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Background In Rwanda, nearly a third of contraceptive users discontinue within the first year of use. Family planning programs often focus more on recruitment of new users as opposed to maintaining use among current users. A focus on sustaining users and minimizing discontinuation is imperative for long-term family planning program success. This study explores the efforts providers and contraceptive users in Rwanda employ to prevent one of the greatest challenges to family planning programs: contraceptive discontinuation. Methods This was a qualitative study conducted in Rwanda between February and July 2018. It included eight focus group discussions with 88 family planning providers and 32 in-depth interviews with experienced modern contraceptive users. Data were collected in two districts with the highest (Musanze) and lowest (Nyamasheke) rates of contraceptive use. Data were analyzed using thematic content approach. Results Family planning providers in this study used the following strategies to prevent discontinuation: counseling new users on the potential for side effects and switching, reminding clients about appointments for resupply, as well as supporting dissatisfied users by providing counseling, medicine for side effects, and discussing options for switching methods. Users, on the other hand, employed the following strategies to prevent discontinuation: having an understanding that experiences of side effects vary by individuals, supporting peers to sustain use, persisting with use despite experiences of side effects, and switching methods. Conclusions The strategies used by family planning providers and users in Rwanda to prevent discontinuation suggest the possibility of long-term sustained use of contraception in the country. Harnessing and supporting such strategies could contribute to sustaining or improving further contraceptive use in the country.

This work focuses on the search and development of drugs that may become new alternatives to the commercial drugs currently available for treatment of leishmaniasis. We have designed and synthesized 12 derivatives of bis(spiropyrazolone)cyclopropanes. We then characterized their potential application in therapeutic use. For this, the in vitro biological activities against three eukaryotic models—S. cerevisiae, five cancer cell lines, and the parasite L. mexicana—were evaluated. In addition, cytotoxicity against non-cancerous mammalian cells has been evaluated and other properties of interest have been characterized, such as genotoxicity, antioxidant properties and, in silico predictive adsorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME). The results that we present here represent a first screening, indicating two derivatives of bis(spiropyrazolone)cyclopropanes as good candidates for the treatment of leishmaniasis. They have good specificity against parasites with respect to mammalian cells.

Background Possible cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection were diagnosed in primary care in Madrid, some of these cases had pneumonia. Most of the SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia published data came from hospitalised patients. This study set out to describe clinical characteristics of patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia diagnosed in primary care across age groups and type of pneumonia. Methods Observational retrospective study obtaining clinical data from the electronic health records of patients who were followed-up by SARS-CoV-2 possible infection in a primary care practice in Madrid. All the cases were collected by in-person or remote consultation during the 10th March to the 7th of April. Exposure: Diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia by chest X-ray ordered by the GP. Main outcomes and measures: Symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, physical examination and diagnostic tests as a blood test, nasopharyngeal swab results for RT-PCR (Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction) and chest X-ray results. Results The overall SARS-CoV-2 pneumonias collected were 172 (female 87 [50.6%], mean age 60.5 years standard deviation [SD] 17.0). Comorbidities were body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m2 (90 [52.3%]), hypertension (83 [48.3%]), dyslipidaemia (68 [39.5%]) and diabetes (33 [19.2%]). The sample was stratified by age groups (p p p p 0.170). Conclusion Clinical manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia were fever, cough and dyspnoea; this was especially clear in the elderly. We described different characteristics between unilateral and bilateral pneumonia.

Background Supportive male involvement is strongly correlated with contraceptive use. In Rwanda, where the contraceptive prevalence rate among married women increased from 17 to 52% from 2005 to 2010, and stagnated at 53% in 2015, understanding the role of male partners in collaborative couple contraceptive use can help inform programs designed to further increase the use of contraception in Rwanda. Methods This study utilized qualitative methods in 2018, specifically 32 in-depth interviewers with mostly current users of modern contraceptive methods and eight focus group discussions with family planning providers—both family planning nurses and community health workers (CHWs). Respondents were from Musanze and Nyamasheke Districts, the districts with the highest and lowest modern contraceptive use, respectively, to explore the role of couple collaboration in family planning use in Rwanda. Data were analyzed using the thematic content approach in Atlas.ti (8). Results Findings demonstrate that some men are opposed to use of male methods of contraception, and some are opposed to any contraceptive use, which can lead to covert use. Women and providers prefer collaborative couple contraceptive use—as a result, providers advocate for and encourage male partner participation in contraceptive use. Women are most often burdened with seeking out information, initiating discussions, and sharing information discovered about contraceptive use with partners. Decision-making about contraceptive use, once discussed, can be collaborative and motivated by financial considerations. When couple contraceptive use is collaborative, benefits range from marital harmony to husband’s support of sustained use through reminders about appointments, joint counseling, and support in managing side effects. Conclusion Family planning providers at the community and clinic levels encourage collaborative contraceptive use among couples and some Rwandan couples communicate well about family planning use. Despite the positives, women are expected to source family planning information, share that information with their male partners, seek out family planning services, and use family planning. If more Rwandan male partners accepted use, used male methods of contraception, and participated even more in the work it takes to use family planning, the potential for sustained, and even enhanced, contraceptive use in Rwanda could be realized.

Use of modern contraception in Rwanda has risen dramatically over a short time period. To better understand contraceptive users’ motivations for family planning services in Rwanda, 32 in-depth interviews with contraceptive users and eight focus groups with 88 family planning providers were conducted in Rwanda’s Musanze and Nyamasheke districts. Study participants noted how family planning is critical for providing a better life for children. Family planning gives mothers independence from childcare to work in order to provide for their children’s wellbeing. Family planning presented an opportunity for generational upward mobility and was perceived as a way to contribute positively to society.

Background Rwanda has markedly increased the nation’s contraceptive use in a short period of time, tripling contraceptive prevalence in just 5 years between 2005 and 2010. An integral aspect of family planning programs is the interactions between family planning providers and clients. This study aims to understand the client-provider relationship in the Rwandan family planning program and to also examine barriers to those relationships. Methods This qualitative study in Rwanda utilized convenience sampling to include eight focus group discussions with family planning providers, both family planning nurses and community health workers, as well as in-depth interviews with 32 experienced modern contraceptive users. Study participants were drawn from the two districts in Rwanda with the highest and lowest modern contraceptive rates, Musanze and Nyamasheke, respectively Data analysis was guided by the thematic content approach, Atlas.ti 8 was utilized for coding the transcripts and collating the coding results, and Microsoft Excel for analyzing the data within code. Results Data analysis revealed that, despite workplace related challenges – including inadequate staffing, training, and resources, relationships between providers and clients are strong. Family planning providers work hard to understand, learn from, and support clients in their initiation and sustained use of contraceptives. Conclusion Given the existing context of purposeful efforts on the part of family planning providers to build relationships with their clients, if the current level of government support for family planning service provision is enhanced, Rwanda will likely sustain many current users of contraception and engage even more Rwandans in contraceptive services in the future.

Introducción: El trastorno antisocial de la personalidad está vinculado a la clasificación de trastornos de la personalidad en la salud mental. Este diagnóstico se les otorga a personas que presenten rasgos de personalidad específicos e inflexibles que afectan su funcionalidad y en los que no se encuentra otra causa médica aparente. Existen diversos tratamientos posibles para estos pacientes y cuyo manejo debe ser individualizado según su edad y progresión de los rasgos de personalidad. Este trastorno genera un impacto adicional a la comunidad debido a su relación con conductas delictivas e inapropiadas de los pacientes con este diagnóstico, convirtiéndolo en un asunto de interés para la convivencia social. Objetivo: Reflexionar acerca del rol de la sociedad en la prevención, inclusión y manejo de pacientes con trastorno antisocial de la personalidad. Discusión: Conociendo las variables involucradas en el desarrollo de trastornos de personalidad como el antisocial, además del impacto social que genera la expresión de dichos síntomas en la comunidad, se hace necesario una intervención multidisciplinaria desde la sociedad y sectores públicos como salud y justicia a la hora de abordar estos pacientes, pues medidas como mejorar el ambiente que los rodea y el reconocimiento a temprana edad mejora los resultados en el tratamiento y podría disminuir la expresión de la misma, así como las consecuencias sociales producto de casos graves. Conclusiones: El trastorno antisocial de la personalidad es un diagnóstico psiquiátrico que involucra necesariamente al paciente y la comunidad. La concientización de esta patología en la sociedad podría dar herramientas para mejorar la prevención, diagnóstico y atención integral con resultados a nivel individual y social. [Herrera-Gómez AL. Una reflexión sobre la labor social en pacientes con trastorno antisocial de la personalidad. MedUNAB 2017-2018; 20(3): 368-373]. Introduction: The antisocial personality disorder is linked to the classification of personality disorders in mental health. This diagnosis is given to people who have specific and inflexible personality traits that affect their functionality and in which no other apparent medical cause is found. There are several possible treatments for these patients and their management must be individualized according to their age and the progression of their personality traits. This disorder generates an additional impact on the community due to its relationship with criminal and inappropriate behavior of patients with this diagnosis, making it a matter of interest for social coexistence. Objective: To reflect on the role of society in the prevention, inclusion and management of patients with antisocial personality disorder. Discussion: By knowing the variables involved in the development of personality disorders such as antisocial, besides the social impact generated by the expression of these symptoms in the community, it is necessary a multidisciplinary intervention from society and public sectors such as health and justice when dealing with these patients. Furthermore, if some measures are adopted such as improving the environment that surrounds patients and the recognition at an early age of this disorder, these measures could improve the results in the treatment and reduce the expression of itself, as well as the social consequences of serious cases of this disorder. Conclusions: The antisocial personality disorder is a psychiatric diagnosis that involves the patient and community. The awareness of this pathology in society could provide tools to improve prevention, diagnosis and comprehensive care with individual and social results. [Herrera-Gómez AL. A Reflection on Social Work in Patients with Antisocial Personality Disorder. MedUNAB 2017-2018; 20(3): 368-373].

Se presenta el caso de una paciente de 18 años de edad, que es evaluada en la unidad de Hospital de Día, con historia de 8 meses de dificultad para deglutir alimentos sólidos, tolerando únicamente la ingestión de alimentos líquidos, asociado a regurgitaciones nocturnas por lo que consulta a médico particular quien realiza exámenes complementarios y la refiere a esta unidad para tratamiento. Al examen físico no presenta alteraciones, persistiendo con disfagia por lo que se programa para realizar esofagomiotomia de Heller videolaparoscópica.

To evaluate if the application of a negative-pressure therapy system (Prevena Incision Management System, Kinetics Concepts Inc, [KCI] an Acelity Company, San Antonio, Texas) on ileostomy-closure surgical wounds would reduce surgical site infections (SSIs) in comparison with conventional closure and dressing.Prospective interventional pilot study.La Paz University Hospital, tertiary care academic hospital in Madrid, Spain.The Prevena device was applied on the wounds of 17 consecutive patients undergoing ileostomy reversal. Control subjects were 43 patients undergoing the same procedure, in which conventional dressings were used for the wound.The device was applied on the wound immediately after surgery (under sterile conditions) and maintained for 5 to 7 days. Patients were evaluated daily, and on the seventh postoperative day, the device was removed and wounds carefully inspected. Another evaluation was performed a month after the surgical intervention in the outpatient clinic.The primary end point of the study was the detection of SSI (defined according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention definitions). Other intervention-related complications were also registered.There were no significant differences in demographic variables between groups. In the control group, 9 patients (21%) presented SSI, with statistical significance (P.038) when compared with the intervention group (0%). There were no complications associated with the application of the Prevena device. Other complications (for example, ileus or obstruction) occurred in 30% of patients.The negative-pressure Prevena System was safe and easy to use and may prevent SSIs in dirty wounds, such as those from ileostomy closure.

We note that the following data error was published in regard to patient numbers in the Results section 1.

Clonidine, a selective noradrenergic receptor agonist, has been shown to affect various hormones acutely. It increases growth hormone levels in animals and in human adults and children. The effect of clonidine upon ACTH and cortisol levels is not as clear, and both stimulatory and inhibitory effects have been reported. We found a significant decrease in plasma cortisol decreased. No changes in FSH, LH, or prolactin were seen after oral clonidine. Our data are compatible with an inhibitory noradrenergic mechanism modulating ACTH and cortisol secretion in normal adults.