Programa nacional de mejora y conservación de los recursos genéticos de la encina y el alcornoque frente a la seca

Como respuesta a la gravedad de los procesos de decaimiento y mortalidad de la encina y el alcornoque, que amenazan la sostenibilidad de sus masas en la Península Ibérica, en el año 2019 se constituyó el subgrupo de trabajo “Mejora genética y fisiológica”, que forma parte del grupo de trabajo “Seca”, coordinado por el MITECO. Este subgrupo incluye a científicos y técnicos de varias administraciones y numerosos centros de investigación y Universidades y una empresa pública, expertos en mejora genética, fitopatología, ecología, propagación vegetativa, bioquímica y biología molecular. El programa tiene como objetivo la selección de genotipos de Quercus ilex y Q. suber tolerantes al estrés hídrico y a la podredumbre radical provocada por Phytophthora cinnamomi. A partir del estudio de 18 poblaciones y de 194 árboles “escape” seleccionados en focos de seca, se espera seleccionar un material apto para restaurar zonas afectadas por problemas de decaimiento. Se presenta una síntesis de las primeras actividades de caracterización e identificación de árboles escape en focos de seca, ensayos de invernadero para el estudio de la variabilidad poblacional en cuanto a vigor y tolerancia al estrés, recogida de muestras vegetales y edáficas para el análisis genético, molecular y de microbioma, identificación de marcadores moleculares asociados a resiliencia y micropropagación del material de mayor valor potencial

A Descriptive Study on the Factors Affecting the Length of Stay in the Emergency Department of a Tertiary Private Hospital in the Philippines

Objective. The study aims to describe factors that contribute to the Length of Stay (LOS) in the Emergency Department (ED) patients of a Tertiary Private Hospital in Philippines. Methods. This is a retrospective descriptive study from September 1, 2015 to March 31, 2016 on the factors of ED consultations specifically on demographics (age and sex), payment schemes (Out of Pocket (OOP) and third party payer), shift times (morning, afternoon and night) and triage-levels were associated with LOS. Results. Our ED consultations with age (mean 40.75 years, SD 16.8, N 20,687, range 95) were dominated by females (56%), two age-range, 21-30 (28.4%) & 31-40 and third party payer (57%). LOS (mean of 4,40 hours, SD 3,89, N 18540, range 68) was significantly higher (p\u3c0.001) on OOP patients, older age-range; 71-80, (3.5%) and 81-90, (2.3%). Emergent cases had higher incidence (X2= 30.2, p\u3c0.001) on morning shift, urgent cases on afternoon shift and trauma cases on evening shift. Non-urgent cases were consistent on all time frames. LOS was significantly higher (X2=p\u3c0.001) on urgent and emergent cases and on morning and afternoon shifts and significantly lowest, (p\u3c0.001) on night shifts. Conclusion. Higher LOS was associated on the following: urgent and emergent triage- levels, older age range, OOP, and morning and afternoon shifts

Factors Affecting 72-Hour Unplanned Return Visits after Emergency Department Index Discharge of a Tertiary Private Hospital in the Philippines

Objectives. This study aimed to analyze if the indicator 72-hours Unplanned Return Visits after Emergency Department (ED) index discharge was influenced by the patient’s age, triage severity, month, payment methods, and length of stay. Likewise, it aimed to determine if the 72-hour Unplanned Return Visits was a robust indicator in assessing the quality of Emergency Department services. Methods. This was a retrospective single-center study from January to December 2017. Data were retrievedfrom a tertiary hospital in the Philippines. All Emergency Department patients discharged on their index visit were monitored for Unplanned Return Visits within 72 hours in the hospital. A univariate and multivariate logistic regression model was used to assess the variables associated with the 72-hour Unplanned Return Visits. Results. The 72-hour Unplanned Return Visits rate was measured at 2.67%, with the highest occurrence on the first 24 hours, and with predominance on third-party payer (p.\u3c.0001), pediatrics (p.\u3c0001), January (p\u3c.0001), February (p\u3c.0001), November (p\u3c.0001), December (p\u3c0001), and shorter length of stay (p\u3c.0001) discharged after ED index visit. Conclusions. Strong association of Unplanned Return Visits during the first 72 hours after Emergency Department index discharge was found for patients financed through third party-payers, with seasonal variations and inclination to the younger population with shorter length of stay. These findings warrant exploratory studies to determine the reasons for the 72-hour Unplanned Return Visits after Emergency Department index discharge and investigation on the association of premature discharge, socio-economic, health structure, and illness progression

Occupational health impact of the 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic: Surveillance of sickness absence

Objectives: Workplace absences due to illness can disrupt usual operations and increase costs for businesses. This study of sickness absence due to influenza and influenza-related illness presents a unique opportunity to characterise and measure the impact of the 2009 (H1N1) pandemic, by comparing trends during the pandemic to those of previous years, and adding this information to that obtained by traditional epidemiological surveillance systems. Methods: We compared the numbers of cases of sickness absence due to illness caused by influenza and influenza-related illness in 2007-2009, and in the first 3 months of 2010 in Catalonia (n=811 940) using a time series approach. Trends were examined by economic activity, age and gender. The weekly endemic-epidemic index (EEI) was calculated and its 95% CI obtained with the delta method, with observed and expected cases considered as independent random variables. Results: Influenza activity peaked earlier in 2009 and yielded more cases than in previous years. Week 46 (in November 2009) had the highest number of new cases resulting in sickness absence (EEI 20.99; 95% CI 9.44 to 46.69). Women and the 'education, health and other social activities' sector were the most affected. Conclusions: Results indicate that the new H1N1 pandemic had a significant impact on business, with shifts in the timing of peak incidence, a doubling in the number of cases, and changes in the distribution of cases by economic activity sector and gender. Traditional epidemiological surveillance systems could benefit from the addition of information based on sickness absence data.Peer Reviewe