Economic Fluctuations, Child Mortality and Policy Considerations in the Least Developed Countries

Between 1990 and 2010 child mortality decreased in general terms in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), although the differences between countries over time are significant. This paper examines the relationship between short-term economic fluctuations and changes in child mortality in the LDCs during the period 1990-2010. Unlike other studies, we consider a large group of LDCs and provide empirical evidence of the asymmetrical effects of variations in Gross Domestic Product per capita on the evolution of child mortality rate in periods of economic recession and expansion. The significance of said effects diminishes when other relevant socio-economic control variables are considered, and some development policy considerations are addressed in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goal 4 target

Impacto del ciclo económico sobre la evolución de la supervivencia infantil en el mundo en desarrollo. Determinantes de la pobreza infantil en Europa

El presente trabajo se corresponde con dos investigaciones relacionadas con la infancia en situación de riesgo y vulnerabilidad. A) Examinamos la correspondencia entre las fluctuaciones económicas cíclicas y la evolución de la mortalidad infantil en los Países Menos Adelantados (PMA) durante el periodo 1990-2010, poniendo de manifiesto efectos asimétricos de las fluctuaciones económicas sobre la evolución de la mortalidad infantil en periodos de recesión y expansión económica. B) Valoramos en qué medida las diferencias en la tasa de pobreza infantil entre los países europeos pueden explicarse simultáneamente por características de los hogares (perspectiva micro) y por factores específicos de cada país (perspectiva macro), tales como prestaciones económicas en el ámbito de la protección a la infancia o situación socio-laboral general.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Impacto del ciclo económico sobre la evolución de la supervivencia infantil en los países menos adelantados

Entre 1990 y 2010 la mortalidad infantil ha decrecido en los Países Menos Adelantados (PMA) en términos generales, aunque con significativas diferencias entre países y entre periodos. Obviamente, dicha evolución se ha visto afectada por la situación económica de los países. Este trabajo examina la relación a corto plazo entre las fluctuaciones económicas y la evolución de la mortalidad infantil en los PMA durante el periodo 1990-2010. Para ello, realizamos un análisis de varianza discriminando entre periodos con crecimiento y decrecimiento en el Producto Interior Bruto (PIB) per cápita, que complementamos con un análisis de regresión para datos de panel con objeto de comprobar los efectos asimétricos de las variaciones del PIB per cápita sobre las tasas de mortalidad infantil en periodos de recesión y expansión económica. La significatividad de los efectos de los cambios en la coyuntura económica se reduce cuando consideramos variables control como el nivel educativo de las mujeres, la prevalencia del SIDA y la tasa bruta de natalidad.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Occurrence of the Oribatid Mite Trhypochthoniellus longisetus longisetus (Acari: Trhypochthoniidae) on Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

Mites as parasites infesting fish have been described in a few case reports involving Histiostoma anguillarum, H. papillata, and Schwiebea estradai. We describe the unexpected occurrence of oribatid mites of the genus Trhypochthoniellus on farmed tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. The fish had mites on the skin, fins, and gills, as well as in the mouth. The morphological characteristics of the mites, observed by optical and scanning electron microscopy, were consistent with those described for T. longisetus longisetus. All stages of development were observed, suggesting that the mites were able to actively reproduce on fis

Burden of multimorbidity, socioeconomic status and use of health services across stages of life in urban areas: a cross-sectional study

This is a freely-available open access publication. Please cite the published version which is available via the DOI link in this record.Background The burden of chronic conditions and multimorbidity is a growing health problem in developed countries. The study aimed to determine the estimated prevalence and patterns of multimorbidity in urban areas of Catalonia, stratified by sex and adult age groups, and to assess whether socioeconomic status and use of primary health care services were associated with multimorbidity. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Catalonia. Participants were adults (19+ years) living in urban areas, assigned to 251 primary care teams. Main outcome: multimorbidity (≥2 chronic conditions). Other variables: sex (male/female), age (19–24; 25–44; 45–64; 65–79; 80+ years), socioeconomic status (quintiles), number of health care visits during the study. Results We included 1,356,761 patients; mean age, 47.4 years (SD: 17.8), 51.0% women. Multimorbidity was present in 47.6% (95% CI 47.5-47.7) of the sample, increasing with age in both sexes but significantly higher in women (53.3%) than in men (41.7%). Prevalence of multimorbidity in each quintile of the deprivation index was higher in women than in men (except oldest group). In women, multimorbidity prevalence increased with quintile of the deprivation index. Overall, the median (interquartile range) number of primary care visits was 8 (4–14) in multimorbidity vs 1 (0–4) in non-multimorbidity patients. The most prevalent multimorbidity pattern beyond 45 years of age was uncomplicated hypertension and lipid disorder. Compared with the least deprived group, women in other quintiles of the deprivation index were more likely to have multimorbidity than men until 65 years of age. The odds of multimorbidity increased with number of visits in all strata. Conclusions When all chronic conditions were included in the analysis, almost 50% of the adult urban population had multimorbidity. The prevalence of multimorbidity differed by sex, age group and socioeconomic status. Multimorbidity patterns varied by life-stage and sex; however, circulatory-endocrine-metabolic patterns were the most prevalent multimorbidity pattern after 45 years of age. Women younger than 80 years had greater prevalence of multimorbidity than men, and women’s multimorbidity prevalence increased as socioeconomic status declined in all age groups. Identifying multimorbidity patterns associated with specific age-related life-stages allows health systems to prioritize and to adapt clinical management efforts by age group.Ministry of Science and Innovation through the Instituto Carlos III (ISCiii)ISCiii-RETICSISCiiiInstitut Universitari d’Investigació en Atenció Primària Jordi Gol (IDIAP Jordi Gol

Does the food ingredient pectin provide a risk for patients allergic to non-specific lipid-transfer proteins?

Pectin, a dietary fiber, is a polysaccharide that is widely used in food industry as a gelling agent. In addition, prebiotic and beneficial immunomodulatory effects of pectin have been demonstrated, leading to increased importance as food supplement. However, as cases of anaphylactic reactions after consumption of pectin-supplemented foods have been reported, the present study aims to evaluate the allergy risk of pectin. This is of particular importance since most of the pectin used in the food industry is extracted from citrus or apple pomace. Both contain several allergens such as non-specific lipid transfer proteins (nsLTPs), known to induce severe allergic reactions, which could impair the use of pectins in nsLTP allergic patients. Therefore, the present study for the first time was performed to analyze residual nsLTP content in two commercial pectins using different detection methods. Results showed the analytical sensitivity was diminished by the pectin structure. Finally, spiking of pectin with allergenic peach nsLTP Pru p 3 led to the conclusion that the potential residual allergen content in both pectins is below the threshold to induce anaphylactic reactions in nsLTP-allergic patients. This data suggests that consumption of the investigated commercial pectin products provides no risk for inducing severe reactions in nsLTP-allergic patients

Radiosurgery for liver metastases. A single institution experience

AimTo report our initial results on the use of radiosurgery for treatment of liver metastases.BackgroundIn recent years there has been increasing interest in the use of stereotactic body radiation therapy to treat metastatic disease to the liver as an alternative to interventional procedures.Materials and methodsBetween November 2008 and June 2015 a total of 36 LINAC-based radiosurgeries using VMAT were performed in 27 patients with liver metastases from 10 different primary sites. Doses ranged from 21[[ce:hsp sp="0.25"/]]Gy to 60[[ce:hsp sp="0.25"/]]Gy in 1 to 5 fractions. In all patients the volume of liver receiving less than 15[[ce:hsp sp="0.25"/]]Gy was more than 700[[ce:hsp sp="0.25"/]]cc. The volume treated with the prescription dose ranged from 1[[ce:hsp sp="0.25"/]]cc to 407[[ce:hsp sp="0.25"/]]cc with a median of 58[[ce:hsp sp="0.25"/]]cc. All patients but one received systemic treatment.ResultsOverall median survival for the entire group is 9 months (ranging from 1 to 67 months). Local recurrence free survival ranged from 4 to 67 months with a median of 14 months.Twenty patients (80%) survived more than six months. Three patients treated for oligometastases were alive after 3 years. Grade 0 toxicity was encountered in 22/27 patients, Grade 1 toxicity in 5/27 and only 1/27 patient experienced Grade 2 toxicity. No patient experienced grade 3–4 toxicity.ConclusionBased on these initial results we conclude that SBRT for treating liver metastases with radiosurgery is safe and effective for treating one or multiple lesions as long as normal tissue constraints for liver are respected

Applications of Direct Injection Soft Chemical Ionisation-Mass Spectrometry for the Detection of Pre-blast Smokeless Powder Organic Additives

Analysis of smokeless powders is of interest from forensics and security perspectives. This article reports the detection of smokeless powder organic additives (in their pre-detonation condition), namely the stabiliser diphenylamine and its derivatives 2-nitrodiphenylamine and 4-nitrodiphenylamine, and the additives (used both as stabilisers and plasticisers) methyl centralite and ethyl centralite, by means of swab sampling followed by thermal desorption and direct injection soft chemical ionisation-mass spectrometry. Investigations on the product ions resulting from the reactions of the reagent ions H3O+ and O2+ with additives as a function of reduced electric field are reported. The method was comprehensively evaluated in terms of linearity, sensitivity and precision. For H3O+, the limits of detection (LoD) are in the range of 41-88 pg of additive, for which the accuracy varied between 1.5 and 3.2%, precision varied between 3.7 and 7.3% and linearity showed R20.9991. For O2+, LoD are in the range of 72 to 1.4 ng, with an accuracy of between 2.8 and 4.9% and a precision between 4.5 and 8.6% and R20.9914. The validated methodology was applied to the analysis of commercial pre-blast gun powders from different manufacturers.(VLID)4826148Accepted versio