Drugs, Substance Use Disorder and Driving: Intervention of Health Professionals in the Treatment of Addictions

Producción CientíficaWithout a doubt, driving with the presence of drugs in the body is a real problem associated with a higher risk of being involved in road traffic collisions. Thus, intervention aimed at preventing drug driving is a top priority (Álvarez & González-Luque, 2010; DRUID, 2012; Schulze et al., 2012). In this article, we use the concept injuries due to road traffic collisions and not the inadequate term, traffic accidents. Most injuries resulting from road traffic collisions are preventable (Álvarez, 2005; Redelmeier & McLellan, 2013), hence the aim of this article: making professionals aware of the fact that these injuries are avoidable, particularly professionals who treat patients for any Substance Use Disorder (SUD), and that they can and should intervene in the prevention of injuries due to road traffic collisions. Like the slogan of the 2004 World Health Day: “Road safety is no accident

Alcohol and drug use by Spanish drivers: Comparison of two cross-sectional road-side surveys (2008–9/2013)

Producción CientíficaDriving under the influence of substances (DUI) other than alcohol has been the subject of increasing interest over the past few decades (Schulze et al., 2012). As with alcohol, research has shown that drug intake increases the risk of road traffic accidents (Elvik, 2013; Schulze et al., 2012; Verstraete & Legrand, 2014). Intervention in this area is a priority. A key factor for deterring DUI is to convince drug-using drivers that the risk of detection is high (Jones, Donnelly, Swift, & Weatherburn, 2006; Watling, Palk, Freeman, & Davey, 2010) thus, adequate law enforcement, and the continuity of roadside testing for drug use among drivers, play an important role (Shepherd, 2001; Watson & Freeman, 2007). For the European Project DRUID (Driving under the Influence of Drugs, Alcohol and Medicines; http://www.druid-project.eu), roadside surveys were conducted in 13 European countries and results showed large differences in the prevalence of alcohol and drug intake by country (Schulze et al., 2012). The highest prevalence was found in Southern Europe (Italy, Spain and Portugal). In Spain, avoiding driving after alcohol or drug use has been recognized as crucial to improving road safety. Five years after the DRUID project, a new roadside survey was conducted following a similar methodology in order to study whether the use of alcohol and drugs among Spanish drivers had changed

Smoking Status, Changes in Smoking Status and Health-Related Quality of Life: Findings from the SUN (“Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra”) Cohort

We aimed to evaluate the association between smoking, changes in smoking, and quality of life in a cohort of Spanish university graduates. Smoking habits were self-reported at baseline and four years later. Quality of life was assessed using the Short Form-36 (SF-36) at year 4. Statistical differences in SF-36 scores between groups were determined using ANCOVA with age and sex as covariates. Out of 5,234 eligible participants over 2000–2006, there were 2,639 non-smoker participants, 1,419 ex-smokers, and 1,048 smokers. Within the previous four years, 435 participants became recent quitters and 205 starters. Comparing smoking and health status in year 4, non-smokers showed better scores than the other categories of ever smoking in all dimensions except in the vitality scale value, which was similar in non-smokers and in those smoking less than 15 cigarettes/day. Comparing changes in smoking and health in year 4, continuing smokers had statistically significant worse scores than non-smokers in general health, social functioning, role-emotional and mental health, whereas recent quitters showed statistically significant improvements in role-emotional and mental health over those who had continued smoking or those who became smokers. Our findings support a dose-response relationship between cigarette consumption and a worse quality of life in general and mental health in particular. They also support that changes in smoking have an impact on health

Applying Challenge Based Learning to Teach Mass Transfer

[EN] In order to enhance undergraduates' understanding of mass transfer unit operations, Challenge-Based Learning (CBL) was applied in two courses on Transport Phenomena in the Food Industry. The courses are part of Agrifood Engineering Degree program at the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia (UPV). After the lecturers explained the topic to the fourth-year students, they were given the challenge of preparing and solving cases of mass transport phenomena dealing with solid-liquid extraction and food drying. Students were divided into six groups of three or four students; each group chose a product to work with, and each group designed a flowchart with the main stages of the process based on the information gathered from varied bibliographical sources. The corresponding mathematical models were applied to characterize the flow and estimate the performance and efficiency. After that, students wrote short reports of the main steps followed to complete the task. The reports were presented to a panel of expert lecturers to provide feedback and recommendations. Specifically designed rubrics were employed by the panel to assess the impact of the methodology on students' subject-specific skills in addition to collaborative work, problem solving, time management and oral presentation skills.This work was supported by the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia with the Grant PIME/20-21/208.Barrera Puigdollers, C.; Castelló Gómez, ML.; Seguí Gil, L.; Heredia Gutiérrez, AB.; García Hernández, J. (2022). Applying Challenge Based Learning to Teach Mass Transfer. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING EDUCATION. 38(1):171-180. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/186575S17118038

Comparison of injury severity scores (ISS) obtained by manual coding versus ?Two-step conversion? from ICD-9-CM

Background: The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) is the standard diagnostic tool for classifying and coding diseases and injuries. The Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) is the most widely used injury severity scoring system. Although manual coding is considered the gold standard, it is sometimes unavailable or impractical. There have been many prior attempts to develop programs for the automated conversion of ICD rubrics into AIS codes. Objective: To convert ICD, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes into AIS 2005 (update 2008) codes via a derived map using a two-step process and, subsequently, to compare Injury Severity Score (ISS) resulting from said conversion with manually coded ISS values. Methods: A cross-sectional retrospective study was designed in which medical records at the Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla of Cantabria (HUMV) and the Complejo Hospitalario of Navarra (CHN), both in Spain, were reviewed. Coding of injuries using AIS 2005 (update 2008) version was done manually by a certified AIS specialist and ISS values were calculated. ICD-9-CM codes were automatically converted into ISS values by another certified AIS specialist in a two-step process. ISS scores obtained from manual coding were compared to those obtained through this conversion process. Results: The comparison of obtained through conversion versus manual ISS resulted in 396 concordant pairs (70.2%); the analysis of values according to ISS categories (ISS24) showed 493 concordant pairs (87.4%). Regarding the criterion of ?major trauma? patient (i.e., ISS> 15), 538 matching pairs (95.2%) were obtained. The conversion process resulted in underestimation of ISS in 112 cases (19.9%) and conversion was not possible in 136 cases (19%) for different reasons. Conclusions: The process used in this study has proven to be a useful tool for selecting patients who meet the ISS>15 criterion for ?major trauma?. Further research is needed to improve the conversion process

Severidad del Síndrome Visual Informático en trabajadores usuarios de computadores: evaluación de la asociación con Estilo de Vida Saludable y condición de Ojo Seco

Emerging risks at work can be caused by new information and communication technologies, such as computer use, which can generate new alterations to workers' health, such as Computer Vision Syndrome, which sociodemographic factors, lifestyle, and dry eye can determine. This work aims to evaluate the association between Computer Visual Syndrome severity with a healthy lifestyle and dry eye syndrome in computer users in a quantitative, observational, cross- sectional study with analytical intentionality in a sample of 300 workers of a public higher education institution in Colombia in 2022. The results show significant correlation levels in the total Computer Visual Syndrome severity scores with a totally healthy lifestyle and dry eye. A review points out that physical activity and stress management differ significantly in the different levels of Computer Vision Syndrome severity. Dry eye symptoms, conditions, and actions vary significantly among Computer Vision Syndrome severity levels. The findings support the proposal of an occupational health surveillance system to generate a healthy work environment, strengthening the ability of workers to acquire healthy lifestyles through health- promoting behaviors and address problems such as dry eye and Computer Vision Syndrome. This research provides an empirical contribution to the actions of the occupational safety and health management system related to the promotion of visual and eye health, as well as contributing to an operational definition of a healthy lifestyle that encourages the management of behaviors that promote the safety and health of the worker concerning the syndrome mentioned above.Los riesgos emergentes en el trabajo pueden ser provocados por las nuevas tecnologías de la información y la comunicación, como por ejemplo el uso del computador, que puede generar nuevas alteraciones a la salud de los trabajadores como lo es el Síndrome Visual Informático, el cual puede estar determinado por factores sociodemográficos, el estilo de vida, y el ojo seco. El objetivo de este trabajo es evaluar la asociación entre la severidad Síndrome Visual Informático con el estilo de vida saludable y el síndrome de ojo seco en trabajadores usuarios del computador, en un estudio cuantitativo, observacional, transversal y con intencionalidad analítica en una muestra de 300 trabajadores de una institución de educación superior pública en Colombia 2022. Los resultados evidencian niveles de correlación significativos en las puntuaciones totales de severidad del Síndrome Visual Informático con el total de estilo de vida saludable y ojo seco. Una revisión apunta que la actividad física y el manejo del estrés se diferencian significativamente en los distintos niveles de severidad del Síndrome Visual Informático. Los síntomas, condiciones y acciones del ojo seco varían significativamente entre los niveles de severidad del Síndrome Visual Informático. Los hallazgos soportan la propuesta de un sistema de vigilancia de salud en el trabajo para generar un entorno laboral saludable, fortaleciendo la capacidad de los trabajadores de adquirir estilos de vida saludables por medio de conductas promotoras de la salud y afrontar problemas tales como el ojo seco y el Síndrome Visual Informático. Esta investigación da un aporte empírico para las acciones del sistema de gestión en seguridad y salud en el trabajo relacionado con la promoción de la salud visual y ocular, además de contribuir a una definición operativa del estilo de vida saludable que incentive la gestión de conductas promotoras de la seguridad y salud del trabajador respecto al citado Síndrome

Resolución de operaciones de extracción sólido-líquido por contacto múltiple y circulación en contracorriente

El objeto de aprendizaje presenta extracción sólido-líquido por contacto múltiple y en contracorriente, operación habitual en la extracción de compuestos como el azúcar y el café en la industria alimentaria. Se presentan y trabajan los conceptos teóricos necesarios para resolver problemas de extracción en las condiciones descritas, según los distintos casos prácticos que pueden presentarse.Seguí Gil, L.; Castelló Gómez, ML.; Betoret Valls, N.; Fito Suñer, PJ. (2020). Resolución de operaciones de extracción sólido-líquido por contacto múltiple y circulación en contracorriente. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/147096DE

Resolución de casos prácticos de extracción sólido-líquido con disolvente nuevo mediante el diagrama triangular

En este artículo se presentan los pasos básicos que hay que tener en cuenta a la hora de diseñar una operación básica de extracción sólido-líquido con disolvente nuevo utilizando el diagrama triangular-rectangular. Así, se podrá estimar la cantidad necesaria de disolvente y/o el número de etapas necesarias para alcanzar un determinado rendimiento de extracción.Castelló Gómez, ML.; Seguí Gil, L.; Fito Suñer, PJ.; Betoret Valls, N. (2020). Resolución de casos prácticos de extracción sólido-líquido con disolvente nuevo mediante el diagrama triangular. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/147098DE

Fundamentos de la Extracción Sólido-Líquido

En este artículo se presentan los aspectos básicos a tener en cuenta a la hora de abordar situaciones de extracción sólido-líquido en un contexto industrial, identificando la nomenclatura utilizada en estos casos.Castelló Gómez, ML.; Fito Suñer, PJ.; Seguí Gil, L.; Betoret Valls, N. (2020). Fundamentos de la Extracción Sólido-Líquido. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/147097DE