Aspectos sociodemográficos y laborales en el error asistencial de enfermería

Objetivo: Valorar cómo influyen las características personales y laborales de los profesionales de enfermería en el error asistencial en hospitalización. Método: Estudio descriptivo transversal realizado en 254 enfermeros de los hospitales públicos de Zaragoza, España. Se administró un cuestionario que contenía preguntas sobre los datos sociodemográficos y laborales del profesional y el error sanitario. Resultados: La muestra estuvo formada predominantemente por mujeres (un 88,6%) con una edad media de 37,4 años. El 45,2% tiene una experiencia profesional menor de 10 años, existiendo un alto índice de movilidad en el puesto de trabajo. Existe una asociación entre la edad, el sexo, la movilidad en el servicio hospitalario y el número de errores cometidos (p<0,05). La sobrecarga laboral y la presión por parte de familiares y pacientes son los factores del entorno laboral que más influyen en el momento de cometer un error asistencial. Conclusiones: Las tasas de error en la práctica enfermera hospitalaria están influenciadas por las características del trabajador y el entorno laboral. Para disminuir su frecuencia habrá que proporcionar a los profesionales la formación adecuada al servicio y prevenir los factores de riesgo modificables como el exceso de cargas de trabajo y la presión del entorno social laboral. Objective: To assess the influence of nurses personal characteristics and hospital work environment in error of nurses Method: Cross-sectional study performed on 254 nurses in public hospitals in Zaragoza, Spain. A questionnaire containing questions about socio-demographic, occupational data and nursing error, were administered. Results: The sample consisted predominantly of women (88.6%) with a mean age of 37.4 years. A total of 45.2% have less than 10 years of professional experience, having a high rate of mobility in the workplace. There is an association between age, sex, mobility in the hospital service and the number of errors (p <0.05). The overload and pressure from relatives and patients are the work environment factors with more influence at the time of committing an error in healthcare. Conclusions: Error rates in hospital nursing practice are influenced by the characteristics of the worker and the workplace. To decrease its frequency should be providing adequate training professional to the service and prevent modifiable risk factors such as excessive workloads and work pressure social environment

Environmental factors related to fungal infection and fumonisin accumulation during the development and drying of white maize kernels

In Southern Europe where whole maize kernels are ground and used for making bread and other food products, infection of the kernels by Fusarium verticillioides and subsequent fumonisin contamination pose a serious safety issue. The influence of environmental factors on this fungal infection and mycotoxin accumulation as the kernel develops has not been fully determined, especially in such food grade maize. The objectives of the present study were to determine which environmental factors may contribute to kernel invasion by F. verticillioides and fumonisin accumulation as kernels develop and dry in naturally infected white maize. Three maize hybrids were planted at two different sowing dates and kernel samples were collected 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100. days after silking. The percentage of kernels infected, and ergosterol and fumonisin contents were recorded for each sampling. F. verticillioides was the most prevalent species identified as the kernels developed. Temperature and moisture conditions during the first 80. days after silking favored natural kernel infection by F. verticillioides rather than by Aspergillus or Penicillium species. Fumonisin was found in kernels as early as 20. days after silking however significant fumonisin accumulation above levels acceptable in the EU did not occur until after physiological maturity of the kernel indicating that kernel drying in the field poses a high risk. Our results suggest that this could be due to increasing kernel damage by insects that favor fungal development, such as the damage by the moth Sitotroga cerealella, and to the occurrence of stress conditions for F. verticillioides growth that could trigger fumonisin biosynthesis, such as exposure to suboptimal temperatures for growth simultaneously with low water activity. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.MICINNSpanish Council of ResearchAutonomous Government of GaliciaEuropean Social FundThis research was supported by the National Plan for Research and Development of Spain (AGL2009-12770). A. Cao acknowledges funding from the JAE Program of the Spanish Council of Research. R. Santiago acknowledges postdoctoral contract “Isidro Parga Pondal” supported by the Autonomous Government of Galicia and the European Social Fund.Peer Reviewe

Inflammatory mediators and immune response in Mexican adolescents

Introduction: Low-grade inflammation and increased immunity related to cardiovascular diseases have been described in children and adults, however, studies in Mexican adolescents are being done at present. Objective: To evaluate inflammatory proteins and indicators of immunity in adolescents by gender and body mass index. Material and methods: 115 Mexican adolescents, 15-18 years old (36 men), were divided into non-overweight, risk of overweight and overweight by CDC pediatric criteria by body mass index. Serum concentrations of ceruloplasmin, C3 and C4 were quantified by nephelometry; IL-6 and TNF-α from stimulated supernatant were analyzed with Human Th1-Th2 cytokine CBA II kit (BD Biosciences Pharmigen, San Diego, CA), and detected by flow cytometry. Data were analysed by Mann-Whitney U. Results: Gender differences were found in C3 (men: median 118.8, mean rank: 41.0; women: median: 143.9, mean rank: 65.7, p = 0.001) and ceruloplasmin (men: median: 31.01, mean rank: 47.06; women: median: 31.0, mean rank: 62.9, p = 0.015). Differences by BMI were found in C3 (women non-overweight: median: 137.00 mena rank: 36.52; women with risk of overweight/overweight: median: 175.80, mean rank: 57.69, p = 0.002) and C4 (men non-overweight: median: 23.40, mean rank: 16.60; men with risk of overweight/overweight: median: 26.40, mean rank: 26.36, p = 0.028; women non-overweight: median: 24.25, mean rank: 37.16 and women with risk of overweight/overweight: median: 32.80, mean rank: 54.42, p = 0.013). Conclusion: Inflammatory proteins are increased in adolescents with risk of overweight and overweight, particularly in women

N- and S-doped carbons derived from polyacrylonitrile for gases separation

The CO2 capture using adsorption can reduce the carbon footprint, increasing the sustainability of the process without the production of wastes present in commonly used industrial operations. The present research work analyses the effect of the doping-agents incorporation in carbon materials upon adsorption and separation of gases, specifically for carbon dioxide and nitrogen. The carbons precursor was polyacrylonitrile (PAN), which enabled the incorporation of nitrogen atoms in the structure, whereas sulphur doping was reached using pure sulphur after the carbonisation step. The influence of several variables (such as temperature or pressure) and characteristics of synthesised materials (mainly corresponding to surface characteristics) on carbon dioxide separation has been evaluated. Adsorption isotherms were determined for each gas (CO2 and N2) at different temperatures and pressures. Different adsorption models were evaluated to fit the experimental data. In general, the Toth isotherm described better the adsorption for both gases. Important parameters such as CO2/N2 selectivity and heat of adsorption were determined using the IAS theory and the experimental isotherms at different temperatures, respectively. Non-activated carbons generated from PAN carbonisation without sulphur addition showed the highest values of selectivity (up to 400) and adsorption heat (up to 40 kJ mol−1), mainly at low pressures and at low carbon dioxide uptakes, respectively. Furthermore, thanks to their high adsorption capacity, these carbons can be applied for carbon dioxide separation from mixtures with nitrogen