Evaluating Wikipedia as a source of information for disease understanding

The increasing availability of biological data is improving our understanding of diseases and providing new insight into their underlying relationships. Thanks to the improvements on both text mining techniques and computational capacity, the combination of biological data with semantic information obtained from medical publications has proven to be a very promising path. However, the limitations in the access to these data and their lack of structure pose challenges to this approach. In this document we propose the use of Wikipedia - the free online encyclopedia - as a source of accessible textual information for disease understanding research. To check its validity, we compare its performance in the determination of relationships between diseases with that of PubMed, one of the most consulted data sources of medical texts. The obtained results suggest that the information extracted from Wikipedia is as relevant as that obtained from PubMed abstracts (i.e. the free access portion of its articles), although further research is proposed to verify its reliability for medical studies.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, 5 tables, published at IEEE CBMS 2018, 2018 IEEE 31st International Symposium on Computer-Based Medical Systems (CBMS

Propiedades insecticidas del polvo de Laurelia sempervirens L. para el control de Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Sitophilus zeamais is a key pest of stored cereals. The insecticidal properties of Laurelia semper v irens powder against S. zeamais were assessed in laboratory. The variable evaluated were morta lity of adult insects by contact and fumigant toxicity, mortality of immature insects by contact toxicity, residual effect of powder stored under environmental or refrigerated conditions, adult insect em ergence (F1), repellency and weight reduction and ger mination of maize. The concentrations evaluated were 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0% and the experimental design was completely randomly. In contact toxicity bioassay all treatments showed mortality over 90% while fumi gant activity did not exceed 40%. The F1 only was registered in treatment of 0.25% and control showing all other treatments 0%. In immature control bioassay all treatments exhibited statistical differences with control. The storage of powder under refrigerated cond itions not improved the resid ual effect. All concentrations of powder assessed showed repellence. Germination and grain weight loss of maize seeds not showed significant differences with control. We concluded that L. sempervirens has promissory perspectives to stored grain pests contr ol

Thiamethoxam in Papaya (Carica papaya Linnaeus) Agroecosystems

Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is a profitable fruit of economic and food importance in Mexico and Central America. Veracruz is the state in Mexico with the highest cultivable area, eventhough its production presents numerous phytosanitary problems, which are being faced with the use of the pesticide thiamethoxam. The aim of this study was to make a diagnosis of the use and management of thiamethoxam in papaya agroecosystems in the municipality of Cotaxtla, Veracruz. Two surveys were applied, one to a 30% of the total number of producers organized by an association dedicated to papaya culture, and the other survey was through key informants, both surveys were designed using the snowball sampling, a non-probability sampling technique. The results indicate that 6% of papaya producers use mainly the pesticide thiamethoxam, which belongs to the chemical group of neonicotinoids. It was found out that for five years there have been records of thiamethoxam use in vertisoils. During the cycle of papaya cultivation the producers use a maximum dose of 3 L/ha and a minimum dose of 250 ml/ha per crop cycle. One hundred per cent of those who apply thiamethoxam are not aware of its use and efficient management, nor of the damage they are doing or have caused to agroecosystems

Effective Synthesis Procedure Based on Microwave Heating of the PdCo Aerogel Electrocatalyst for Its Use in Microfluidic Devices

Unsupported PdCo aerogels were successfully synthesized by means of microwave heating. The use of this heating methodology provides some advantages compared to conventional heating in terms of saving synthesis time and improved physicochemical properties (i.e., greater surface area and mesoporosity). The combination of palladium with cobalt reduces the dependence of the noble metal and increases the electrocatalytic performance in the ethanol oxidation reaction due to a higher percentage of Pd0 in the PdCo aerogel, confirmed using the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) technique. For the application in energy conversion electrochemical systems, the catalytic activity of aerogels was evaluated in a microfluidic fuel cell that uses ethanol as fuel, where the PdCo aerogel synthesized by microwave heating exhibited great performance with 330 mA cm-2 current density, tripling the value of the palladium-based aerogel.The authors thank Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencias y Tecnologías (CONAHCYT) for funding through the Ciencia de Frontera 2020-845132.Peer reviewe

The Global Alliance for Infections in Surgery : defining a model for antimicrobial stewardship-results from an international cross-sectional survey

Background: Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs (ASPs) have been promoted to optimize antimicrobial usage and patient outcomes, and to reduce the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant organisms. However, the best strategies for an ASP are not definitively established and are likely to vary based on local culture, policy, and routine clinical practice, and probably limited resources in middle-income countries. The aim of this study is to evaluate structures and resources of antimicrobial stewardship teams (ASTs) in surgical departments from different regions of the world. Methods: A cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted in 2016 on 173 physicians who participated in the AGORA (Antimicrobials: A Global Alliance for Optimizing their Rational Use in Intra-Abdominal Infections) project and on 658 international experts in the fields of ASPs, infection control, and infections in surgery. Results: The response rate was 19.4%. One hundred fifty-six (98.7%) participants stated their hospital had a multidisciplinary AST. The median number of physicians working inside the team was five [interquartile range 4-6]. An infectious disease specialist, a microbiologist and an infection control specialist were, respectively, present in 80.1, 76.3, and 67.9% of the ASTs. A surgeon was a component in 59.0% of cases and was significantly more likely to be present in university hospitals (89.5%, p <0.05) compared to community teaching (83.3%) and community hospitals (66.7%). Protocols for pre-operative prophylaxis and for antimicrobial treatment of surgical infections were respectively implemented in 96.2 and 82.3% of the hospitals. The majority of the surgical departments implemented both persuasive and restrictive interventions (72.8%). The most common types of interventions in surgical departments were dissemination of educational materials (62.5%), expert approval (61.0%), audit and feedback (55.1%), educational outreach (53.7%), and compulsory order forms (51.5%). Conclusion: The survey showed a heterogeneous organization of ASPs worldwide, demonstrating the necessity of a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach in the battle against antimicrobial resistance in surgical infections, and the importance of educational efforts towards this goal.Peer reviewe

Effects of hospital facilities on patient outcomes after cancer surgery: an international, prospective, observational study

Background Early death after cancer surgery is higher in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared with in high-income countries, yet the impact of facility characteristics on early postoperative outcomes is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the association between hospital infrastructure, resource availability, and processes on early outcomes after cancer surgery worldwide.Methods A multimethods analysis was performed as part of the GlobalSurg 3 study-a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study of patients who had surgery for breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer. The primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and 30-day major complication rates. Potentially beneficial hospital facilities were identified by variable selection to select those associated with 30-day mortality. Adjusted outcomes were determined using generalised estimating equations to account for patient characteristics and country-income group, with population stratification by hospital.Findings Between April 1, 2018, and April 23, 2019, facility-level data were collected for 9685 patients across 238 hospitals in 66 countries (91 hospitals in 20 high-income countries; 57 hospitals in 19 upper-middle-income countries; and 90 hospitals in 27 low-income to lower-middle-income countries). The availability of five hospital facilities was inversely associated with mortality: ultrasound, CT scanner, critical care unit, opioid analgesia, and oncologist. After adjustment for case-mix and country income group, hospitals with three or fewer of these facilities (62 hospitals, 1294 patients) had higher mortality compared with those with four or five (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3.85 [95% CI 2.58-5.75]; p&lt;0.0001), with excess mortality predominantly explained by a limited capacity to rescue following the development of major complications (63.0% vs 82.7%; OR 0.35 [0.23-0.53]; p&lt;0.0001). Across LMICs, improvements in hospital facilities would prevent one to three deaths for every 100 patients undergoing surgery for cancer.Interpretation Hospitals with higher levels of infrastructure and resources have better outcomes after cancer surgery, independent of country income. Without urgent strengthening of hospital infrastructure and resources, the reductions in cancer-associated mortality associated with improved access will not be realised

Nurses' perceptions of aids and obstacles to the provision of optimal end of life care in ICU

Contains fulltext : 172380.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access

Control de sitophilus zeamais motschulsky con trece aceites de origen vegetal y mineral

Maize weevil (SitophiluszeamaisMotschulsky) is a primary pest of stored grains Control is usually carried out with synthetic insecticides but problems such as residues in food and development of resistance have made it necessary to search for new control alternatives. Thirteen oils were evaluated in concentrations of 0.5; 1 and 2% (volume / weight) (v / w). The variables evaluated in adult control were mortality and emergence of adult insects, and weight loss and seed germination, while in the control of immature stages the emergence of adult insects (F1) and weight loss of the grain were evaluated. Each treatment had five replicates and the experimental design was completely randomized. The highest mortality was obtained with almond (Prunusamygdalus L), marigold (Helianthusannuus L), walnut (Juglans regia L.) and soybean (Glycinemax L.) at 1 and 2% (v / p) with 100% insects Dead The lowest F1 was observed in treatments with grape seed oil (Vitisvinifera L.), sesame (Sesamumindicum L.) and wonder at 1 and 2% with 0%. In the control of immature states the lowest F1 was recorded with mineral oil at 2% (v / w) with a 14% emergence of adult insects. The oils of European hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.), pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.), maize (Zea mays L.), peanut (Arachishypogaea L), marigold, grape seed, castor bean, sesame, Minerals did not significantly affect maize germination. It was concluded that vegetable oils and minerals have potential for the control of S. zeamais.El gorgojo del maíz (SitophiluszeamaisMotschulsky) es una plaga primaria de los granos almacenados El control normalmente se realiza con insecticidas sintéticos pero problemas como residuos en los alimentos y desarrollo de resistencia han hecho necesaria la búsqueda de nuevas alternativas de control. Se evaluaron trece aceites en concentraciones de 0,5; 1 y 2% (volumen/peso) (v/p). Las variables evaluadas en el control de adultos fueron mortalidad y emergencia de insectos adultos, y pérdida de peso y germinación de semillas, mientras que en el control de estados inmaduros se evaluó la emergencia de insectos adultos (F1) y pérdida de peso del grano. Cada tratamiento tuvo cinco repeticiones y el diseño experimental fue completamente al azar. La mayor mortalidad se obtuvo con los aceites de almendra (Prunusamygdalus L), maravilla (Helianthusannuus L), nuez (Juglans regia L.) y soya (Glycinemax L.) al 1 y 2% (v/p) con 100% de insectos muertos. La menor F1 se observó en los tratamientos con aceite de pepita de uva (Vitisvinifera L.), sésamo (Sesamumindicum L.) y maravilla al 1 y 2% con 0%. En el control de estados inmaduros la menor F1 se registró con aceite mineral al 2% (v/p) con un 14% de emergencia de insectos adultos. Los aceites de avellana europea (Corylus avellana L.), calabaza (Cucurbita pepoL.), maíz (Zea mays L.), maní (Arachishypogaea L), maravilla, pepita de uva, ricino (Ricinuscommunis L.), sésamo, soya y mineral no afectaron significativamente la germinación del maíz. Se concluyó que los aceites vegetales y minerales tienen potencial para el control de S. zeamais

GIBERELINAS, CITOCININAS Y PROTECTOR FLORAL EN LA CALIDAD DE LA FLOR DE ROSAL (Rosa x Hybrida)

The traditional system to produce flower buds of cut rose is inefficient in the producing areas of the state of Mexico, since very few of them achieve a high quality. The present work had the objective of evaluating the use of floral protectors alone or with phytohormones (gibberellins or cytokines) to increase the quality of the floral bud. The flowering protector prevented the entry of thrips to the floral button and increased the quality of the floral button in both the Black Magic variety and the Polo. The floral protector alone and with gibberellins contributed to promote the quality of the floral button. The cytokinins used to inhibit both the floral bud and the floral protector increased the floral bud quality at an optimal dose of 0.001 mg * L-1. However, doses equal to or greater than 100 mg * L-1 damaged the floral structure.El sistema tradicional para producir botones florales de rosa de corte es ineficiente en las zonas productoras del estado d Mexico, ya que muy pocos de ellos logran una alta calidad. El presente trabajo tuvo el obejtivo de evaluar el uso de protecotres florales solos o impreganados con fitohormonas (giberelinas o citocinias ) para aumentar la calidad del boton floral. El protector florar impidio el ingreso de trips al boton floral e incremento la calidad del boton floral tanto en la variedad Black Magic como en la Polo. El protector floral solo y con giberelinas contribuyo a auamnetar la calidad del boton floral. Las citocininas utilizadas para impegnar tanto el boton floral como el protector floral aumentaron la calidad del boton floral en dosis optima de 0,001 mg*L-1 sin embargo, dosis iguales o mayores de 100mg*L-1 danaron la estructura floral