Calidad de vida en pacientes en tratamiento de cáncer de mama, Pereira, Colombia 2010

Revista Indexada en categoría A2 por Colciencias.El diagnóstico y cáncer de mama son acontecimientos estresantes que producen en las pacientes dificultades psicopatológicas y un detrimento de su calidad de vida

Sentinel network for monitoring in vitro susceptibility of Plasmodium falciparum to antimalarial drugs in Colombia: a proof of concept

Drug resistance is one of the principal obstacles blocking worldwide malaria control. In Colombia, malaria remains a major public health concern and drug-resistant parasites have been reported. In vitro drug susceptibility assays are a useful tool for monitoring the emergence and spread of drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum. The present study was conducted as a proof of concept for an antimalarial drug resistance surveillance network based on in vitro susceptibility testing in Colombia. Sentinel laboratories were set up in three malaria endemic areas. The enzyme linked immunosorbent assay-histidine rich protein 2 and schizont maturation methods were used to assess the susceptibility of fresh P. falciparum isolates to six antimalarial drugs. This study demonstrates that an antimalarial drug resistance surveillance network based on in vitro methods is feasible in the field with the participation of a research institute, local health institutions and universities. It could also serve as a model for a regional surveillance network. Preliminary susceptibility results showed widespread chloroquine resistance, which was consistent with previous reports for the Pacific region. However, high susceptibility to dihydroartemisinin and lumefantrine compounds, currently used for treatment in the country, was also reported. The implementation process identified critical points and opportunities for the improvement of network sustainability strategies.PAHO [057-1-3144141]; COLCIENCIAS [ID 2229-405-20319]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Calidad de vida en pacientes en tratamiento de cáncer de mama, Pereira, Colombia 2010

Introducción: el diagnóstico y tratamiento del cáncer de mama son acontecimientos estresantes que producen en las pacientes dificultades psicopatológicas y un detrimento de su calidad de vida. Métodos: se realizó un estudio cuantitativo descriptivo transversal en 58 mujeres entre 35 y 65 años, diagnosticadas con cáncer de mama que recibían tratamiento en ‘Oncólogos del Occidente S.A., Pereira’. Se aplicó una encuesta que evaluó: salud física, psicológica, relaciones sociales y vida sexual. Se realizaron distribuciones de frecuencias y análisis univariados y bivariados para las variables demográficas,y prueba de hipótesis para el puntaje global del test. El cuestionario fue alidadoa través de una prueba piloto y un análisis de confiabilidad interna, cuandose incluía y excluía la pregunta de actividad sexual en las respuestas (Alfa deChrombach=0.703 y 0.77 respectivamente). Resultados: la mayoría de las mujeres reportaban una calidad de vida “buena” (T= 24.9 y significancia estadística <0.0001). Los puntajes variaron según la ctividad sexual. El 20,06% de las mujeres sexualmente activas tenían una calidad de vida muy buena, 52,9% buena y 23,5% regular; mientras que en la población sexualmente inactiva se evidenció que el 29,2% es muy buena, en el 54,2% es buena y en el 12,5% es regular. El mayor deterioro fue en la actividad física máxima, donde el 41.4% respondió: actividad ligera. Conclusión: más de la mitad de las pacientes en tratamiento para cáncer de seno sexualmente activas e inactivas de la institución Oncólogos de Occidente S.A, tienen una calidad de vida en el rango “Buena”.AbstractIntroduction: breast cancer diagnosis and treatment are stressing occurrences that generate psychopathological difficulties in patients and a detriment in their quality of life. Methods: a cross-sectional study was performed in 58 women ages 35 to 65 who were diagnosed with breast cancer. The women received treatment at “Oncologos de Occidente S.A” in Pereira. The information was gathered using a survey that asked about: physical and psychological health, social relations and sexual behavior. Data was tabulated using “Microsoft Excel 2007” and analyzed with “SPSS version 17.0.” Frequency distributions, univariate and bivariate analysis for demographic variables were performed; hypothesis testing was done over the mean score obtained in the tests. The questionnaire was validated through a pilot test and the analysis of its internal reliability when including or not the question about sexual activity (Chrombach’s alpha= 0.703 and 0.77 respectively). Results: most of the women reported their quality of life as “good” (T = 24.9 and statistical significance <0.0001). Scores varied depending on the sexual behavior, 20.06 % of sexually active women revealed a “very good” life’s quality, 52.9 % reported as “good” and 23.5 % as “regular” whereas the sexually inactive women population statistical analysis revealed life’s quality as “very good” for a 29.2 %, “good” for the 54.2 % and “regular” for a 12.5 %. The most deteriorated aspect was “physical activity” reported in a 41.4% as “light activity”. Conclusion: quality of life for active and inactive sexual life patients of the institution “Oncologos de Occidente S.A” was reported as “good”.Keywords Life Quality; Breast Cancer; Self-Esteem

Sentinel network for monitoring in vitro susceptibility of Plasmodium falciparum to antimalarial drugs in Colombia: a proof of concept

Drug resistance is one of the principal obstacles blocking worldwide malaria control. In Colombia, malaria remains a major public health concern and drug-resistant parasites have been reported. In vitro drug susceptibility assays are a useful tool for monitoring the emergence and spread of drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum . The present study was conducted as a proof of concept for an antimalarial drug resistance surveillance network based on in vitro susceptibility testing in Colombia. Sentinel laboratories were set up in three malaria endemic areas. The enzyme linked immunosorbent assay-histidine rich protein 2 and schizont maturation methods were used to assess the susceptibility of fresh P. falciparum isolates to six antimalarial drugs. This study demonstrates that an antimalarial drug resistance surveillance network based on in vitro methods is feasible in the field with the participation of a research institute, local health institutions and universities. It could also serve as a model for a regional surveillance network. Preliminary susceptibility results showed widespread chloroquine resistance, which was consistent with previous reports for the Pacific region. However, high susceptibility to dihydroartemisinin and lumefantrine compounds, currently used for treatment in the country, was also reported. The implementation process identified critical points and opportunities for the improvement of network sustainability strategies