection of differentially connected genes identified various genes previously identified to be associated with obesity in humans and rodents, e.g. CSF1R and MARC2. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study to apply systems biology approaches using porcine adipose tissue RNA-Sequencing data in a genetically characterized porcine model for obesity. We revealed complex networks, pathways, candidate and regulatory genes related to obesity, confirming the complexity of obesity and its association with immune-related disorders and osteoporosis

Antidiabetic Drug Prescription Pattern in Hospitalized Older Patients with Diabetes

Objective: To describe the prescription pattern of antidiabetic and cardiovascular drugs in a cohort of hospitalized older patients with diabetes. Methods: Patients with diabetes aged 65 years or older hospitalized in internal medicine and/or geriatric wards throughout Italy and enrolled in the REPOSI (REgistro POliterapuie SIMI—Società Italiana di Medicina Interna) registry from 2010 to 2019 and discharged alive were included. Results: Among 1703 patients with diabetes, 1433 (84.2%) were on treatment with at least one antidiabetic drug at hospital admission, mainly prescribed as monotherapy with insulin (28.3%) or metformin (19.2%). The proportion of treated patients decreased at discharge (N = 1309, 76.9%), with a significant reduction over time. Among those prescribed, the proportion of those with insulin alone increased over time (p = 0.0066), while the proportion of those prescribed sulfonylureas decreased (p &lt; 0.0001). Among patients receiving antidiabetic therapy at discharge, 1063 (81.2%) were also prescribed cardiovascular drugs, mainly with an antihypertensive drug alone or in combination (N = 777, 73.1%). Conclusion: The management of older patients with diabetes in a hospital setting is often sub-optimal, as shown by the increasing trend in insulin at discharge, even if an overall improvement has been highlighted by the prevalent decrease in sulfonylureas prescription

The “Diabetes Comorbidome”: A Different Way for Health Professionals to Approach the Comorbidity Burden of Diabetes

(1) Background: The disease burden related to diabetes is increasing greatly, particularly in older subjects. A more comprehensive approach towards the assessment and management of diabetes’ comorbidities is necessary. The aim of this study was to implement our previous data identifying and representing the prevalence of the comorbidities, their association with mortality, and the strength of their relationship in hospitalized elderly patients with diabetes, developing, at the same time, a new graphic representation model of the comorbidome called “Diabetes Comorbidome”. (2) Methods: Data were collected from the RePoSi register. Comorbidities, socio-demographic data, severity and comorbidity indexes (Cumulative Illness rating Scale CIRS-SI and CIRS-CI), and functional status (Barthel Index), were recorded. Mortality rates were assessed in hospital and 3 and 12 months after discharge. (3) Results: Of the 4714 hospitalized elderly patients, 1378 had diabetes. The comorbidities distribution showed that arterial hypertension (57.1%), ischemic heart disease (31.4%), chronic renal failure (28.8%), atrial fibrillation (25.6%), and COPD (22.7%), were the more frequent in subjects with diabetes. The graphic comorbidome showed that the strongest predictors of death at in hospital and at the 3-month follow-up were dementia and cancer. At the 1-year follow-up, cancer was the first comorbidity independently associated with mortality. (4) Conclusions: The “Diabetes Comorbidome” represents the perfect instrument for determining the prevalence of comorbidities and the strength of their relationship with risk of death, as well as the need for an effective treatment for improving clinical outcomes