First-Round Impacts of the 2008 Chilean Pension System Reform

Chile’s innovative privatized pension system has been lauded as possible model for Social Security system overhauls in other countries, yet it has also been critiqued for not including a strong safety net for the uncovered sector. In response, the Bachelet government in 2008 implemented reforms to rectify this shortcoming. Here we offer the first systematic effort to directly evaluate the reform’s impacts, focusing on the new Basic Solidarity Pension for poor households with at least one person age 65+. Using the Social Protection Survey, we show that targeted poor households received about 2.4 percent more household annual income, with little evidence of crowding-out of private transfers. We also suggest that recipient household welfare probably increased due to slightly higher expenditures on basic consumption including healthcare, more leisure hours, and improved self-reported health. While measured short-run effects are small, follow-ups will be essential to gauge longer-run outcomes.

First-Round Impacts of the 2008 Chilean Pension System Reform

Chile’s innovative privatized pension system has been lauded as possible model for Social Security system overhauls in other countries, yet it has also been critiqued for not including a strong safety net for the uncovered sector. In response, the Bachelet government in 2008 implemented reforms to rectify this shortcoming. Here we offer the first systematic effort to directly evaluate the reform’s impacts, focusing on the new Basic Solidarity Pension for poor households with at least one person age 65+. Using the Social Protection Survey, we show that targeted poor households received about 2.4 percent more household annual income, with little evidence of crowding-out of private transfers. We also suggest that recipient household welfare probably increased due to slightly higher expenditures on basic consumption including healthcare, more leisure hours, and improved self-reported health. While measured short-run effects are small, follow-ups will be essential to gauge longer-run outcomes.Social Security Administrationhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/87956/1/wp245.pd

Effects of COVID-19 pandemic on female sexuality: Scoping Review

Introducción: la presente revisión de alcance pretende aportar en el conocimiento sobre el impacto de la pandemia por COVID-19 en el ámbito sexual de las mujeres. Objetivo: conocer el efecto de la pandemia COVID-19 en la sexualidad de mujeres entre 18 y 30 años, explorando en las que se han sentido afectadas en el ámbito sexual. Materiales y métodos: se realizó una revisión de alcance con el fin de conocer el efecto de la pandemia COVID-19 en la sexualidad de mujeres entre los 18 y 30 años, utilizando para ello criterios de elegibilidad y palabras clave, empleando principalmente el operador booleano “AND”. La búsqueda se realizó en las bases de datos SciELO, Scopus y PUBMED. Resultados: se observaron cambios en la función y en la satisfacción sexual, dificultades en los orgasmos y aumento en el uso de juguetes sexuales y pornografía. Conclusiones: los estudios demuestran un deterioro en la sexualidad de las mujeres durante la pandemia, afectando la autopercepción personal y otros factores. Se sugiere asesoramiento profesional para poder mejorar la salud sexual femenina (afectada por el COVID-19 o en presencia de disfunción sexual).Introduction: this scoping review aims to contribute to the knowledge about the impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on woman's sexuality.Objectives: to know the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sexuality of women between the ages of 18 and 30, exploring the that have been negatively sexually affected. Methodology: a scoping review was carried out to know the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sexuality of women from 18 to 30 years old. Eligibility criteria and keywords were utilized using the Boolean operator "AND". The search was carried out in different databases: Scielo, Scopus, and PUBMED. Results: changes in sexual function, sexual satisfaction, orgasm problems, and increased utilization of sex toys, and pornography were observed. Conclusions: studies show a deterioration in women's sexuality during the pandemic, affecting personal self-perception and other factors. Professional counseling is suggested in order to improve female sexual health (related to COVID-19 or in the presence of sexual dysfunction)

Políticas públicas de salud en la prevalencia de la diabetes gestacional en chile (2002 - 2022)

Objective: to identify the scope of public health policies on obesity in the prevalence of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) in Chile, from 2002 to 2022. Methods: a narrative scoping review based on the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) protocol. A search for academic articles conducted in the Scielo, Pubmed, Science Direct, EBSCOHost and Cochrane databases. In addition, additional resources such as clinical guidelines and ministerial documents included. The inclusion, exclusion, and selection of all the above summarized in an abbreviated PRISMA model for scoping reviews. Results: there are six laws, four ministerial documents and two clinical guidelines related to GDM and excess malnutrition in the country. Only the policies derived from Exempt Resolution 1236 and Decree 22 directly include pregnant women. Conclusion: The public health policies analyzed focus on individual responsibility for managing excess malnutrition and type II diabetes. None of them consider pregnant women a vulnerable group that needs early intervention through collective actions, such as the optimization of preconception control.Objetivo: identificar el alcance de las políticas públicas de salud sobre obesidad en la prevalencia de la diabetes mellitus gestacional (DMG) en Chile, desde 2002 hasta 2022. Metodología: revisión de alcance narrativa basada en el protocolo del Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI). Se realizó una búsqueda de artículos académicos en las bases de datos Scielo, Pubmed, Science Direct, EBSCOHost y Cochrane. Además, se incluyeron recursos adicionales como guías clínicas y documentos ministeriales. La inclusión, exclusión y selección de todo lo anterior fue resumido en un modelo PRISMA abreviado para revisiones de alcance. Resultados: se encuentran seis legislaciones, cuatro documentos ministeriales y dos guías clínicas relacionadas con la DMG y la malnutrición por exceso en el país. Solo las políticas derivadas de la Resolución Exenta 1236 y del Decreto 22 incluyen en forma directa a las gestantes. Conclusión: las políticas públicas analizadas se enfocan en la responsabilidad individual para el manejo de la malnutrición por exceso y la DM tipo II. Ninguna en su formulación considera a las gestantes como un grupo vulnerable y necesario de intervenir de manera precoz a través de acciones colectivas, como la optimización del control preconcepcional

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Correction to: Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Current state of knowledge on freshwater planarians (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Dugesiidae) from Chile

The unique geography of Chile encompasses a wide diversity of ecosystems and a rich biodiversity. However, the platyhelminth fauna has been poorly studied. The aim of this work is to compile the historical record of freshwater planarians described for this country. We accessed worldwide databases and published articles to provide a comprehensive review of their discovery history, morphological characteristics and their localities. Freshwater planarians have been collected mainly in central and southern Chile, while in the northern region a single species has been described. The discovery of new species of freshwater triclads has the potential to reveal novel animal models to study regeneration and/or biological adaptations, as some species are suitable for culture in the laboratory. We discuss the many reasons why further research is needed for this animal group, which should include genomic and molecular genetic studies

Topsoil and subsoil bacterial community assemblies across different drainage conditions in a mountain environment

Abstract Background High mountainous environments are of particular interest as they play an essential role for life and human societies, while being environments which are highly vulnerable to climate change and land use intensification. Despite this, our knowledge of high mountain soils in South America and their microbial community structure is strikingly scarce, which is of more concern considering the large population that depends on the ecosystem services provided by these areas. Conversely, the Central Andes, located in the Mediterranean region of Chile, has long been studied for its singular flora, whose diversity and endemism has been attributed to the particular geological history and pronounced environmental gradients in short distances. Here, we explore soil properties and microbial community structure depending on drainage class in a well-preserved Andean valley on the lower alpine vegetation belt (~2500 m a.s.l.) at 33.5˚S. This presents an opportunity to determine changes in the overall bacterial community structure across different types of soils and their distinct layers in a soil depth profile of a highly heterogeneous environment. Methods Five sites closely located (<1.5 km) and distributed in a well preserved Andean valley on the lower alpine vegetation belt (~2500 m a.s.l.) at 33.5˚S were selected based on a pedological approach taking into account soil types, drainage classes and horizons. We analyzed 113 soil samples using high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene to describe bacterial abundance, taxonomic composition, and co-occurrence networks. Results Almost 18,427 Amplicon Sequence Variant (ASVs) affiliated to 55 phyla were detected. The bacterial community structure within the same horizons were very similar validating the pedological sampling approach. Bray-Curtis dissimilarity analysis revealed that the structure of bacterial communities in superficial horizons (topsoil) differed from those found in deep horizons (subsoil) in a site-specific manner. However, an overall closer relationship was observed between topsoil as opposed to between subsoil microbial communities. Alpha diversity of soil bacterial communities was higher in topsoil, which also showed more bacterial members interacting and with higher average connectivity compared to subsoils. Finally, abundances of specific taxa could be considered as biological markers in the transition from topsoil to subsoil horizons, like Fibrobacterota, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota for shallower soils and Chloroflexi, Latescibacterota and Nitrospirota for deeper soils. Conclusions The results indicate the importance of the soil drainage conditions for the bacterial community composition, suggesting that information of both structure and their possible ecological relationships, might be useful in clarifying the location of the edge of the topsoil-subsoil transition in mountainous environments