Ocular emergencies in children: Demographics, origin, symptoms, and most frequent diagnoses

To describe the epidemiology of ocular emergencies in children in a hospital-based emergency room (ER). Methods. ,e medical reports of all children, 14 years of age and younger, who attended La Paz University Hospital (Madrid, Spain) ER from September 2015 to August 2016 were prospectively collected. Demographic data, origin, symptom for consultation, diagnostic tests, final diagnosis, and final referral of patients were recorded. Results. A total of 774 children were attended: 57% boys and 43% girls. Mean age was 5 years (SD 4.10 years, range 0–14 years) without significant differences between sexes. Most children went to the ER because parents or teachers took the decision (75%), 24% were referred from the paediatric ER for evaluation, and 0.78% were referred from another hospital or by an out-clinic ophthalmologist. ,e reasons for consultation were red eyes (61%), traumatism (17%), referred from the paediatrician to have the fundus explored in children with headache (7%), eyelids problems (7%), and visual loss (7%). ,e most frequent diagnoses were infectious conjunctivitis (29%), corneal erosion (17%), normal examination (15%), and allergic conjunctivitis (13%). ,e most severe cases (visual loss, acute strabismus, and leucocoria) were referred by the paediatricians and represented 4.65% of the total patients. Visits occurred more frequently during the third trimester of the year (July–September), with a higher incidence of eye trauma in summer. Conclusions. Infectious conjunctivitis was the most frequent pathology. It is necessary to increase public awareness about the symptoms, the way of transmission, and treatment. Ocular trauma was also a common cause of presentation and the majority were contusional and mild. ,ere is also a need for education of parents, teachers, and coaches regarding the potential for eye injuries. Ophthalmologists and paediatricians must take an active role in educating people about the prophylactic measures to prevent eye injuries in childre

Pengaruh Pelatihan Kerja, Kompensasi Finansial Serta Disiplin Kerja Pada Kinerja Pegawai Di PT. Bayu Jaya Kusuma Bali

The purpose of this research is to gather information related to the contribution of job training, financial compensation, and work discipline to employee performance at PT. Bayu Jaya Kusuma Bali. The sample in this study were 54 samples. The analysis technique in this study used multiple linear regression analysis, classical assumption test, t test, f test and determination analysis. This study obtained the results of H1 obtaining a t value of 4,670 with a p-value of 0.000 <alpha = 0.05, which identified a significant positive effect related to job training variables on employee performance.. H2 obtained a t value of 4,404 and a p-value of 0.000 <alpha = 0.05, which indicates that there is a significant positive effect of financial compensation on employee performance. H3 has a t-value of 3,197 and a p-value of 0.002 <alpha = 0.05, which indicates a positive and significant effect of the work discipline variable on employee performance. H4 has an F value of 70,708 and a p-value of 0.000 <alpha = 0.05, which identifies a positive and significant effect between job training, work compensation, work discipline on employee performance. Keywords: Job Training, Financial Compensation, Work Discipline, Employee Performanc

Clinically Isolated Syndromes Suggestive of Multiple Sclerosis: An Optical Coherence Tomography Study

Background: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a simple, high-resolution technique to quantify the thickness of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), which provides an indirect measurement of axonal damage in multiple sclerosis (MS). This study aimed to evaluate RNFL thickness in patients at presentation with clinically isolated syndromes (CIS) suggestive of MS. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study. Twenty-four patients with CIS suggestive of MS (8 optic neuritis [ON], 6 spinal cord syndromes, 5 brainstem symptoms and 5 with sensory and other syndromes) were prospectively studied. The main outcome evaluated was RNFL thickness at CIS onset. Secondary objectives were to study the relationship between RNFL thickness and MRI criteria for disease dissemination in space (DIS) as well as the presence of oligoclonal bands in the cerebrospinal fluid. Principal Findings: Thirteen patients had decreased RNFL thickness in at least one quadrant. Mean RNFL thickness was 101.67±10.72 μm in retrobulbar ON eyes and 96.93±10.54 in unaffected eyes. Three of the 6 patients with myelitis had at least one abnormal quadrant in one of the two eyes. Eight CIS patients fulfilled DIS MRI criteria. The presence of at least one quadrant of an optic nerve with a RNFL thickness at a P<5% cut-off value had a sensitivity of 75% and a specificity of 56% for predicting DIS MRI. Conclusions: The findings from this study show that axonal damage measured by OCT is present in any type of CIS; even in myelitis forms, not only in ON as seen up to now. OCT can detect axonal damage in very early stages of disease and seems to have high sensitivity and moderate specificity for predicting DIS MRI. Studies with prospective long-term follow-up would be needed to establish the prognostic value of baseline OCT finding

Skin gene therapy for acquired and inherited disorders

The rapid advances associated with the Human Genome Project combined with the development of proteomics technology set the bases to face the challenge of human gene therapy. Different strategies must be evaluated based on the genetic defect to be corrected. Therefore, the re-expression of the normal counterpart should be sufficient to reverse phenotype in single-gene inherited disorders. A growing number of candidate diseases are being evaluated since the ADA deficiency was selected for the first approved human gene therapy trial (Blaese et al., 1995). To cite some of them: sickle cell anemia, hemophilia, inherited immune deficiencies, hyper-cholesterolemia and cystic fibrosis. The approach does not seem to be so straightforward when a polygenic disorder is going to be treated. Many human traits like diabetes, hypertension, inflammatory diseases and cancer, appear to be due to the combined action of several genes and environment. For instance, several wizard gene therapy strategies have recently been proposed for cancer treatment, including the stimulation of the immune system of the patient (Xue et al., 2005), the targeting of particular signalling pathways to selectively kill cancer cells (Westphal and Melchner, 2002) and the modulation of the interactions with the stroma and the vasculature (Liotta, 2001; Liotta and Kohn, 2001).Our work is supported by grants SAF-2004-07717 from Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología (Spain) and LSHG-512073 from UE to M. Del Rio, LSHG-503447 from UE to J.L. Jorcano and LSHG-512102 from UE to F. Larcher. We express our gratitude to Dr. Y. Gache, Dr. F. Spirito and Dr. G. Meneguzzi for providing EM pictures to illustrate this work

Challenges and Opportunities to Scale Up Cardiovascular Disease Secondary Prevention in Latin America and the Caribbean.

In the Americas, CVD represents about 38% of noncommunicable disease deaths. A roadmap for secondary prevention in Latin America and the Caribbean is warranted. Simple and practical guidelines should be developed and implemented. PAHO proposes a realistic and efficient prevention coalition plan in Latin America to fight CVD. The inclusion of the health system through health workers is highly recommended for a successful nationwide preventive program

Valor pronóstico de la determinación urgente del péptido natriurético tipo B en los servicios de urgencias en pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca: estudio PICASU-1

Objetivo: conocer la utilidad del NT-proBNP en pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca aguda (ICA) que consultaron en un servicio de urgencias hospitalario (SUH) para predecir la mortalidad y la reconsulta a dicho SUH. Método: el estudio PICASU-1 (ProBNP en Insuficiencia Cardiaca Aguda en los Servicios de Urgencias) es un estudio analítico, multicéntrico, con seguimiento de cohortes, que incluyó 641 pacientes con ICA atendidos en 9 SUH en los que se determinó NT-proBNP de forma urgente. Se recogieron 18 datos basales y 21 datos del episodio de ICA. Los datos evolutivos analizados fueron mortalidad intrahospitalaria y mortalidad y revisita a 30 días, y para cada una de estas variables se calculó el área bajo la curva (AUC) ROC de NT-proBNP. El análisis se repitió mediante curvas de supervivencia truncadas a 90 días. Resultados: NT-proBNP estaba más elevado en los fallecidos intrahospitalariamente y a los 30 días de la consulta en el SUH (p < 0,001 para ambos), pero no hubo diferencias entre los que reconsultaron a los 30 días y los que no (p = 0,91). Resultados similares se observaron en el estudio mediante curvas de supervivencia a 90 días. NT-proBNP tuvo un poder discriminativo moderado para la mortalidad intrahospitalaria (AUC 0,75, p < 0,001) y a 30 días (AUC 0,71, p < 0,001), pero nulo para la reconsulta (AUC 0,50, p = 0,92). Similares resultados se obtuvieron en los 244 pacientes (38,3%) dados de alta directamente del SUH: NT-proBNP superior en los fallecidos a 30 días (p < 0,01) y sin diferencias en los que reconsultaron (p = 0,50), y su poder discriminativo fue moderado para la mortalidad a 30 días (AUC 0,72, p < 0,01) y nulo para la reconsulta (AUC 0,47, p = 0,50). Conclusión: el NT-proBNP es una herramienta útil para predecir a priori la probabilidad de fallecer de un paciente con ICA en concreto, pero tiene un valor nulo para determinar las posibilidades de reconsultar al SUH

<i>Gaia</i> Data Release 1. Summary of the astrometric, photometric, and survey properties

Context. At about 1000 days after the launch of Gaia we present the first Gaia data release, Gaia DR1, consisting of astrometry and photometry for over 1 billion sources brighter than magnitude 20.7. Aims. A summary of Gaia DR1 is presented along with illustrations of the scientific quality of the data, followed by a discussion of the limitations due to the preliminary nature of this release. Methods. The raw data collected by Gaia during the first 14 months of the mission have been processed by the Gaia Data Processing and Analysis Consortium (DPAC) and turned into an astrometric and photometric catalogue. Results. Gaia DR1 consists of three components: a primary astrometric data set which contains the positions, parallaxes, and mean proper motions for about 2 million of the brightest stars in common with the HIPPARCOS and Tycho-2 catalogues – a realisation of the Tycho-Gaia Astrometric Solution (TGAS) – and a secondary astrometric data set containing the positions for an additional 1.1 billion sources. The second component is the photometric data set, consisting of mean G-band magnitudes for all sources. The G-band light curves and the characteristics of ∼3000 Cepheid and RR-Lyrae stars, observed at high cadence around the south ecliptic pole, form the third component. For the primary astrometric data set the typical uncertainty is about 0.3 mas for the positions and parallaxes, and about 1 mas yr−1 for the proper motions. A systematic component of ∼0.3 mas should be added to the parallax uncertainties. For the subset of ∼94 000 HIPPARCOS stars in the primary data set, the proper motions are much more precise at about 0.06 mas yr−1. For the secondary astrometric data set, the typical uncertainty of the positions is ∼10 mas. The median uncertainties on the mean G-band magnitudes range from the mmag level to ∼0.03 mag over the magnitude range 5 to 20.7. Conclusions. Gaia DR1 is an important milestone ahead of the next Gaia data release, which will feature five-parameter astrometry for all sources. Extensive validation shows that Gaia DR1 represents a major advance in the mapping of the heavens and the availability of basic stellar data that underpin observational astrophysics. Nevertheless, the very preliminary nature of this first Gaia data release does lead to a number of important limitations to the data quality which should be carefully considered before drawing conclusions from the data

Are there independent predisposing factors for postoperative infections following open heart surgery?

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Nosocomial infections after cardiac surgery represent serious complications associated with substantial morbidity, mortality and economic burden. This study was undertaken to evaluate the frequency, characteristics, and risk factors of microbiologically documented nosocomial infections after cardiac surgery in a Cardio-Vascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>All patients who underwent open heart surgery between May 2006 and March 2008 were enrolled in this prospective study. Pre-, intra- and postoperative variables were collected and examined as possible risk factors for development of nosocomial infections. The diagnosis of infection was always microbiologically confirmed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Infection occurred in 24 of 172 patients (13.95%). Out of 172 patients, 8 patients (4.65%) had superficial wound infection at the sternotomy site, 5 patients (2.9%) had central venous catheter infection, 4 patients (2.32%) had pneumonia, 9 patients (5.23%) had bacteremia, one patient (0.58%) had mediastinitis, one (0.58%) had harvest surgical site infection, one (0.58%) had urinary tract infection, and another one patient (0.58%) had other major infection. The mortality rate was 25% among the patients with infection and 3.48% among all patients who underwent cardiac surgery compared with 5.4% of patients who did not develop early postoperative infection after cardiac surgery. Culture results demonstrated equal frequencies of gram-positive cocci and gram-negative bacteria. A backward stepwise multivariable logistic regression model analysis identified diabetes mellitus (OR 5.92, CI 1.56 to 22.42, p = 0.009), duration of mechanical ventilation (OR 1.30, CI 1.005 to 1.69, p = 0.046), development of severe complications in the CICU (OR 18.66, CI 3.36 to 103.61, p = 0.001) and re-admission to the CVICU (OR 8.59, CI 2.02 to 36.45, p = 0.004) as independent risk factors associated with development of nosocomial infection after cardiac surgery.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We concluded that diabetes mellitus, the duration of mechanical ventilation, the presence of complications irrelevant to the infection during CVICU stay and CVICU re-admission are independent risk factors for the development of postoperative infection in cardiac surgery patients.</p