22 research outputs found
Efficacy of Albumin Treatment for Patients with Cirrhosis and Infections Unrelated to Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis
Full text linkBackground & aims: We performed a randomized trial to determine whether albumin should be administered to patients with infections unrelated to spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP). Methods: We performed a multicenter, open-label trial in which 118 patients with cirrhosis, non-SBP infections, and additional risk factors for poor outcome were randomly assigned to receive antibiotics plus albumin (study group; n = 61) or antibiotics alone (control group; n = 57). The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality; secondary outcomes were effect of albumin on disease course. Results: There were no significant differences at baseline between groups in results from standard laboratory tests, serum markers of inflammation, circulatory dysfunction, or liver severity scores. However, the combined prevalence of acute on chronic liver failure (ACLF) and kidney dysfunction was significantly higher in the study group (44.3% vs 24.6% in the control group; P = .02), indicating greater baseline overall severity. There was no significant difference in the primary outcome between groups (13.1% in the study group vs 10.5% in the control group; P = .66). Circulatory and renal functions improved in only the study group. A significantly higher proportion of patients in the study group had resolution of ACLF (82.3% vs 33.3% in the control group; P = .03). A significantly lower proportion of patients in the study group developed nosocomial infections (6.6% vs 24.6% in the control group; P = .007). Conclusions: In a randomized trial of patients with advanced cirrhosis and non-SBP infections, in-hospital mortality was similar between those who received albumin plus antibiotics vs those who received only antibiotics (controls). However, patients given albumin were sicker at baseline and, during the follow-up period, a higher proportion had ACLF resolution and a lower proportion had nosocomial infections. ClinicalTrials.gov no: NCT02034279
Effects of Albumin Treatment on Systemic and Portal Hemodynamics and Systemic Inflammation in Patients With Decompensated Cirrhosis
Get PDFBACKGROUND & AIMS: We investigated the effect of albumin treatment (20% solution) on hypoalbuminemia, cardiocirculatory dysfunction, portal hypertension, and systemic inflammation in patients with decompensated cirrhosis with and without bacterial infections. METHODS: We performed a prospective study to assess the effects of long-term (12 weeks) treatment with low doses (1 g/kg body weight every 2 weeks) and high doses (1.5 g/kg every week) of albumin on serum albumin, plasma renin, cardiocirculatory function, portal pressure, and plasma levels of cytokines, collecting data from 18 patients without bacterial infections (the Pilot-PRECIOSA study). We also assessed the effect of short-term (1 week) treatment with antibiotics alone vs the combination of albumin plus antibiotics (1.5 g/kg on day 1 and 1 g/kg on day 3) on plasma levels of cytokines in biobanked samples from 78 patients with bacterial infections included in a randomized controlled trial (INFECIR-2 study). RESULTS: Circulatory dysfunction and systemic inflammation were extremely unstable in many patients included in the Pilot-PRECIOSA study; these patients had intense and reversible peaks in plasma levels of renin and interleukin 6. Long-term high-dose albumin, but not low-dose albumin, was associated with normalization of serum level of albumin, improved stability of the circulation and left ventricular function, and reduced plasma levels of cytokines (interleukin 6, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, interleukin 1 receptor antagonist, and vascular endothelial growth factor) without significant changes in portal pressure. The immune-modulatory effects of albumin observed in the Pilot-PRECIOSA study were confirmed in the INFECIR-2 study. In this study, patients given albumin had significant reductions in plasma levels of cytokines. CONCLUSIONS: In an analysis of data from 2 trials (Pilot-PRECIOSA study and INFECIR-2 study), we found that albumin treatment reduced systemic inflammation and cardiocirculatory dysfunction in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. These effects might be responsible for the beneficial effects of albumin therapy on outcomes of patients with decompensated cirrhosis. ClinicalTrials.gov, Numbers: NCT00968695 and NCT03451292
Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world
Get PDFObjectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality.
Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States.
Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis.
Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection
La capacidad innovadora de las pymes peruanas en el universo del APEC
Get PDFLa globalización, las reformas estructurales y los procesos de apertura e integración han aumentado las presiones competitivas que deben enfrentar las unidades económicas, en especial las de menor tamaño relativo. Dado que la experiencia internacional muestra que existe una estrecha relación entre la capacidad exportadora y el desarrollo de actividades innovadoras en las empresas, es relevante investigar el grado de avance de las actividades innovadoras en las pymes, con el fin de evaluar su impacto en la competitividad y en la consecuente capacidad exportadora de estas empresas dentro del universo de la Cooperación Económica Asia Pacífico (APEC). El objetivo de este trabajo es elaborar un Índice de Capacidad Innovativa (ICI) que permita establecer el grado de búsqueda de eficiencia y de nuevos mercados, elementos que pueden determinar el potencial exportador y el nivel de utilidades de las pymes. Además, se evalúa la incidencia de los servicios de desarrollo empresarial sobre el nivel de utilidades y de producción
Can Reminders Promote Regular Pro-Environmental Behavior? Experimental Evidence from Peru
Full text linkTackling environmental pollution requires a permanent change in regular, repeated behavior of households. Bringing about change in such behavior may require interventions that are not limited to a single point in time, yet little evidence exists on how frequently we need to target households to initiate behavioral change and to form new habits in regular pro-environmental behavior. To fill this gap, we investigate the impact of mobile text reminders on households' recycling behavior in urban Peru, by randomly varying the frequency of reminders over a nine-week treatment period. We find that reminders increase both the likelihood that households start to recycle, and the frequency of recycling among households that already recycled before the intervention. The effects are stronger if reminders are repeated over a longer period. Our findings suggest that low-cost mobile text reminders can support repeated pro-environmental behavior, and that some repetition may be needed to maximize their effectiveness
Métodos y mediciones
No full textActitud y conducta hacia la salud oral en estudiantes de la comuna de AraucoAnálisis de instrumentos de registro odontológicos en la red de APS de la Región MetropolitanaAnálisis de la eficiencia relativa del Hospital de Cabildo mediante la aplicación del análisis de fronteraAnálisis de letalidad intrahospitalaria y acumulada a 30 días de eventos IAM, 2003-2007Análisis del programa de cáncer cervicouterino en Chile con metodología de marco lógicoAños de vida perdidos por muerte prematura: efecto de diferentes criterios de corrección de subregistrosCalidad global de la alimentación de mujeres asistidas por el sistema de salud público chilenoCarga de mortalidad para el estado de Río de Janeiro, BrasilCausas de extracciones permanentes en adultos atendidos en la Posta Central, ChileComparación del consumo de drogas en escolares hombres utilizando metodología de pares y cuestionario autoregistradoCuidado hospitalario de pacientes con accidente cerebrovascular isquémico atendidos bajo régimen GESDescripción de dimensiones del constructo de calidad de vida en niños de 2-5 añosDistribución de benzodiacepinas en establecimientos del SNSS, período 2006-2008Evaluación de calidad, implementación del control odontológico del niño sano en CAP'S, Región del MauleEvaluación de la satisfacción del usuario interno de la Unidad de Cuidados Básicos del Hospital MetropolitanoEvaluación del protocolo de referencia de cefalea tensional y migraña en consultorio Llay-LlayEvaluación económica del Programa de Fluoración del Agua en ChileFactores de riesgo de enfermedad hipertensiva del embarazo en la UCI del H.G EcatepecImpacto de reforma sanitaria en autorizaciones sanitarias y de desempeño en instalaciones de radiodiagnóstico dentalInstitucionalidad de la investigación en salud pública en ChileLetalidad intrahospitalaria y a 30 días de los eventos de accidente cerebrovascular isquémico en ChileLimitaciones y desafíos de la investigación en salud pública en ChileMejora de agudeza visual y utilización cirugía de segundo ojo en pacientes con cataratas GESMortalidad infantil en la Región Metropolitana II del Estado de Río de Janeiro, 1981-2008Mortalidad por cáncer de tiroides en Chile en el período 1985-2007Mortalidad por tumores cerebrales en población infantil y adolescente, ciudad Río de Janeiro, 1980-2007Mortalidad por tumores del sistema nervioso central en adultos, Río de Janeiro, 1980 a 2007Prevalencia de anemia ferropriva en una muestra representativa de beneficiarios del PNACPrevalencia de caries y fluorosis previo a la fluoruración del agua potable en TemucoPrevalencia de traumatismos dentoalveolares en niños del Hospital Dr. Sótero del Río, enero-junio 2010Propuesta de un indicador de la calidad para los centros de salud familiarSalud pública y la emergencia del dispositivo clínico en la modernidad nacionalSatisfacción de funcionalidad familiar en adolescentes entre 12 y 18 años consumidores de drogasValidación cualitativa del cuestionario ASAQ para la determinación de la conducta sedentaria en escolare
Métodos y mediciones
Get PDFActitud y conducta hacia la salud oral en estudiantes de la comuna de AraucoAnálisis de instrumentos de registro odontológicos en la red de APS de la Región MetropolitanaAnálisis de la eficiencia relativa del Hospital de Cabildo mediante la aplicación del análisis de fronteraAnálisis de letalidad intrahospitalaria y acumulada a 30 días de eventos IAM, 2003-2007Análisis del programa de cáncer cervicouterino en Chile con metodología de marco lógicoAños de vida perdidos por muerte prematura: efecto de diferentes criterios de corrección de subregistrosCalidad global de la alimentación de mujeres asistidas por el sistema de salud público chilenoCarga de mortalidad para el estado de Río de Janeiro, BrasilCausas de extracciones permanentes en adultos atendidos en la Posta Central, ChileComparación del consumo de drogas en escolares hombres utilizando metodología de pares y cuestionario autoregistradoCuidado hospitalario de pacientes con accidente cerebrovascular isquémico atendidos bajo régimen GESDescripción de dimensiones del constructo de calidad de vida en niños de 2-5 añosDistribución de benzodiacepinas en establecimientos del SNSS, período 2006-2008Evaluación de calidad, implementación del control odontológico del niño sano en CAP'S, Región del MauleEvaluación de la satisfacción del usuario interno de la Unidad de Cuidados Básicos del Hospital MetropolitanoEvaluación del protocolo de referencia de cefalea tensional y migraña en consultorio Llay-LlayEvaluación económica del Programa de Fluoración del Agua en ChileFactores de riesgo de enfermedad hipertensiva del embarazo en la UCI del H.G EcatepecImpacto de reforma sanitaria en autorizaciones sanitarias y de desempeño en instalaciones de radiodiagnóstico dentalInstitucionalidad de la investigación en salud pública en ChileLetalidad intrahospitalaria y a 30 días de los eventos de accidente cerebrovascular isquémico en ChileLimitaciones y desafíos de la investigación en salud pública en ChileMejora de agudeza visual y utilización cirugía de segundo ojo en pacientes con cataratas GESMortalidad infantil en la Región Metropolitana II del Estado de Río de Janeiro, 1981-2008Mortalidad por cáncer de tiroides en Chile en el período 1985-2007Mortalidad por tumores cerebrales en población infantil y adolescente, ciudad Río de Janeiro, 1980-2007Mortalidad por tumores del sistema nervioso central en adultos, Río de Janeiro, 1980 a 2007Prevalencia de anemia ferropriva en una muestra representativa de beneficiarios del PNACPrevalencia de caries y fluorosis previo a la fluoruración del agua potable en TemucoPrevalencia de traumatismos dentoalveolares en niños del Hospital Dr. Sótero del Río, enero-junio 2010Propuesta de un indicador de la calidad para los centros de salud familiarSalud pública y la emergencia del dispositivo clínico en la modernidad nacionalSatisfacción de funcionalidad familiar en adolescentes entre 12 y 18 años consumidores de drogasValidación cualitativa del cuestionario ASAQ para la determinación de la conducta sedentaria en escolare
Reduction of cardiac imaging tests during the COVID-19 pandemic: The case of Italy. Findings from the IAEA Non-invasive Cardiology Protocol Survey on COVID-19 (INCAPS COVID)
No full textBackground: In early 2020, COVID-19 massively hit Italy, earlier and harder than any other European country. This caused a series of strict containment measures, aimed at blocking the spread of the pandemic. Healthcare delivery was also affected when resources were diverted towards care of COVID-19 patients, including intensive care wards. Aim of the study: The aim is assessing the impact of COVID-19 on cardiac imaging in Italy, compare to the Rest of Europe (RoE) and the World (RoW). Methods: A global survey was conducted in May–June 2020 worldwide, through a questionnaire distributed online. The survey covered three periods: March and April 2020, and March 2019. Data from 52 Italian centres, a subset of the 909 participating centres from 108 countries, were analyzed. Results: In Italy, volumes decreased by 67% in March 2020, compared to March 2019, as opposed to a significantly lower decrease (p < 0.001) in RoE and RoW (41% and 40%, respectively). A further decrease from March 2020 to April 2020 summed up to 76% for the North, 77% for the Centre and 86% for the South. When compared to the RoE and RoW, this further decrease from March 2020 to April 2020 in Italy was significantly less (p = 0.005), most likely reflecting the earlier effects of the containment measures in Italy, taken earlier than anywhere else in the West. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic massively hit Italy and caused a disruption of healthcare services, including cardiac imaging studies. This raises concern about the medium- and long-term consequences for the high number of patients who were denied timely diagnoses and the subsequent lifesaving therapies and procedures
