Effect of the level of depletion of the available soil maisture upon the cotton crop in Canas, Guanacaste

Se estudió el efecto de tres agotamientos de la humedad aprovechable del suelo en el cultivo del algodón, con el cultivar Stoneville 213. Los tratamientos fueron 25%, 50 y 75% de agotamiento de la humedad aprovechable antes y después de la floración, respectivamente. El análisis de rendimiento no se detectaron diferencias significativas entre tratamientos, que involucran de seis hasta 16 riegos durante el ciclo vegetativo, si bien conforme se aumentó el agotamiento de la humedad del suelo disminuyó la altura de la planta. Se sugiere regar solo cuando se agote el 75% de la humedad aprovechable, bajo condiciones como las del ensayo.The effect of three available soil water depletion levels on the growth and yield of cotton, cv. Stoneville 213, was studied at Cañas, Province of Guanacaste Costa Rica. Treatments were 25, 50 and 75% available soil water depletion plus a combination treatment where irrigation was provided upon reaching 50% and 25% available water depletion before and after bloom, respectively . There were no significant differences among treatments in yield, yield components and flower shed although plant height decreased as soil water depletion increased. Under the conditions of the trial it is suggested that irrigation can be held until 75% available water depletion is reached.UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Agroalimentarias::Estación Experimental Agrícola Fabio Baudrit Moreno (EEAFBM

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London

Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries: a prospective, international, multicentre cohort study

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common infections associated with health care, but its importance as a global health priority is not fully understood. We quantified the burden of SSI after gastrointestinal surgery in countries in all parts of the world. Methods: This international, prospective, multicentre cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection within 2-week time periods at any health-care facility in any country. Countries with participating centres were stratified into high-income, middle-income, and low-income groups according to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI). Data variables from the GlobalSurg 1 study and other studies that have been found to affect the likelihood of SSI were entered into risk adjustment models. The primary outcome measure was the 30-day SSI incidence (defined by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for superficial and deep incisional SSI). Relationships with explanatory variables were examined using Bayesian multilevel logistic regression models. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02662231. Findings: Between Jan 4, 2016, and July 31, 2016, 13 265 records were submitted for analysis. 12 539 patients from 343 hospitals in 66 countries were included. 7339 (58·5%) patient were from high-HDI countries (193 hospitals in 30 countries), 3918 (31·2%) patients were from middle-HDI countries (82 hospitals in 18 countries), and 1282 (10·2%) patients were from low-HDI countries (68 hospitals in 18 countries). In total, 1538 (12·3%) patients had SSI within 30 days of surgery. The incidence of SSI varied between countries with high (691 [9·4%] of 7339 patients), middle (549 [14·0%] of 3918 patients), and low (298 [23·2%] of 1282) HDI (p < 0·001). The highest SSI incidence in each HDI group was after dirty surgery (102 [17·8%] of 574 patients in high-HDI countries; 74 [31·4%] of 236 patients in middle-HDI countries; 72 [39·8%] of 181 patients in low-HDI countries). Following risk factor adjustment, patients in low-HDI countries were at greatest risk of SSI (adjusted odds ratio 1·60, 95% credible interval 1·05–2·37; p=0·030). 132 (21·6%) of 610 patients with an SSI and a microbiology culture result had an infection that was resistant to the prophylactic antibiotic used. Resistant infections were detected in 49 (16·6%) of 295 patients in high-HDI countries, in 37 (19·8%) of 187 patients in middle-HDI countries, and in 46 (35·9%) of 128 patients in low-HDI countries (p < 0·001). Interpretation: Countries with a low HDI carry a disproportionately greater burden of SSI than countries with a middle or high HDI and might have higher rates of antibiotic resistance. In view of WHO recommendations on SSI prevention that highlight the absence of high-quality interventional research, urgent, pragmatic, randomised trials based in LMICs are needed to assess measures aiming to reduce this preventable complication

Correlaciones alométricas en Hylocereus costaricensis y H. monocanthus (pitahaya): una herramienta para cuantificar el crecimiento

Introduction. Dragon fruit plant (Pitahaya) is a cactacea family plant, it grows naturally in dead trees or stakes in seasonally dry areas, and it has an out-of-order architecture in the growth for being and epiphyte and hemiepiphyte plant, its green steams are structures that play the role of steam-leaf. Currently, in Costa Rica, there is little information on the growth and quantification of dragon fruit morphometry. Objective. The objective of this work was to relate non-destructive variables with destructive variables to develop a useful tool for the use growth projections in dragon fruit in Costa Rica. Materials and methods. The study was carried from 2016 to 2017. Stems from plants sown in soil and substrates were randomly sampled. The following were evaluated: longitude, basal, medium and apical thickness (A), leaf area (indirect method) and biomass (fresh weight, dry weight and moisture percentaje) for each stem. A database was built and it’s linear regressions were calculated, and the site variability (clay soil, loam soil and nurseries) was compared with Kruskal Wallis (α=0.05) test. Results. Linear regressions showed highly significant correlation (r2= 0.97) with the significative correlation (r2=0.85) with dry weight and that the longitude by width presented a foliar area. Two mathematical criteria were determined, to generate better fit equation for more accurate projections of variables. The weight showed significative differences (α=0.01) according to stem growth sites. Conclusion. Linear regression showed high precision (r2= 0.85) in some growth variables in dragon fruit steams, wich could be an effective tool to generate crop growth quantification.Introducción. La pitahaya es una planta que pertenece a la familia de las cactáceas, esta crece naturalmente en árboles o tutores muertos en zonas estacionalmente secas y posee una arquitectura variable en su crecimiento por ser una planta epífita y hemiepífita, sus tallos verdes son estructuras que cumplen un papel de tallo-hoja. Actualmente en Costa Rica existe poca información sobre el crecimiento y la cuantificación de la morfometría de la pitahaya. Objetivo. El objetivo de este trabajo fue relacionar variables no destructivas con variables destructivas para construir una herramienta para el uso de proyecciones de crecimiento en pitahaya en Costa Rica. Materiales y métodos. El trabajo se efectuó entre los años 2016-2017. Se muestrearon al azar tallos provenientes de plantas sembradas en suelo y sustratos. Se evaluó: largo, grosor basal, medio y alto (A), área fotosintética (método indirecto) y biomasa (peso fresco, seco y porcentaje de humedad) para cada tallo. Se construyó una base de datos y se calcularon regresiones lineales, asimismo, se comparó con la prueba de Kruskal Wallis (α=0,05) la variabilidad entre sitios (suelo arcilloso, franco y viveros) de siembra. Resultados. Las regresiones lineales mostraron que el largo por el ancho presentó una correlación significativa (r2=0,85) con la variable peso seco y una correlación altamente significativa (r2=0,97) con la variable área fotosintética. Se determinaron dos criterios matemáticos para generar ecuaciones de mejor ajuste con el fin de lograr una mayor precisión en las proyecciones de las variables. El peso mostró diferencias significativas (α=0,01) según los sitios de crecimiento del tallo. Conclusión. Las regresiones lineales mostraron alta precisión (r2>0,85) en algunas variables de crecimiento en los tallos de pitahaya, lo cual podría ser una herramienta eficaz para generar cuantificaciones de crecimiento en el cultivo a partir de un parámetro alométrico

Fertilización con nitrógeno y potasio en maíz en un Alfisol de Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Introduction. In Guanacaste, Costa Rica, corn (Zea mays) has been a cultural crop for consumption since preColombian times. Many farmers have set aside areas for its planting in association with other crops. However, the varieties used require fertilization and plant nutrition studies to improve ear quality and postharvest life. Objective. To evaluate the effect of increasing doses of nitrogen and potassium in the J-Saenz maize variety, in combination with three sowing densities. Materials and methods. The study was conducted at the Santa Cruz Experimental Farm, Universidad de Costa Rica, in 2018. Three doses of N (100, 200, 300 kg ha-1 with a base of 160 kg ha-1 of K2 O) and K2 O (100, 160 and 200 kg ha-1 with a base of 300 kg N ha-1) were evaluated with three sowing densities (50 000, 57 143, and 66 667 plants ha-1) with the J-Sáenz variety. The crop yield, the percentage of exposed ear, and the accumulation of nutrients in the phenological R5 stage were evaluated. The data were subjected to analysis of variance with a factorial structure and generalized linear models with DGS tests of means separation. Results. There was a significant increase in grain production by increasing the sowing density from 50 000 to 66 667 plants ha-1. The highest efficiency in the N and K use was achieved with the application of 100 kg ha-1 of each element at a density of 57 000 plants ha-1. The exposed ear variable was not related to nutrient doses. Corn increased absorption with increasing doses of N but not K. Conclusion. The planting density of 57 143 plants ha-1 showed the best yield at doses of 100 kg of N ha-1 and 100 kg of K2 O ha-1.Introducción. En Guanacaste, Costa Rica, el maíz (Zea mays) es un cultivo de consumo cultural desde épocas precolombinas, muchos agricultores destinan zonas para su siembra en asocio con otros cultivos. Sin embargo, las variedades utilizadas requieren estudios de fertilización y nutrición para mejorar la calidad de las mazorcas y vida postcosecha. Objetivo. Evaluar en la variedad de maíz J-Sáenz, el efecto de dosis crecientes de nitrógeno y potasio, en combinación con tres densidades de siembra. Materiales y métodos. El estudio se realizó en la Finca Experimental de Santa Cruz, Universidad de Costa Rica, en 2018. Se evaluaron tres dosis de N (100, 200, 300 kg ha-1 con una base de 160 kg ha-1 de K2 O) y K2 O (100, 160 y 200 kg ha-1 con una base de 300 kg N ha-1) con tres densidades de siembra (50 000, 57 143 y 66 667 plantas ha-1) con la variedad J-Sáenz. Se evaluó el rendimiento del cultivo, el porcentaje de mazorca expuesta y la acumulación de nutrimentos en estado fenológico R5. Los datos se sometieron a análisis de varianza con estructura factorial y modelos lineales generalizados con pruebas de separación de medias DGC. Resultados. Hubo incremento significativo en la producción de grano al aumentar la densidad de siembra de 50 000 a 66 667 plantas ha-1. La mayor eficiencia en el uso de N y K se logró con la aplicación de 100 kg de cada elemento a la densidad de 57 000 plantas ha-1. La variable mazorca expuesta no se relacionó con las dosis de nutrimentos. El maíz aumentó la absorción con el incremento de las dosis de N pero no de K. Conclusión. La densidad de siembra de 57 143 plantas ha-1 mostró el mejor rendimiento a dosis de 100 kg de N ha-1 y 100 kg de K2 O ha-1

Evaluación de tamaño de cladodios y bio-estimulantes de enraizamiento para la propagación de pitahaya

Introduction. Dragon fruit, which belongs to the cactacea family, is an exotic fruit with multiple gastronomic and nutraceutical uses, and has been consumed since pre-Columbian times. In Costa Rica its consumption is not traditional and commercial cultivation is not well known by farmers, thus it is necessary to stimulate interest as an alternative and economically profitable crop, mainly for the Chorotega and Central Pacific region. Objective. To evaluate the effect of different cladode sizes and natural solutions (biostimulants) on growth, root development and shoots. Material and methods. The experiment was conducted at the Santa Cruz Experimental Farm of the University of Costa Rica, during 2016 and 2017. Two experiments were developed; in the first, 40 cm cladodes were used under three natural solutions (green coconut water, mature coconut water, and lentil extract) at concentrations of 150, 300 and 600 ml.L-1. In the second, cladode size between 20 and 110 cm was evaluated. All cladodes were sown for 60 days in nursery bags (2 L) and then length and width of the shoots, length and number of roots, dry and fresh weight of roots, and the allometric measurement “LxA” were measured. Results. The solution with mature coconut water at 300 and 600 ml.L-1 showed 8 cm longer shoots than the control, while green coconut water at 300 ml.L-1 showed the highest dry and fresh root weight. Likewise, it was shown that a larger cladode size presents greater shoots. Conclusion. Cladode size of 400 cm2 in LxA (> 60 cm) guarantee the best development of the asexual seed and cladodes with an area of 200 – 400 cm2 (≈ 30 - 60 cm) are of medium quality.Introducción. La pitahaya, que pertenece a la familia de las cactáceas, es una fruta exótica de múltiples usos gastronómicos y nutracéuticos, y se consume desde tiempos precolombinos. En Costa Rica su consumo no es tradicional y el cultivo comercial no es muy conocido por los agricultores, por lo que es necesario estimular el interés como cultivo alternativo y económicamente rentable principalmente para la región Chorotega y Región Pacífico Central. Objetivo. Evaluar el efecto de diferentes tamaños de cladodios y soluciones naturales (bioestimulantes), sobre el crecimiento, desarrollo de raíces y brotes. Materiales y métodos. El experimento se desarrolló en la Finca Experimental de Santa Cruz de la Universidad de Costa Rica, durante 2016 – 2017. Se desarrollaron dos experimentos; en el primero se utilizaron cladodios de 40 cm bajo tres soluciones naturales (agua de pipa, coco y lentejas) a concentraciones de 150, 300 y 600 ml.L-1. En el segundo, se evaluó el tamaño de los cladodios entre los 20 y 110 cm. Todos los cladodios se sembraron durante 60 días en bolsas de vivero (2 L) y luego se midió el largo y ancho del brote, longitud y número de raíces, peso seco y fresco de raíces, y la medida alométrica “LxA”. Resultados. La solución con agua de coco a 300 y 600 ml.L-1 mostró 8 cm más de longitud del brote que el testigo, mientras que el agua de pipa a 300 ml.L-1 evidenció el mayor peso seco y fresco de las raíces. Asimismo, se demostró que a un mayor tamaño del cladodio se presenta una mayor brotación. Conclusión. Tamaños de cladodios de 400 cm2 en LxA (> 60 cm) garantiza el mejor desarrollo de la semilla asexual y los cladodios que presenten un área de 200 y 400 cm2 (≈ 30 - 60 cm) son de calidad media

Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in children : an international, multicentre, prospective cohort study

Introduction Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). However, there is a lack of data available about SSI in children worldwide, especially from low-income and middle-income countries. This study aimed to estimate the incidence of SSI in children and associations between SSI and morbidity across human development settings. Methods A multicentre, international, prospective, validated cohort study of children aged under 16 years undergoing clean-contaminated, contaminated or dirty gastrointestinal surgery. Any hospital in the world providing paediatric surgery was eligible to contribute data between January and July 2016. The primary outcome was the incidence of SSI by 30 days. Relationships between explanatory variables and SSI were examined using multilevel logistic regression. Countries were stratified into high development, middle development and low development groups using the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI). Results Of 1159 children across 181 hospitals in 51 countries, 523 (45 center dot 1%) children were from high HDI, 397 (34 center dot 2%) from middle HDI and 239 (20 center dot 6%) from low HDI countries. The 30-day SSI rate was 6.3% (33/523) in high HDI, 12 center dot 8% (51/397) in middle HDI and 24 center dot 7% (59/239) in low HDI countries. SSI was associated with higher incidence of 30-day mortality, intervention, organ-space infection and other HAIs, with the highest rates seen in low HDI countries. Median length of stay in patients who had an SSI was longer (7.0 days), compared with 3.0 days in patients who did not have an SSI. Use of laparoscopy was associated with significantly lower SSI rates, even after accounting for HDI. Conclusion The odds of SSI in children is nearly four times greater in low HDI compared with high HDI countries. Policies to reduce SSI should be prioritised as part of the wider global agenda.Peer reviewe

Global variation in postoperative mortality and complications after cancer surgery: a multicentre, prospective cohort study in 82 countries

© 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licenseBackground: 80% of individuals with cancer will require a surgical procedure, yet little comparative data exist on early outcomes in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared postoperative outcomes in breast, colorectal, and gastric cancer surgery in hospitals worldwide, focusing on the effect of disease stage and complications on postoperative mortality. Methods: This was a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of consecutive adult patients undergoing surgery for primary breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer requiring a skin incision done under general or neuraxial anaesthesia. The primary outcome was death or major complication within 30 days of surgery. Multilevel logistic regression determined relationships within three-level nested models of patients within hospitals and countries. Hospital-level infrastructure effects were explored with three-way mediation analyses. This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03471494. Findings: Between April 1, 2018, and Jan 31, 2019, we enrolled 15 958 patients from 428 hospitals in 82 countries (high income 9106 patients, 31 countries; upper-middle income 2721 patients, 23 countries; or lower-middle income 4131 patients, 28 countries). Patients in LMICs presented with more advanced disease compared with patients in high-income countries. 30-day mortality was higher for gastric cancer in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (adjusted odds ratio 3·72, 95% CI 1·70–8·16) and for colorectal cancer in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (4·59, 2·39–8·80) and upper-middle-income countries (2·06, 1·11–3·83). No difference in 30-day mortality was seen in breast cancer. The proportion of patients who died after a major complication was greatest in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (6·15, 3·26–11·59) and upper-middle-income countries (3·89, 2·08–7·29). Postoperative death after complications was partly explained by patient factors (60%) and partly by hospital or country (40%). The absence of consistently available postoperative care facilities was associated with seven to 10 more deaths per 100 major complications in LMICs. Cancer stage alone explained little of the early variation in mortality or postoperative complications. Interpretation: Higher levels of mortality after cancer surgery in LMICs was not fully explained by later presentation of disease. The capacity to rescue patients from surgical complications is a tangible opportunity for meaningful intervention. Early death after cancer surgery might be reduced by policies focusing on strengthening perioperative care systems to detect and intervene in common complications. Funding: National Institute for Health Research Global Health Research Unit

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

© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 licenseBackground: 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<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<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. Funding: National Institute for Health and Care Research