Background: Sputum smear microscopy (SSM) is a screening test used to diagnose tuberculosis (TB); however, its performance and sensitivity are relatively low, which can lead to false negatives. We designed a cross-sectional study to estimate the performance of SSM that includes a pretreatment based on sputum digestion with bleach (sodium hypochlorite) for the diagnosis of TB. Methods: We evaluated 73 sputum samples from patients with a diagnosis of TB confirmed by the Xpert MTB/RIF test and 114 samples from patients without TB. We performed sputum digestion using a 5% sodium hypochlorite solution, centrifuged at 2000 rpm for 15 min. We prepared smears for direct and bleach-treated SSM and used Ziehl–Neelsen staining. Results: The bleach-treated SSM obtained absolute identification of the cases of TB confirmed by the Xpert test, compared to 95.9% identified by the direct smear method (w...

Background: Sputum smear microscopy (SSM) is a screening test used to diagnose tuberculosis (TB); however, its performance and sensitivity are relatively low, which can lead to false negatives. We designed a cross-sectional study to estimate the performance of SSM that includes a pretreatment based on sputum digestion with bleach (sodium hypochlorite) for the diagnosis of TB. Methods: We evaluated 73 sputum samples from patients with a diagnosis of TB confirmed by the Xpert MTB/RIF test and 114 samples from patients without TB. We performed sputum digestion using a 5% sodium hypochlorite solution, centrifuged at 2000 rpm for 15 min. We prepared smears for direct and bleach-treated SSM and used Ziehl–Neelsen staining. Results: The bleach-treated SSM obtained absolute identification of the cases of TB confirmed by the Xpert test, compared to 95.9% identified by the direct smear method (w...

Peru is one of the countries with the highest leadcontamination in the world. Biological monitoring has lim-itations due to the shortage of laboratories with validatedmethodologies for the measurement of blood lead, and it isnecessary to use alternative methods for its measurement inhigh-altitude cities. We aimed to compare the blood leadlevels (BLL) measured by the LeadCare II (LC) method andGraphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (GF-AAS). We measured the BLL of 108 children from the city ofLa Oroya. The mean and median BLL for GF-AAS were10.77±4.18 and 10.44lg/dL, respectively; for the LCmethod, the mean was 11.71±4.28 and the median was11.60lg/dL. We found a positive linear correlation(Rho = 0.923) between both methods. Notwithstanding, theWilcoxon test suggests a significant difference between bothmethods (q= 0.000). In addition, the Bland–Altmananalysis indicates that t...

“Peru is one of the countries with the highest lead contamination in the world. Biological monitoring has limitations due to the shortage of laboratories with validated methodologies for the measurement of blood lead, and it is necessary to use alternative methods for its measurement in high-altitude cities. We aimed to compare the blood lead levels (BLL) measured by the LeadCare II (LC) method and Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (GFAAS). We measured the BLL of 108 children from the city of La Oroya. The mean and median BLL for GF-AAS were 10.77 ± 4.18 and 10.44 lg/dL, respectively; for the LC method, the mean was 11.71 ± 4.28 and the median was 11.60 lg/dL. We found a positive linear correlation (Rho = 0.923) between both methods. Notwithstanding, the Wilcoxon test suggests a significant difference between both methods (q = 0.000). In addition, the Bland–Altman ana...

“Background. The use of Chlorpyrifos leads to a public, environmental, and occupational health problem associated with adverse effects in the exposed population, generating alterations mainly in the central nervous system, such as cognitive function. This study aimed to estimate the association between butyrylcholinesterase activity (BChE) and cognitive ability in workers exposed to chlorpyrifos. Methods. We designed a cross-sectional study, where we measured BChE in serum samples as an indicator of exposure to chlorpyrifos. The cognitive ability was assessed by the mean score of the Peruvian version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). We also used a questionary to collect demographic and occupational information. Results. We evaluated 120 farmers with a predominance of males (92%) and a mean age of 32.1 ± 9.0 years. We found most of the workers in fumigation activities (84%)...

“Background. The use of Chlorpyrifos leads to a public, environmental, and occupational health problem associated with adverse effects in the exposed population, generating alterations mainly in the central nervous system, such as cognitive function. This study aimed to estimate the association between butyrylcholinesterase activity (BChE) and cognitive ability in workers exposed to chlorpyrifos. Methods. We designed a cross-sectional study, where we measured BChE in serum samples as an indicator of exposure to chlorpyrifos. The cognitive ability was assessed by the mean score of the Peruvian version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). We also used a questionary to collect demographic and occupational information. Results. We evaluated 120 farmers with a predominance of males (92%) and a mean age of 32.1 ± 9.0 years. We found most of the workers in fumigation activities (84%)...

Objetive: Estimate microbiological contamination and identify its associated factors in breast milk within the BLH of a Hospital in Peru. The study. Cross-sectional design, where a physical, chemical and microbiological evaluation was carried out on samples of breast milk. Findings. We evaluated 187 milk samples donated by mothers. The average Dornic acidity and crematocrit were 5.2 ± 1.6 and 2.7 ± 0.9%, and the microbiological contamination represented 3.7% of the total samples evaluated, isolating Acynetobacter iwoffi, Moraxela lacunata, Pseudomona aeruginosa and Staphylococcus negative coagulase. It was evidenced that the pH of the milk was the only variable associated with microbiological contamination (OR: 3.7 IC95: 1.5-8.8). Conclusion. The increase in pH is a factor associated with microbiological contamination in donated milk samples at the BLH of a Hospital in Peru, so it is a...

La hidatidosis es una zoonosis parasitaria de alta prevalencia en los Andes centrales y sur del Perú. El hígado es el órgano más afectado. El tratamiento de elección para la hidatidosis hepática diagnosticada oportunamente es el albendazol (ABZ). Este se caracteriza por dosis altas y que duran entre 3 a 4 meses, con alta probabilidad de daño hepático. Por otro lado, el albendazol sulfóxido (ABZSO) es el metabolito activo del ABZ, cuya medición en plasma es difícil de implementar y validar. Poco se conoce sobre sus niveles y la relación con los cambios en el quiste hidatídico y daño hepático. Hemos planteado dos preguntas de investigación: ¿La cromatografía líquida acoplada a espectroscopia de masas para la medición de ABZSO en plasma es válido según los estándares de la Administración de Alimentos y Medicamentos de los Estados Unidos?, y ¿El nivel plasmático de ...

This review identifies and describes the main outcomes and complications associated with remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic. A systematic review of the literature was carried out. This included observational studies whose population or partly carried out remote work, published between March 1, 2020, and November 30, 2020. The descriptors were adapted to MEDLINE (Ovid), EMBASE, Scopus and PsycINFO databases. We found 139 studies; 15 articles were included in this synthesis. A total of 18,818 remote workers were reported, of which women represented between 18.2%-100%. The findings describe the increased use of electronic devices, sedentary lifestyle, anxiety, depression, feelings of loneliness, sleep disorders and the presence of musculoskeletal pain in remote workers. Therefore, it is necessary to provide assistance and education to the remote worker in order to improve their condit...

Introduction. Adolescent pregnancy in Peru is a public health problem that has high prevalence in regions such as Ica, and is considered as a cause of certain adverse outcomes to the health of the newborn as low weight and hyperbilirubinemia. Methods. A retrospective cohort was designed consisting of adolescent pregnant women between 13 and 19 years of age, which were divided into two groups: group 1 (<18 years of age) and group 2 (≥18 years of age). Results. A total of 481 adolescent pregnant women were evaluated, of which group 1 represented 65,3%. Newborns with low weight and hyperbilirubinemia were found in 3,3% and 18,9%, respectively. The bivariate analysis showed significant differences (p<0,001) between the median gestational age among mothers with newborns with normal weight and low weight, as well as in relation to the type of del...

Objetivo. Evaluar la asociación entre el recuento de micronúcleos en células de epitelio bucal y tabaquismo en estudiantes de pregrado de una universidad privada en Ica. Materiales y métodos. Estudio transversal realizado en estudiantes de quienes se obtuvieron células de epitelio bucal y las cuales fueron teñidas con Giemsa para realizar el conteo de micronúcleos en 2000 células por cada muestra, utilizando microscopia de luz visible a un aumento de 100 X. El tabaquismo se valoró por auto reporte y en escala nominal dicotómica (si o no), recolectándose datos sobre la frecuencia y tiempo de consumo de cigarrillos. Resultados. Se evaluaron 129 estudiantes, en los que el 58.1% fueron mujeres y un promedio de edad de 24.9 ± 5.4 años. El 25.6% eran fumadores activos, cuyo recuento promedio de micronúcleos fue de 3.9 ± 2.4, mientras que en los no fumadores de 0.5 ± 1....

Objetivo. Evaluar la asociación entre el recuento de micronúcleos en células de epitelio bucal y tabaquismo en estudiantes de pregrado de una universidad privada en Ica. Materiales y métodos. Estudio transversal realizado en estudiantes de quienes se obtuvieron células de epitelio bucal y las cuales fueron teñidas con Giemsa para realizar el conteo de micronúcleos en 2000 células por cada muestra, utilizando microscopia de luz visible a un aumento de 100 X. El tabaquismo se valoró por auto reporte y en escala nominal dicotómica (si o no), recolectándose datos sobre la frecuencia y tiempo de consumo de cigarrillos. Resultados. Se evaluaron 129 estudiantes, en los que el 58.1% fueron mujeres y un promedio de edad de 24.9 ± 5.4 años. El 25.6% eran fumadores activos, cuyo recuento promedio de micronúcleos fue de 3.9 ± 2.4, mientras que en los no fumadores de 0.5 ± 1....

“Background: Demodex folliculorum is a mite that causes human demodicosis, which is characterized by producing lesions on the face, and its infestation could be associated with factors that alter the immune response, including Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between T2D and D. folliculorum infestation in patients attended at a hospital in Peru in 2021. Methods: A cross-sectional study enrolling patients who were classified according to the presence (n = 100) and absence (n = 100) of T2D was conducted. Information was obtained on age, sex, domestic animal husbandry, and symptoms and signs associated with demodicosis. Demodicosis was determined to be present when counts of D. folliculorum greater than five mites per cm2 were found in superficial facial skin biopsies. Results: A frequency of demodicosis in 76 and 35 patients with and without T2D, respe...

“Background: Demodex folliculorum is a mite that causes human demodicosis, which is characterized by producing lesions on the face, and its infestation could be associated with factors that alter the immune response, including Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between T2D and D. folliculorum infestation in patients attended at a hospital in Peru in 2021. Methods: A cross-sectional study enrolling patients who were classified according to the presence (n = 100) and absence (n = 100) of T2D was conducted. Information was obtained on age, sex, domestic animal husbandry, and symptoms and signs associated with demodicosis. Demodicosis was determined to be present when counts of D. folliculorum greater than five mites per cm2 were found in superficial facial skin biopsies. Results: A frequency of demodicosis in 76 and 35 patients with and without T2D, respe...

Objetive: Evaluate an Ozone Generating System (OGS) through of the microorganisms count and identificated in the air of the sanitary environments of the National Institute of Health (INS) from Peru. The study: These were exposed to OGS for 1 min per m2, air samples were collected at volumes of 200L, 500L and 1000L by impaction, pre and post exposure to OGS, cultures were obtained on Plate Count Agar (PCA) and Oxytetracycline Glucose Agar (OGA) grown at 35°C±2°C for 48 hours and 25°C ± 2°C for 5 days. Findings: A decrease in the count of fungi after exposure to OGS, the difference being statistically significant for the volumes of 200L (p=0.047) and 1000 L (p<0.005); Aspergillus spp. species were identified in most cultures, in bacteria no significant difference was observed. Conclusions: The OGS is a method that inhibits the growth of most fungi in sanitary environments.

Introduction: Chronic exposure to pesticides causes various adverse health effects, mainly at a neurological level. However, there is little evidence focused on liver tissue injury and transaminase activity as indicators of effect. Methods: A cross-sectional study was designed based on medical-occupational records of workers from an agro-export company in Peru to associate the levels of butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) transaminases (ALT and AST). Occupational medical records were reviewed to obtain demographic and occupational information and laboratory values of BChE activity and transaminases. Results: We evaluated 459 records, and 69.9% were men. The mean age was 34.9 ± 11.5 years. BChE, ALT, and AST levels were 6238.8 ± 709.1 U/l, 34.4 ± 12.5 U/l, and 22.4 ± 8.5 U/l, respectively. The proportion of inhibited BCHE and elevated transaminase levels was 15.3% and 21.6%, respectively. We...

Introduction: Chronic exposure to pesticides causes various adverse health effects, mainly at a neurological level. However, there is little evidence focused on liver tissue injury and transaminase activity as indicators of effect. Methods: A cross-sectional study was designed based on medical-occupational records of workers from an agro-export company in Peru to associate the levels of butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) transaminases (ALT and AST). Occupational medical records were reviewed to obtain demographic and occupational information and laboratory values of BChE activity and transaminases. Results: We evaluated 459 records, and 69.9% were men. The mean age was 34.9 ± 11.5 years. BChE, ALT, and AST levels were 6238.8 ± 709.1 U/l, 34.4 ± 12.5 U/l, and 22.4 ± 8.5 U/l, respectively. The proportion of inhibited BCHE and elevated transaminase levels was 15.3% and 21.6%, respectively. We...

El objetivo es estimar la prevalencia de problemas de salud mental (síntomas depresivos, ansiosos y de estrés post-traumático) en personal de salud de MINSA y EsSalud, 2021-2022.