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Visualization is essential for interpreting data, especially in scientific research where datasets often come from experiments or simulations. Data visualization techniques vary based on the data type. For example, mapping can illustrate city traffic incidents, while bar plots can identify the most common incidents. This paper presents VisUAM (Visualizador UAM), a web-based tool for creating graphics from various datasets across any domain. The current version of VisUAM supports data from three scientific software tools: Pore Networks, Voronoi Diagrams, and Particle Diffusive Simulator. VisUAM’s architecture allows easy integration of any data type and supports multi-dimensional visualizations, including 2D, 3D, and animations. Its flexibility, web-based accessibility, and adaptability to new visualization needs make VisUAM a versatile and comprehensive platform for researchers.

A lo largo de la historia, las mujeres han padecido de los sesgos ocasionados por estereotipos muy arraigados que no permiten ver el valor real de una científica. Ideas como “el cerebro de las mujeres no es apto para entender lo abstracto”, o “las mujeres son de inferioridad natural” rondan aun en nuestros días; por ejemplo, Lawrence Summers, Presidente de Harvard en 2005 comentó que la subrepresentación de mujeres en carreras STEM es debido a diferencias cognitivas innatas entre hombres y mujeres [Jacquemond 2020]

IntroductionTo examine if perceptions of harmfulness and addictiveness of hookah and cigarettes impact the age of initiation of hookah and cigarettes, respectively, among US youth. Youth (12-17 years old) users and never users of hookah and cigarettes during their first wave of PATH participation were analyzed by each tobacco product (TP) independently. The effect of perceptions of (i) harmfulness and (ii) addictiveness at the first wave of PATH participation on the age of initiation of ever use of hookah was estimated using interval-censoring Cox proportional hazards models.MethodsUsers and never users of hookah at their first wave of PATH participation were balanced by multiplying the sampling weight and the 100 balance repeated replicate weights with the inverse probability weight (IPW). The IPW was based on the probability of being a user in their first wave of PATH participation. A Fay’s factor of 0.3 was included for variance estimation. Crude hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) are reported. A similar process was repeated for cigarettes.ResultsCompared to youth who perceived each TP as “a lot of harm”, youth who reported perceived “some harm” had younger ages of initiation of these tobacco products, HR: 2.53 (95% CI: 2.87-4.34) for hookah and HR: 2.35 (95% CI: 2.10-2.62) for cigarettes. Similarly, youth who perceived each TP as “no/little harm” had an earlier age of initiation of these TPs compared to those who perceived them as “a lot of harm”, with an HR: 2.23 (95% CI: 1.82, 2.71) for hookah and an HR: 1.85 (95% CI: 1.72, 1.98) for cigarettes. Compared to youth who reported each TP as “somewhat/very likely” as their perception of addictiveness, youth who reported “neither likely nor unlikely” and “very/somewhat unlikely” as their perception of addictiveness of hookah had an older age of initiation, with an HR: 0.75 (95% CI: 0.67-0.83) and an HR: 0.55 (95% CI: 0.47, 0.63) respectively.DiscussionPerceptions of the harmfulness and addictiveness of these tobacco products (TPs) should be addressed in education campaigns for youth to prevent early ages of initiation of cigarettes and hookah.

Background: Nutrition labels are a tool to inform and encourage the public to make healthier food choices, but little information is available about use in multi-ethnic adolescent populations in the U.S. The purpose of this study was to examine associations between the level of nutrition label usage and healthy/unhealthy eating behaviors among a statewide representative sample of 8th and 11th-grade students in Texas. Methods: We analyzed cross-sectional associations between the Nutrition Facts label use and eating behaviors from a statewide sample of 8th and 11th-grade students in Texas, (n = 4730, weighted n = 710,731, mean age = 14.7 ± 1.6 years; 49% female, 51% Hispanic), who completed the 2019–2020 Texas School Physical Activity and Nutrition (TX SPAN) survey. Students self-reported their level of nutrition label usage to make food choices (5-point Likert scale from “Never” to “Always”) and previous day consumption of 26 food items (13 healthy, 13 unhealthy). The 26 food items were used to calculate a Healthy Eating Index (HEI) score (0–100), a Healthy Foods Index (HFI) score (0–100), and an Unhealthy Foods Index (UFI) score (0–100). Weighted linear regression models were employed to examine the associations between self-reported use of nutrition labels to make food choices and HEI, HFI, and UFI scores. Marginal predicted means of HEI, HFI, and UFI scores were calculated post hoc from linear regression models. The odds of consuming specific individual food items for nutrition label usage were also calculated from weighted logistic regression models. All linear and logistic regression models were adjusted for grade, sex, Body Mass Index (BMI), race/ethnicity, economic disadvantage, and percentage of English language learners by school. Results: A total of 11.0% of students reported always/almost always using nutrition labels to make food choices, 27.9% reported sometimes using them, while 61.0% indicated they never/almost never used nutrition labels to make food choices. The average HEI score among students in the sample was 47.7 ± 5.9. Nutrition Facts label usage was significantly and positively associated with HEI (b = 5.79, 95%CI: 4.45, 7.12) and HFI (b = 7.28, 95%CI:4.48, 10.07), and significantly and negatively associated with UFI (b = −4.30, 95%CI: −6.25, −2.34). A dose–response relationship was observed between nutrition label usage and HEI, HFI, and UFI scores, such that the strength of these associations increased with each one-point increase in nutrition label usage. Students who reported using nutrition labels always/almost always to make food choices had significantly higher odds of consuming healthy foods including baked meat, nuts, brown bread, vegetables, whole fruit, and yogurt (ORrange = 1.31–3.07), and significantly lower odds of consuming unhealthy foods including chips, cake, candy, and soda (ORrange = 0.48–0.68) compared to students who reported never/almost never using the Nutrition Facts label. Conclusions: Using the Nutrition Facts labels to make food choices is beneficially associated with healthy and unhealthy eating among 8th and 11th-grade students, although the proportion of students using nutrition labels to make their food choices was low. Public health efforts should be made to improve nutrition literacy and encourage nutrition label use among secondary students in the United States.

Abstract Introduction This perspective paper addresses the US Hispanic/Latino (herein, Latino) experience with regards to a significant public health concern—the underrepresentation of Latino persons in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD) clinical trials. Latino individuals are at increased risk for AD/ADRD, experience higher disease burden, and low receipt of care and services. We present a novel theoretical framework—the Micro‐Meso‐Macro Framework for Diversifying AD/ADRD Trial Recruitment—which considers multi‐level barriers and their impact on Latino trial recruitment. Methods Based on a review of the peer‐reviewed literature and our lived experience with the Latino community, we drew from our interdisciplinary expertise in health equity and disparities research, Latino studies, social work, nursing, political economy, medicine, public health, and clinical AD/ADRD trials. We discuss factors likely to impede or accelerate Latino representation, and end with a call for action and recommendations for a bold path forward. Results In the 200+ clinical trials conducted with over 70,000 US Americans, Latino participants comprise a fraction of AD/ADRD trial samples. Efforts to recruit Latino participants typically address individual‐ and family‐level factors (micro‐level) such as language, cultural beliefs, knowledge of aging and memory loss, limited awareness of research, and logistical considerations. Scientific efforts to understand recruitment barriers largely remain at this level, resulting in diminished attention to upstream institutional‐ and policy‐level barriers, where decisions around scientific policies and funding allocations are ultimately made. These structural barriers are comprised of inadequacies or misalignments in trial budgets, study protocols, workforce competencies, healthcare‐related barriers, criteria for reviewing and approving clinical trial funding, criteria for disseminating findings, etiological focus and social determinants of health, among others. Conclusion Future scientific work should apply and test the Micro‐Meso‐Macro Framework for Diversifying AD/ADRD Trial Recruitment to examine structural recruitment barriers for historically underrepresented groups in AD/ADRD research and care.

Aims To identify, visualize, and describe the prevalence of within-product patterns of tobacco use behaviors for e-cigarettes, cigarettes, and hookah (TP) by 3 age groups (ie, 12-14-year-old, 15-17-year-old, and 18-20-year-old) with U.S. nationally representative data. Methods In 2014-2015, never users of each (TP) and age group were followed-up longitudinally between 2015-2019 using five transition states: non-susceptible to (TP) use, susceptible to (TP) use, ever (TP) use, past 30-day (TP) use, and discontinued past 30-day (TP) use. Sankey diagrams were used to graphically visualize patterns in tobacco use behaviors across time. Results Among 12-14-year-old who were never users and susceptible to each TP from 2014-2017, 7% initiated ever e-cigarette use and 9.4% first reported past 30-day use by 2018-2019; 5.8% initiated ever cigarette use and 3% first reported past 30-day cigarette use by 2018-2019; and, 4.5% initiated ever hookah use and 1.0% first reported past 30-day hookah use by 2018-2019. Among 15-17-year-old who were never users and susceptible to each TP from 2014-2017, 4.2% initiated ever e-cigarette use and 9.0% first reported past 30-day use by 2018-2019; 4.5% initiated ever cigarette use and 3% first reported past 30-day cigarette use by 2018-2019; and, 4.5% initiated ever hookah use and 2.4% first reported past 30-day hookah use by 2018-2019. Among 18-20-year-old who were never users and susceptible to each TP from 2014-2017, 3.2% initiated ever e-cigarette use and 3.6% first reported past 30-day e-cigarette use by 2018-2019; 3.0% initiated ever cigarette use and 2.3% first reported past 30-day cigarette use; and, 2.8% initiated ever hookah use and 1.0% first reported past 30-day hookah use by 2018-2019. Conclusions From 2014 to 2019, onset and progression of e-cigarette, cigarette, and hookah use occurred more frequently in 12-14 and 15-17-year-old than in young adults 18-20-year-old.

INTRODUCCIÓN: El consumo de tabaco en las personas que viven con VIH (PVV) en Argentina está entre un 40 y un 60%. El consumo de tabaco se relaciona con la aparición de cáncer en la población general y con una disminución de la respuesta al tratamiento antirretroviral en las PVV. Los médicos que atienden a las PVV pueden tener un papel fundamental en ayudar a sus pacientes a dejar de fumar. Este estudio examinó los factores relacionados con la utilización de las prácticas clínicas de cesación tabáquica en una muestra de médicos infectólogos que atienden a PVV en Argentina. MÉTODOS: Se administró una encuesta en línea a miembros de la Sociedad Argentina de Infectología, quienes referían atender a PVV. Se realizaron análisis descriptivos y modelos lineales generalizados. RESULTADOS: Participaron 138 profesionales (20,4% de los convocados). La implementación de métodos para la cesación tabáquica por los infectólogos fue significativamente mayor en aquellos profesionales que habían recibido educación al respecto (RPa: 1,22; IC 95%: 1,10-1,35), y disminuía significativamente en quienes no habían recibido entrenamiento formal (RPa: 0,64; IC 95%: 0,44-0,94). DISCUSIÓN: Hay necesidad de incorporar el entrenamiento en cesación tabáquica en la capacitación profesional de médicos que atienden a PVV para aumentar sus destrezas en estas prácticas clínicas y disminuir el consumo de tabaco en esta población

Introduction Youth perceptions of harmfulness and addictiveness of e-cigarettes may impact the age that they initiate e-cigarette use, but this has not been investigated previously. Methods Youth (12-17 years old) never e-cigarette users at their first wave of PATH participation (waves 1-3, 2013-2016) were included. PATH questions on absolute perceptions of e-cigarette harmfulness and addictiveness were used as exposures. Interval-censored Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the impact of perceptions of harmfulness, and perceptions of addictiveness on (i) the age of initiation of e-cigarette use and (ii) age of first reporting past 30-day e-cigarette use, while controlling for covariates. Results Youth who perceive e-cigarettes as having no/little harm had increased risk of initiating both ever e-cigarette use (AHR = 2.04; 95%CI = 1.74-2.40) and past 30-day e-cigarette use (AHR = 2.64; 95%CI = 2.07-3.37) at earlier ages compared to youth who perceive e-cigarettes as having a lot of harm. Youth who perceive the likelihood of becoming addicted to e-cigarettes to be very/somewhat unlikely had increased risk of an earlier age of both ever (AHR = 1.28; 95%CI = 1.07-1.52) and past 30-day (AHR = 1.36; 95%CI = 1.04-1.79) e-cigarette initiation compared to youth who perceived the likelihood of becoming addicted to e-cigarettes to be somewhat/very likely. Conclusion These results highlight the importance of communicating to youth the potential for health harms and addiction from e-cigarette use in prevention and intervention campaigns, as those with the lowest perceptions of harmfulness and addictiveness had the earliest ages of e-cigarette initiation.

BackgroundPerceptions of cigar products' harmfulness and addictiveness in youth are associated with subsequent cigar product initiation, but their association on the age of initiation of cigar product use is unknown.MethodsThe association of perceptions of harmfulness and addictiveness at youth's first wave of PATH participation (waves 1 or 2 in years 2013–2015) on the age of initiation of (i) ever. (ii) past 30-day, and (iii) fairly regular use of any cigar products (cigarillos, filtered cigars, or traditional cigars) during the followed-up in PATH waves 2–4 (2014–2017) was estimated using weighted interval-censored Cox proportional hazards models. Also, the association of the interaction between perceptions of harmfulness and addictiveness and the age of initiation of any cigar use are reported. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) are reported.ResultsAmong youth who had ever heard of cigar products, youth who perceived cigars to be “low-medium harmfulness and low-medium addictiveness” had 60% (HR: 1.60, 95%CI: 1.36–1.89) higher hazard risk to initiate ever cigar product use at an earlier age, and had 46% (HR:1.46, 95%CI: 1.14–1.86) higher hazard risk to initiate past 30-day cigar product use at younger ages than those who perceived cigars to be “high harmfulness and high addictiveness.” Moreover, youth who perceived cigars to be “low-medium harmfulness and high addictiveness” had 33% (HR: 1.33, 95%CI: 1.15–1.53) higher hazard risk to initiate ever cigar product use at younger ages than those who perceived cigars to be “high harmfulness and high addictiveness.” Youth who reported “high harmfulness and low-medium addictiveness” (HR: 0.24, 95% CI: 0.07–0.83) had 76% lower hazard risk to initiate fairly regular use of cigar products at younger ages compared to youth who reported “high harmfulness and high addictiveness.”ConclusionsPrevention and awareness campaigns should reinforce the unique potential for harm and addiction of cigar products to curb cigar product initiation among US youth.

This research analyzes how citizenship and communicative competences can be fostered through a task-based approach to language teaching. This paper proposes the design of a unit with social components as the main meaningful task for the teaching of the English language and for fostering citizenship competencies in A2 level learners. An action research method was used; data collection techniques included observations, diaries, interviews, and students’ artifacts. Findings report that tasks might foster English language use if those are designed by taking into account students’ context and interests. Furthermore, real-life tasks derived from contextual features can enhance civic engagement and promote values, which can be signals of citizenship.

Abstract Background Although school garden programs have been shown to improve dietary behaviors, there has not been a cluster-randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted to examine the effects of school garden programs on obesity or other health outcomes. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of a one-year school-based gardening, nutrition, and cooking intervention (called Texas Sprouts) on dietary intake, obesity outcomes, and blood pressure in elementary school children. Methods This study was a school-based cluster RCT with 16 elementary schools that were randomly assigned to either the Texas Sprouts intervention (n = 8 schools) or to control (delayed intervention, n = 8 schools). The intervention was one school year long (9 months) and consisted of: a) Garden Leadership Committee formation; b) a 0.25-acre outdoor teaching garden; c) 18 student gardening, nutrition, and cooking lessons taught by trained educators throughout the school-year; and d) nine monthly parent lessons. The delayed intervention was implemented the following academic year and received the same protocol as the intervention arm. Child outcomes measured were anthropometrics (i.e., BMI parameters, waist circumference, and body fat percentage via bioelectrical impedance), blood pressure, and dietary intake (i.e., vegetable, fruit, and sugar sweetened beverages) via survey. Data were analyzed with complete cases and with imputations at random. Generalized weighted linear mixed models were used to test the intervention effects and to account for clustering effect of sampling by school. Results A total of 3135 children were enrolled in the study (intervention n = 1412, 45%). Average age was 9.2 years, 64% Hispanic, 47% male, and 69% eligible for free and reduced lunch. The intervention compared to control resulted in increased vegetable intake (+ 0.48 vs. + 0.04 frequency/day, p = 0.02). There were no effects of the intervention compared to control on fruit intake, sugar sweetened beverages, any of the obesity measures or blood pressure. Conclusion While this school-based gardening, nutrition, and cooking program did not reduce obesity markers or blood pressure, it did result in increased vegetable intake. It is possible that a longer and more sustained effect of increased vegetable intake is needed to lead to reductions in obesity markers and blood pressure. Clinical trials number NCT02668744 .

Objetivo. Evaluar la escala de afluencia familiar (EAF), que consiste en el autorreporte sobre número de computadoras y automóviles del hogar, dormitorio propio y vacaciones, como indicador de nivel socioeconómico (NSE) familiar en adolescentes escolarizados de tres países latinoamericanos. Material y métodos. Fueron encuestados 14 717 estudiantes de secundaria de Argentina, México y Guatemala. Se evaluó la asociación de la EAF con otros indicadores de NSE a nivel familiar (nivel educativo parental, posesión de bienes y servicios tecnológicos) y de entorno escolar (índice de marginación, escuela pública o privada y matrícula escolar). Resultados. La EAF mostró menos datos faltantes que los otros indicadores familiares de NSE. Además, mostró asociaciones en la dirección esperada con los otros indicadores de NSE. Conclusiones. La EAF parece constituir un indicador válido tanto de la riqueza material familiar como del NSE a nivel de la escuela, útil para estudios sobre inequidades en salud en adolescentes latinoamericanos.

Introduction This study examined the impact of seeing and posting tobacco-related content on social media on tobacco use outcomes in youth. Methods Longitudinal secondary analyses of youth in the nationally representative 2014-2015 Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study were conducted to examine the association between the interaction of (i) seeing and (ii) posting tobacco-related social media content with previous ever use of each tobacco product, and 3 outcomes in 2015-2016: past 30-day e-cigarette use, past 30-day combustible product use, and past 30-day dual use of e-cigarettes and at least one combustible product. Six weighted multiple logistic regression models (2 interaction exposures*3 outcomes) were used to assess these associations, while adjusting for covariates. Results Among youth never users in 2014-2015, seeing tobacco-related social media content was significantly associated with past 30-day e-cigarette use (AOR 1.92; 95% CI= 1.36-2.71), and past 30-day dual use of e-cigarettes and at least one combustible product (AOR= 2.11; 95% CI= 1.08- 4.13) in 2015-2016. Among youth ever users in 2014-2015, posting tobacco-related content on social media was significantly associated with all 3 outcomes: past 30-day day e-cigarette use (AOR= 2.09;95%CI=1.23-3.55), past 30-day combustible product use (AOR=2.86; 95%CI=1.67-4.88), and past 30-day dual use of these products (AOR=3.02;95%CI=1.45-6.31), after adjusting for covariates. Conclusions Seeing and posting tobacco-related content on social media predicts tobacco use among youth, nationwide. Results suggest that interventions and policies prohibiting tobacco-related content on social media are needed to curb the impact of social media on youth tobacco-use.

SignificanceYoung adults, especially those who identify as racial/ethnic minorities, are legal targets of the tobacco industry. Cigarillo initiation is a risk among these vulnerable groups. Estimating the age of initiation of cigarillo use among young adults may inform the timing of prevention interventions.MethodsWeighted interval-censored survival analyses of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) young adult (ages 18-24 at their first wave of adult participation) annual datasets were conducted (2013-2017). Young adult never cigarillo users (n = 7,101; represents N = 24,023,488) at their first wave of adult participation (2013-2016) were followed-up through 2014-2017 to estimate the age of initiation of ever, past 30-day and fairly regular cigarillo use outcomes. Differences by sex and by race/ethnicity, accounting for previous use of other tobacco products and marijuana and blunt use, were assessed using weighted interval-censored Cox proportional hazards models.ResultsAmong PATH young adults, by age 21, 5.8% initiated ever cigarillo use, 4.1% initiated past 30-day cigarillo use, and 1.4% initiated fairly regular cigarillo use. By age 26, 15% initiated ever cigarillo use, and 10.4% initiated past 30-day cigarillo use. Males had higher risk of initiating ever (AHR: 1.63, 95% CI: 1.37-1.95) and past 30-day cigarillo use (AHR: 1.65, 95% CI: 1.32-2.06) at earlier ages than females. Non-Hispanic Blacks had higher risk of initiating ever (AHR: 2.81, 95% CI: 2.26-3.50), past 30-day (AHR: 4.88, 95% CI: 2.95-5.09) and fairly regular cigarillo use (AHR: 4.62, 95% CI: 2.70-7.93) at earlier ages than non-Hispanic Whites. Hispanics had higher risk of initiating past 30-day cigarillo use at earlier ages than non-Hispanic Whites (AHR: 1.51, 95% CI: 1.12-2.03). Non-Hispanic Other race (i.e., Asian, multiracial, etc.) had lower risk of initiating ever (AHR: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.28-0.65) and past 30-day cigarillo use (AHR: 0.40, 95% CI: 0.26-0.63) at earlier ages than Non-Hispanic Whites.ConclusionAlong with those aged 21 and younger, interventions should target young adults over the age of 21, specifically males, non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic young adults, to stall initiation and progression of cigarillo use behaviors.

Introduction Initiation of tobacco products is increasing in young adulthood. This study prospectively estimated the age of onset of susceptibility to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, hookah, smokeless tobacco, and cigarillos among young adults, which is a cognitive precursor to initiation. Methods Secondary data analyses of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study, a nationally representative longitudinal cohort study of US adults. Young adults (18-24 years) who were non-susceptible to each tobacco product (cigarettes, e-cigarettes, hookah, smokeless tobacco, and cigarillos) at waves 2 or 3 were followed-up into waves 3-4 to prospectively estimate the age of onset of susceptibility to each tobacco product. Weighted interval-censored survival methods and interval-censored Cox regression models were implemented to estimate the age of onset of susceptibility, and to estimate differences in the hazard function by sex and by race/ethnicity, while controlling for the total number of other tobacco products ever used at their first wave of participation in PATH. Results By age 21, 16.5%, 16.0%, 12.6%, 12.4%, and 5.9% of young adults reported onset of susceptibility to hookah, e-cigarettes, cigarillos, cigarettes, and smokeless tobacco, respectively. Among young adults who were non-susceptible to each tobacco product at waves 2 or 3, the highest increase in onset of susceptibility occurred between ages 18 and 19 for cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and hookah, while the highest increase in onset of susceptibility occurs between ages 22 and 23 for cigarillos. Young adult males had increased risk of onset of susceptibility to cigarillos and smokeless tobacco at earlier ages than young adult females. Differences in onset of susceptibility to each tobacco product were also observed by race/ethnicity among young adults. Conclusions With the changing landscape of tobacco products, monitoring the age of onset of susceptibility of tobacco product use among non-susceptible young adults longitudinally is critical to prevent initiation. Communication and education campaigns tailored to address differences in susceptibility among young adults by tobacco product and sociodemographic factors will be useful.

Abstract Background To determine the burden of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) on patients’ work productivity and health related quality of life (HRQoL), and examine the influence of several exposure variables; to analyze the progression of RA over 1 year and its impact on work productivity and HRQoL. Methods International multicenter prospective survey including patients in 18 centers in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico with diagnosis of RA and aged between 21-55 years. The following standard questionnaires were completed at baseline and throughout a 1-year follow-up: WPAI:RA, WALS, WLQ-25, EQ-5D-3 L and SF-36. Clinical and demographic variables were also collected through interview. Results The study enrolled 290 patients on baseline visit. Overall mean scores at baseline visit were: WPAI:RA (presenteeism) = 29.5% (SD = 28.8%); WPAI:RA (absenteeism) = 9.0% (SD = 23.2%); WPAI:RA (absenteeism and presenteeism) = 8.6% (SD = 22.6%); WALS = 9.0 (SD = 6.1); WLQ-25 = 7.0% (SD = 5.1%); SF-36 Physical Scale = 39.1 (SD = 10.3) and Mental Scale = 45.4 (SD = 11.3); EQ-5D-3 L VAS = 69.8 (SD = 20.4) and EQ-5D-3 L index = 0.67 (SD = 0.23). Higher educational levels were associated with better results in WLQ-25, while previous orthopedic surgeries reduced absenteeism results of WPAI:RA and work limitations in WLQ-25. Higher disease duration was associated with decreased HRQoL. Intensification of disease activity was associated with decreased work productivity and HRQoL, except in WLQ-25. In the longitudinal analysis, worsening in disease activity was associated with a decrease in both work productivity and HRQoL. Conclusions RA patients are dealing with workplace disabilities and limitations and loss in HRQoL, and multiple factors seems to be associated with this. Worsening of disease activity further decreased work productivity and HRQoL, stressing the importance of disease tight control.

Abstract Background Several Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreaks have occurred since October 2015. Because there is no effective treatment for ZIKV infection, developing an effective surveillance and warning system is currently a high priority to prevent ZIKV infection. Despite Aedes mosquitos having been known to spread ZIKV, the calculation approach is diverse, and only applied to local areas. This study used meteorological measurements to monitor ZIKV infection due to the high correlation between climate change and Aedes mosquitos and the convenience to obtain meteorological data from weather monitoring stations. Methods This study applied the Bayesian structured additive regression modeling approach to include spatial interactive terms with meteorological factors and a geospatial function in a zero-inflated Poisson model. The study area contained 32 administrative departments in Colombia from October 2015 to December 2017. Weekly ZIKV infection cases and daily meteorological measurements were collected. Mapping techniques were adopted to visualize spatial findings. A series of model selections determined the best combinations of meteorological factors in the same model. Results When multiple meteorological factors are considered in the same model, both total rainfall and average temperature can best assess the geographic disparities of ZIKV infection. Meanwhile, a 1-in. increase in rainfall is associated with an increase in the logarithm of relative risk (logRR) of ZIKV infection of at most 1.66 (95% credible interval [CI] = 1.09, 2.15) as well as a 1 °F increase in average temperature is significantly associated with at most 0.79 (95% CI = 0.12, 1.22) increase in the logRR of ZIKV. Moreover, after controlling rainfall and average temperature, an independent geospatial function in the model results in two departments with an excessive ZIKV risk which may be explained by unobserved factors other than total rainfall and average temperature. Conclusion Our study found that meteorological factors are significantly associated with ZIKV infection across departments. The study determined both total rainfall and average temperature as the best meteorological factors to identify high risk departments of ZIKV infection. These findings can help governmental agencies monitor at risk areas according to meteorological measurements, and develop preventions in those at risk areas in priority.

El consumo de tabaco, alcohol y otras drogas comienza generalmente en la adolescencia. En Argentina, sucede a edades cada vez más tempranas. El objetivo de este estudio fue explorar factores sociales y personales predictores del inicio del consumo en adolescentes del país. MÉTODOS: En 2014 se realizó una encuesta anónima autoadministrada en estudiantes de primer año del secundario en 33 escuelas públicas y privadas de Buenos Aires, Córdoba y Tucumán, que se repitió en los mismos alumnos en 2015. Incluyó aspectos sociodemográficos, personales, consumo de tabaco en familiares y amigos, y consumo personal de tabaco, alcohol, marihuana y paco o cocaína. Mediante regresión logística multinivel con intercepto aleatorio según escuela, se determinó la asociación entre las variables independientes y el inicio del consumo de cada sustancia durante el seguimiento. RESULTADOS: En 2014 respondieron 3172 alumnos, de los cuales 2018 (64%) completaron la segunda encuesta. En 2015 hubo 16,4% de incidencia de consumo de tabaco, 49,8% de consumo de alcohol y 10,8% de drogas ilícitas. Ser mujer y tener un índice de búsqueda de sensaciones alto fueron predictores del consumo de tabaco y alcohol, y haber fumado, bebido, tener amigos que consumen y mayor edad fueron predictores del consumo de drogas ilícitas. CONCLUSIONES: Es importante identificar a los alumnos con un índice de búsqueda de sensaciones alto, que es el factor de riesgo común al inicio del consumo de todas las sustancias

Regenerative therapy in oral tissues has gained relevance since tissue loss due to congenital or acquired diseases as well as trauma is a major health problem worldwide. Regeneration depends on the natural capacity of the body and the use of biomaterials and bioactive molecules that can module the processes to replace lost or damaged tissues and restore function. The combined use of scaffolds, cells, and bioactive molecules such as peptides is considered the best approach to achieve tissue regeneration. These peptides can induce diverse cellular processes as they can influence cell behavior and also can modify scaffold properties, giving as a result the enhancement of cell adhesion, proliferation, migration, differentiation, and biomineralization that are required given the complex nature of oral tissues. Specifically, synthetic peptides (SP) have a positive influence on scaffold biocompatibility since in many cases they can mimic the function of a natural peptide or a full-length protein. Besides, they are bioactive molecules easy to produce, process, and modify, and they can be prepared under well-defined and controlled conditions. This review aims to compile the most relevant information regarding advances in SP for dental and periodontal tissue regeneration, their biological effects, and their clinical implications. Even though most of the SP are still under investigation, some of them have been studied in vitro and in vivo with promising results that may lead to preclinical studies. Besides there are SP that have shown their efficacy in clinical trials such as P11-4 for enamel regeneration or caries prevention and ABM/P-15 for cementum, periodontal ligament (PDL), and alveolar bone on a previously calculus- and biofilm-contaminated zone. Also, some SP are commercially available such as PTH1-34 and PepGen P-15 which are used for bone defects treatment.

ObjectivesTo prospectively estimate the age of cigarette initiation among young adults (18-24 years old) who were never cigarette users at their first wave of adult study participation overall, by sex, and by race/ethnicity given recent increases in cigarette initiation occurring in young adulthood.MethodsSecondary analyses were conducted using the PATH restricted-use adult datasets among young adult never users of cigarettes in waves 1-3 (2013-2016) with outcomes followed-up in waves 2-4 (2014-2017). Interval censoring survival methods were used to estimate the age of initiation of (i) ever, (ii) past 30-day, and (iii) fairly regular cigarette use. Among never cigarette users when they first entered the adult study, interval censoring Cox proportional hazard models were used to explore differences in the estimated age of initiation of the three cigarette use outcomes by sex and by race/ethnicity, controlling for the effect of previous e-cigarette use and the total number of other tobacco products ever used (0-5 products) before cigarette initiation outcomes.ResultsAmong the young adults who were never cigarette users at their first wave of adult participation, the highest increase in cigarette initiation occurred between 18 and 19 years old. By age 21, 10.6% (95% CI: 9.5-11.7) initiated ever cigarette use, 7.7% (95% CI: 6.1-8.1) initiated past 30-day of cigarette use, and 1.9% (95% CI: 1.4-2.5) initiated fairly regular cigarette use. After controlling for other tobacco products: (a) males were 83% more likely to initiate past 30-day cigarette use at earlier ages than females; (b) Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Black young adults had increased risk to initiate past 30-day cigarette use at earlier ages than Non-Hispanic White young adults (62% and 34%, respectively).ConclusionsThe substantial amount of cigarette initiation among young adults reinforces the need for prevention strategies among this population. Although, interventions are needed for all young adult populations, strategies should target 18-21-year-olds, with potentially differential prevention targets by sex and by race/ethnicity.

ObjectiveTo prospectively estimate the age of initiation of ever, past 30-day, and fairly regular hookah use among young adults (ages 18-24) overall, by sex, by race/ethnicity, and to explore the association of prior use of other tobacco products with these hookah use behaviors.MethodsSecondary data analyses of the first four waves (2013-2017) of the PATH study, a nationally representative longitudinal cohort study of US young adults. Young adult never hookah users at the first wave of adult participation in PATH waves 1-3 (2013-2016) were followed-up into waves 2-4 (2014-2017) to estimate the age of initiation of three outcomes: (i) ever use, (ii) past 30-day use, and (iii) fairly regular hookah use. Weighted interval-censoring Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to examine the differences in the estimated age of initiation by sex and by race/ethnicity while controlling for the total number of other tobacco products ever used at participants' first wave of PATH participation. In addition, to examine if prior use of other tobacco products was associated with the age of hookah initiation behaviors, six additional Cox models are reported for each hookah initiation behaviors.ResultsThe largest increase in hookah use occurred between ages 18 and 19: 5.8% for ever use and 2.7% for past 30-day hookah use. By age 21, 10.5%, 4.7% and 1.2% reported initiation of ever, past 30-day and fairly regular hookah use, respectively. There were statistically significance differences in the age of initiation of hookah use behaviors by race/ethnicity.ConclusionEducational interventions should target young adults before the age of 21, focusing efforts specifically on males, non-Hispanic Blacks and Hispanics, to stall initiation and progression of hookah use behaviors.

IntroductionThere is a lack of research prospectively estimating the age of e-cigarette initiation in U.S. young adults.MethodsSecondary analysis of PATH young adults across 2013-2017 (waves 1-4) were conducted. We prospectively estimated age of initiation of: ever, past 30-day, and fairly regular e-cigarette use using weighted interval-censoring survival analyses. Interval-censoring Cox proportional hazard models adjusting for sex, race/ethnicity, and previous use of six other tobacco products (cigarettes, traditional cigars, filtered cigars, cigarillos, hookah, and smokeless tobacco) were fitted for each of the three e-cigarette initiation outcomes.ResultsAmong never e-cigarette users, by age 21, 16.8% reported ever use, 7.2% reported past 30-day use, and 2.3% reported fairly regular e-cigarette use. Males had increased risk of initiating ever, past 30-day, and fairly regular e-cigarette use at earlier ages compared to females. Hispanic young adults had increased risk of initiating ever and past 30-day e-cigarette use at earlier ages compared to Non-Hispanic White young adults. Previous use of other tobacco products before e-cigarette initiation increased the risk of an earlier age of e-cigarette initiation.ConclusionPrevention and education campaigns should focus on young adults in order to alleviate the public health burden of initiating e-cigarette use at earlier ages.

El análisis de regresión lineal es una de las técnicas estadísticas que más se usan en los experimentos planificados para estudiar el funcionamiento de los sistemas naturales, en especial en estudios mensurativos. Muchas veces, el investigador no tiene capacidad de controlar la porción explicativa del modelo de regresión, por lo que las variables explicativas pueden resultar tan aleatorias o más que la variable respuesta. Esto podría generar sesgos en las estimaciones de las pendientes asociadas y conducir a conclusiones equivocadas. Una alternativa al método de regresión clásico es la regresión tipo II, diseñada para cuando no se pueden fijar los valores de la variable explicativa. En este trabajo se presentan distintas situaciones basadas en investigaciones publicadas en ecología y agronomía con diferentes objetivos: predicción, estimación de la pendiente y comparación de pendientes entre dos grupos, en las que el problema de variación aleatoria en las variables explicativas está presente con distinto grado de relevancia. En cada caso se identifica cuál es el camino más adecuado para el análisis. También se realizó una simulación que consideró distintas combinaciones para los errores aleatorios en las variables regresora y respuesta con el objetivo de visualizar el sesgo de los estimadores en cada situación para los diferentes métodos de regresión. De lo presentado se desprende que se debe poner énfasis en dos cuestiones muy importantes para poder decidir el método de regresión tipo II más adecuado: tener en claro cuál es el objetivo del trabajo y si se cumplen las condiciones de aplicación requeridos por cada método. Esta revisión pretende ser una sencilla guía de cuándo y qué método aplicar en cada situación.

The sudden onset of the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has resulted in tremendous loss of human life and economy in more than 210 countries and territories around the world. While self-protections such as wearing masks, sheltering in place, and quarantine policies and strategies are necessary for containing virus transmission, tens of millions of people in the U.S. have lost their jobs due to the shutdown of businesses. Therefore, how to reopen the economy safely while the virus is still circulating in population has become a problem of significant concern and importance to elected leaders and business executives. In this study, mathematical modeling is employed to quantify the profit generation and the infection risk simultaneously from a business entity's perspective. Specifically, an ordinary differential equation model was developed to characterize disease transmission and infection risk. An algebraic equation is proposed to determine the net profit that a business entity can generate after reopening and take into account the costs associated of several protection/quarantine guidelines. All model parameters were calibrated based on various data and information sources. Sensitivity analyses and case studies were performed to illustrate the use of the model in practice. The results show that with a combination of necessary infection protection measures implemented, a business entity may stand a good opportunity to generate a positive net profit while successfully controlling the within-business infection prevalence under that in the general population. The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is also found of significant importance, especially at the early stage of business reopening.

Objetivos: determinar la frecuencia de enfermedades autoinmunes (EAI) en pacientes con Artritis Reumatoidea (AR) y comparar la frecuencia de EAI entre pacientes con AR y sin AR ni otra EAI reumatológica. Material y Métodos: estudio multicéntrico, observacional, analítico, retrospectivo. Se incluyeron pacientes consecutivos con AR (ACR/EULAR 2010) y como grupo control pacientes con diagnóstico inicial de Osteoartritis primaria (OA).

This paper deals with transitions of diffusing point particles between the two ends of expanding and narrowing two-dimensional conical channels. The particle trajectory starts from the reflecting boundary and ends as soon as the absorbing boundary is reached for the first time. Any such trajectories can be divided into two segments: the looping segment and the transition path segment. The latter is the last part of the trajectory that leaves the reflecting boundary and goes to the absorbing boundary without returning to the reflecting one. The remaining portion of the trajectory is the looping part, where a number of loops that begin and end at the same reflecting boundary are made without touching the absorbing boundary. Because axial diffusion of a smoothly varying channel can be approximately described as one-dimensional diffusion in the presence of an entropy potential with position-dependent effective diffusivity, we approach the problem in terms of the modified Fick–Jacobs equation. This allows us to derive analytical expressions for mean first-passage time, as well as looping and transition path times. Comparison with results from Brownian dynamics simulations allows us to establish the domain of applicability of the one-dimensional description. We also compare our results with those obtained for three-dimensional conical tubes [A. M. Berezhkovskii, L. Dagdug, and S. M. Bezrukov, J. Chem. Phys. 147, 134104 (2017)].

SignificanceEarly age of initiation of tobacco use is associated with sustained tobacco use and lower rates of smoking cessation. Although much is known about age of initiation of cigarette use, much less is known about the age of initiation of cigar product use among youth.MethodsSurvival analyses of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health youth annual datasets (ages 12-17) from 2013 to 2017 were conducted for any cigar product use, cigarillos or filtered cigars, and traditional cigars across four cigar use outcomes, age of initiation of: susceptibility to use, ever use, past 30-day use and "fairly regular" use. An interval censoring survival method was implemented to estimate the probability of each outcome for age of initiation of each cigar product overall. Differences in age of initiation by sex and race/ethnicity were assessed using weighted Cox proportional hazards models for interval-censored data.ResultsFor each outcome across the three cigar products, striking increases in the probability of initiation begin before 17 years old. For cigarillo or filtered cigars, males had a higher risk of onset of susceptibility to use, initiating ever use, and initiating past 30-day use at earlier ages than females. Compared to Non-Hispanic Whites, Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Other had lower risk of initiating ever use and past 30-day use at earlier ages. Non-Hispanic Black youth had higher risk of initiating past 30-day use and "fairly regular" use than Non-Hispanic White youth at earlier ages. Similar findings are reported for any cigar use and traditional cigar use.ConclusionDevelopmentally and culturally appropriate cigar use interventions and communication campaigns should be provided to youth before 17 years of age to prevent the onset and progression of cigar products. Regulatory policies that reduce appeal of all cigar products should be implemented to curb cigar initiation among youth.

Objective. To assess the validity of a standard measure of smoking susceptibility for predicting cigarette and e-cigarette use in a sample of early adolescents in Argentina and Mexico. Materials and methods. A school-based longitudinal survey was conducted in 2014-16 among secondary students. We analyzed students who were never smokers of regular cigarettes or e-cigarettes at baseline and who completed both surveys. The main independent variable was smoking susceptibility. Multilevel logistic regression models were used, adjusting for sociodemographic and personal variables, social network use of cigarettes and exposure to advertising. Results. In the adjusted analysis, smoking susceptibility independently predicted cigarette initiation (Argentina: AOR 2.28; 95%CI 1.66-3.14; Mexico: AOR 2.07; 95%CI 1.74-2.45) and current smoking (Argentina: AOR 3.61; 95%CI 2.48-5.24; Mexico: AOR 1.69; 95%CI 1.29-2.22); however, it only predicted e-cigarette initiation in Mexico (Mexico: AOR 1.29; 95%CI 1.02-1.63). Conclusion. Smoking susceptibility was a valid measure to predict future cigarette smoking in this sample.

Abstract Background Zika virus (ZIKV) infection is a pandemic and a public health emergency. It is transmitted by mosquitoes, primarily the Aedes genus. In light of no treatment currently, it is crucial to develop effective vector control programs to prevent the spread of ZIKV infection earlier when observing possible risk factors, such as weather conditions enhancing mosquito breeding and surviving. Methods This study collected daily meteorological measurements and weekly ZIKV infectious cases among 32 departments of Colombia from January 2015–December 2016. This study applied the distributed lag nonlinear model to estimate the association between the number of ZIKA virus infection and meteorological measurements, controlling for spatial and temporal variations. We examined at most three meteorological factors with 20 lags in weeks in the model. Results Average humidity, total rainfall, and maximum temperature were more predictable of ZIKV infection outbreaks than other meteorological factors. Our models can detect significantly lagged effects of average humidity, total rainfall, and maximum temperature on outbreaks up to 15, 14, and 20 weeks, respectively. The spatial analysis identified 12 departments with a significant threat of ZIKV, and eight of those high-risk departments were located between the Equator and 6°N. The outbreak prediction also performed well in identified high-risk departments. Conclusion Our results demonstrate that meteorological factors could be used for predicting ZIKV epidemics. Building an early warning surveillance system is important for preventing ZIKV infection, particularly in endemic areas.

Resistance training (RT) and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) supplementation have emerged as strategies to improve muscle function in older adults. Overweight/obese postmenopausal women (55–70 years) were randomly allocated to one of four experimental groups, receiving placebo (olive oil) or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-rich n-3 PUFA supplementation alone or in combination with a supervised RT-program for 16 weeks. At baseline and at end of the trial, body composition, anthropometrical measures, blood pressure and serum glucose and lipid biomarkers were analyzed. Oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) and strength tests were also performed. All groups exhibit a similar moderate reduction in body weight and fat mass, but the RT-groups maintained bone mineral content, increased upper limbs lean mass, decreased lower limbs fat mass, and increased muscle strength and quality compared to untrained-groups. The RT-program also improved glucose tolerance (lowering the OGTT incremental area under the curve). The DHA-rich supplementation lowered diastolic blood pressure and circulating triglycerides and increased muscle quality in lower limbs. In conclusion, 16-week RT-program improved segmented body composition, bone mineral content, and glucose tolerance, while the DHA-rich supplement had beneficial effects on cardiovascular health markers in overweight/obese postmenopausal women. No synergistic effects were observed for DHA supplementation and RT-program combination.

Purpose: This study assessed whether perinatal factors were associated with breast cancer among Hispanics, a group with fairly low incidence rates of breast cancer. Methods: Data were used from a case–control study of breast cancer among Hispanics aged 30–79 conducted between 2003 and 2008 on the Texas–Mexico border. In-person interviews were completed with 188 incident breast cancer cases ascertained through surgeons and oncologists, and 974 controls (with respective response rates of 97% and 78%). Results: Relative to birth weight 2500–3999 g, there was no elevation in breast cancer risk for birth weight of ⩾4000 g (odds ratio [OR] 0.76, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.47–1.21). Conclusions: The results tended to differ slightly from previous studies of this topic perhaps owing to the different hormonal milieu among Hispanics relative to Caucasians, African Americans and Asians in whom all previous studies of this topic have been conducted. Confirmation of these findings in larger studies may assist in determining how hormonal mechanisms responsible for breast cancer differ by ethnicity.

El siguiente artículo presenta un análisis histórico-comparativo de los últimos planes y programas de Formación Inicial Docente (FID) de profesorado de Educación Media en Uruguay en función del lugar asignado a las Tecnologías Digitales (TD). Cabe destacar que este trabajo se enmarca en un proyecto de investigación que busca indagar sobre las posibilidades, ventajas y limitaciones que la integración de TD aporta a la hora de reflexionar sobre las prácticas desarrolladas tanto por docentes en formación inicial como en formación en servicio. En esta instancia en particular se optó por un análisis de documentos y se trabajó con los planes de estudio 2005 y 2008 de la FID correspondientes a la carrera de Profesorado. En el caso del Plan 2005 se revisaron 151 programas de las asignaturas de los diferentes profesorados, en tanto que para 2008 se consultaron 238 programas. El estudio de los datos obtenidos revela, entre otros hallazgos, los siguientes: un relativo retroceso entre el plan actual (2008) y el anterior, ausencia de criterios comunes con respecto al lugar asignado a las TD en los programas de las asignaturas de los diferentes profesorados y referencias irregulares en cuanto a las conexiones entre la asignatura Informática y otras de la formación inicial. En el contexto aquí descrito se deja planteada la reflexión sobre los aspectos clave a considerar a la hora de tomar decisiones que posibiliten la inclusión genuina de las TD en la FID.

Oxidative conditions are frequently enhanced by the presence of redox metal ions. In this study, the role of capsaicin (8-methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide, CAP) in copper-induced oxidative stress was investigated using density functional theory simulations. It was found that CAP has the capability to chelate Cu(II), leading to complexes that are harder to reduce than free Cu(II). CAP fully turns off the Cu(II) reduction by Asc−, and slows down the reduction in this cation by O2•−. Therefore, CAP is proposed as an •OH-inactivating ligand by impeding the reduction in metal ions (OIL-1), hindering the production of •OH via Fenton-like reactions, at physiological pH. CAP is also predicted to be an excellent antioxidant as a scavenger of •OH, yielded through Fenton-like reactions (OIL-2). The reactions between CAP-Cu(II) chelates and •OH were estimated to be diffusion-limited. Thus, these chelates are capable of deactivating this dangerous radical immediately after being formed by Fenton-like reactions.

Background The contradictory findings about the role of the socioeconomic status (SES) in accounting for substance use in adolescence can be explained by the lack of consensus on how best to conceptualize and measure SES. Based on Coleman's social theory, this study examines the association of family and school SES with tobacco and e-cigarette use. Methods Data came from a cross-sectional, school-based survey of middle-school early adolescents attending 33 schools in three Argentinian cities (n=3,110). Family SES was evaluated using: 1) family affluence scale (FAS) for material capital, 2) parent education for human capital, and 3) nuclear family and parent-adolescent communication for social capital. A school SES index was computed aggregating FAS and parent education from students. Multilevel logistic regression models regressed current tobacco use (in the past 30 days) and ever e-cigarette use on family and school-level SES, controlling for sex and age. Results 17.7% students were current tobacco smokers and 7.7% have ever used e-cigarette. At family level, material capital was unassociated with tobacco smoking, but positively associated with e-cigarette use; human capital was unassociated with both tobacco smoking and e-cigarette use; and social capital was inversely associated with both tobacco smoking and e-cigarette use. After adjusting for family SES, students from schools with higher SES had lower likelihood of tobacco smoking (OR=0.25, 95%CI 0.09-0.74) and higher likelihood of e-cigarette use (OR=4.36, 95%CI 1.25-15.23) than those from schools with lower SES. Conclusions Family capital measures are differentially related to student substance use, pointing out that SES indicators are not interchangeable. School SES has an independent effect on substance use above and beyond that of family SES. These findings emphasize the need for SES conceptualization and consistent selection of indicators in order to study the effect of SES on health research and its role in identifying students at-risk of substance use.

Background Since 2011, tobacco marketing in Argentina is banned through traditional channels. However, marketing at the point of sale (PoS) is allowed with only few limitations. PoS are currently the primary venue where youth are exposed to marketing of tobacco products. Our objective was to assess the compliance with the PoS legislation among retailers located near assess secondary schools in Buenos Aires, Córdoba and Tucumán. Methods During 2016 a survey was conducted among all the retailers within 300 m of a convenience sample of 33 secondary schools in Buenos Aires, Córdoba and Tucumán. We assessed the compliance with the seven points imposed by the Tobacco Control National Law regarding PoS. An index was created with these seven items and dichotomized into low compliance (4 or more violations) and high (3 violations or less). Store type, distance from the school, city, marketing of flavoured cigarettes and alcoholic beverages were also evaluated. The association between potential predictors of noncompliance was investigated by calculating crude and adjusted OR using a logistic regression controlled by covariates. Results Of the 340 stores surveyed, 190 (55.88%) were kiosks, 84 (24.71%) were small convenience stores, 46 (13.53%) supermarket and 20 (5.88%) others. Overall, 217 (63.82%) of the PoS had low compliance. Most, 87.35%, had at least one infraction. The three most common were the failure to display a "prohibition of sale to minors"sign, 290 (85.29%), to have more than one advertising sign, 208 (61.18%) and the sale single cigarette 167 (49.12%). Buenos Aires (the capital city) was the place with more violations, 48.82%. The strongest predictors of low compliance were marketing of flavoured cigarettes (OR=3.78, 95%IC 1.97-7.24) and alcohols beverages (OR=1.25, 95%IC 1.12- 1.51). OR 95% IC AOR 95% IC City: Bs. Aires Córdoba Tucumán 9.52 0.31 0.23 5.57 - 16.28 0.18 - 0.52 0.14 - 0.39 1 0.13* 0.28* 0.06 - 0.25 0.14 - 0.58 Alcohol marketing 1.16 1.09 - 1.29 1.25* 1.12 - 1.51 Flavored cigarette marketing 3.93 2.39 - 6.45 3.78* 1.97 - 7.24 *

Background Several researches have demonstrated a strong association between exposure tobacco advertising at point of sale (PoS) and tobacco susceptibility, experimentation and adolescent uptake. However, there are no local studies demonstrating this association.Our objective was to explore the association between exposure to tobacco advertising in PoS located near secondary schools and smoking in early adolescents in 3 Argentinean cities: Córdoba, Tucumán and Buenos Aires Methods This is a cross-sectional study with two descriptive sources: information about tobacco consumption was obtained through a survey of adolescents from 33 secondary schools in Buenos Aires, Córdoba and Tucumán. In addition, data on cigarette advertising in the PoS were relayed within 300 meters of each selected school. An exposition index was derived by multiplying the frequency of going to tobacco shops and a marketing index of each PoS (obtained by adding the number of signs, visibility from outside and displaying tobacco less than 1m from children's products). We explored the association between exposure to PoS advertising and smoking at individual and school level through multilevel logistic regression, adjusting for sociodemographics, social network smoking, and sensation seeking. Results The questionnaire was completed by 1680 students, 158 (9.4%) smokers, 895 (53%) no susceptible non-smokers, 389 (23%) susceptible non-smokers and 274 (16.3%) experimenters. We surveyed 340 PoS, 88 (25.88%) in Tucumán, 80 (23.53%) in Córdoba and 170 (50%) in Buenos Aires. Exposure to PoS advertising was significantly associated with being an experimenter (OR = 1.58, 95% CI 1.16-2.14) and susceptible (OR = 1.65, 95% CI 1.2-2.25) in the highest quartile of exposure. Smokers OR (95% IC) Experimenters OR (95% IC) Susceptibles OR (95% IC) Quartile 2 1.19 (0.838 - 1.685) 1.16 (0.873 - 1.534) 1.33 (0.983 - 1.792) Quartile 3 1.32 (0.930 - 1.874) 1.32 (0.996 - 1.754) 1.15 (0.839 - 1.584) Quartile 4 1.22 (0.848 - 1.758) 1.58 (1.160 - 2.147)§ 1.65 (1.207 - 2.250)§ OR= Odds Ratio § p

The legal rights, laws, pacts, treaties and national and international agreements on gender violence proposed by the OEA, the UN and UNESCO and subscribed by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela do not always reflect the actual facts. But we can ask ourselves whether this juridical machinery responds to the Venezuelan reality or, on the contrary, whether it is just a copy of other realities from more developed countries such as France. In that sense, the only kind of violence reported is the physical one. Physical violence is penalized in all of western societies; but other kinds of violence coexist with this cultural reality, which are invisible, not criminalized, and socially accepted. These include, first, affective nomadism; second, early pregnancy; third, paternal irresponsibility; and fourth, discrimination against women in politics and in the workforce, discrimination which has been accentuated by new rights, which indirectly exclude women from the labor market. This investigation is part of a comparative study between Venezuela and France, from a gender point of view. Los derechos, las leyes, los pactos, los tratados y los convenios nacionales e internacionales propuestos por la OEA, la ONU y la UNESCO, suscritos por la República Bolivariana de Venezuela, sobre la violencia de género, no siempre reflejan los hechos. Pero, cabría preguntarse si este aparato legal se corresponde con la realidad, o por el contrario es una copia, de países desarrollados, como Francia. Alrededor de esta realidad cultural, coexisten otros tipos de violencias invisibles, que no están tipificadas como delitos y son aceptadas socialmente: en primer lugar, el nomadismo afectivo; en segundo lugar, el embarazo precoz; en tercer lugar, la irresponsabilidad paternal; en cuarto lugar, la discriminación de las mujeres en la política y del trabajo formal. Esta investigación es parte de un estudio comparativo entre Venezuela y Francia, desde el punto de vista de género.DOWNLOAD THIS PAPER FROM SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2612553

Aging is a complex phenomenon characterized by the progressive loss of tissue and organ function. The oxidative-stress theory of aging postulates that age-associated functional losses are due to the accumulation of ROS-induced damage. Liver function impairment and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are common among the elderly. NAFLD can progress to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and evolve to hepatic cirrhosis or hepatic carcinoma. Oxidative stress, lipotoxicity, and inflammation play a key role in the progression of NAFLD. A growing body of evidence supports the therapeutic potential of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA), mainly docosahaexenoic (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), on metabolic diseases based on their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Here, we performed a systematic review of clinical trials analyzing the efficacy of n-3 PUFA on both systemic oxidative stress and on NAFLD/NASH features in adults. As a matter of fact, it remains controversial whether n-3 PUFA are effective to counteract oxidative stress. On the other hand, data suggest that n-3 PUFA supplementation may be effective in the early stages of NAFLD, but not in patients with more severe NAFLD or NASH. Future perspectives and relevant aspects that should be considered when planning new randomized controlled trials are also discussed.

El artículo reporta los hallazgos de un estudio cualitativo que tuvo como propósito valorar el autoconcepto y el sentido de vida de estudiantes con diversidad funcional motora en la Extensión Anaco de la Universidad de Oriente. Desde el apoyo del método fenomenológico, se realizaron entrevistas profundas a cuatro informantes claves. Los hallazgos se describen a partir de la triangulación de datos y de teorías, lo que muestra que existen algunas dimensiones de autoconcepto en función de la presencia o no de diversidad y el sentido de vida entre los géneros. La presencia de la diversidad funcional parece asociada con un nivel más bajo de autoconcepto académico y emocional para el género femenino en oposición al género masculino. Existe la necesidad de integrar alguna asesoría psicológica que facilite los procesos de crecimiento personal y fomenten la estabilidad psicológica de estas personas, pues pareciera que ellas y ellos no cuentan con ese apoyo en la institución.

To improve our understanding of sex differences in the clinical characteristics of Parkinson's Disease, we sought to examine differences in the clinical features and disease severity of men and women with early treated Parkinson's Disease (PD) enrolled in a large-scale clinical trial.Analysis was performed of baseline data from the National Institutes of Health Exploratory Trials in Parkinson's Disease (NET-PD) Long-term Study-1, a randomized, multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 10 grams of oral creatine/day in individuals with early, treated PD. We compared mean age at symptom onset, age at PD diagnosis, and age at randomization between men and women using t-test statistics. Sex differences in clinical features were evaluated, including: symptoms at diagnosis (motor) and symptoms at randomization (motor, non-motor, and daily functioning).1,741 participants were enrolled (62.5% male). No differences were detected in mean age at PD onset, age at PD diagnosis, age at randomization, motor symptoms, or daily functioning between men and women. Differences in non-motor symptoms were observed, with women demonstrating better performance compared to men on SCOPA-COG (Z = 5.064, p

Introducción: la osteoartritis (OA) de manos es una de las patologías particulares más frecuentes en la consulta diaria. Una de las localizaciones de la OA comúnmente afectada es la articulación trapecio 1° metacarpiana (TPM), denominada rizartrosis, que puede traer, además del dolor, alteraciones funcionales. Respecto al tratamiento, guías nacionales e internacionales recomiendan el uso de ortesis y ejercicios. El taping o vendaje neuromuscular actúa sobre estímulos propioceptivos generando analgesia sin limitación de la movilidad articular. Objetivo: evaluar los efectos de la aplicación de taping, comparado con el tratamiento ortésico convencional, en un programa de rehabilitación de rizartrosis. Material y métodos: fueron incluidos pacientes de ambos sexos, mayores de 45 años con OA primaria que cumplían los criterios clínicos grado II-III de Eaton, y radiológicos grado 2-3 de Kellgren y Lawrence. Fueron divididos aleatoriamente en dos grupos, el GRUPO TAPING (GT) en donde se realizó un vendaje para la TPM y el GRUPO FÉRULA (GF) a quienes se les realizó una ortesis tipo Spica corta en termomoldeable. Todos iniciaron un programa de ejercicios específicos y fueron instruidos en principios de protección articular (PPA). Fueron evaluados al inicio y al mes del tratamiento: dolor (VAS), fuerza muscular (dinamómetro Jamar), habilidad y destreza (picking up test), capacidad funcional (Australian Canadian Osteoarthritis Hand Index: AUSCAN). Para el análisis estadístico se utilizó la prueba T Student, del programa Excel versión 2010. Resultados: fueron ingresados 40 pacientes, 20 en el grupo GF y 20 en el GT. Ambos grupos mejoraron significativamente el dolor al mes de tratamiento con respecto a la evaluación basal: GF= Xi: 5,8 - Xf: 4,2 (p.0013) y GT Xi= 6,1 - Xf= 3,5 (p.0003); y el AUSCAN total GF: Xi: 40 Xf: 35 (p.0028) y GT: Xi: 39 - Xf: 29 (p.007). En cuanto a las subescalas del AUSCAN ambos grupos mejoraron significativamente el dolor y función, solo se encontró una mejoría estadísticamente significativa en la rigidez en el grupo taping GT: Xi 2,65 - Xf: 1,95 (p.004). Conclusiones: en la población estudiada encontramos que ambas modalidades terapéuticas son recomendadas en el tratamiento de rehabilitación conservador de la rizartrosis; observándose mejoría en los parámetros de dolor y función. Sin embargo, el presente estudio indica que se obtienen mejores resultados en la evaluación de la rigidez en el grupo taping comparado con el grupo férula.

Se analiza la distribución de 25 especies de líquenes epífitos registrados en 140 sitios en cuatro áreas de la provincia de Córdoba. Se aplicó análisis multivariado (DCA). En el bosque chaqueño oriental, el bosque serrano y el área perisalina, se analizó la comunidad liquénica sobre forófitos nativos; para la ciudad de Córdoba, sobre forófitos introducidos dada la ausencia de nativos. El análisis de DCA de sitios y especies agrupa los sitios y especies de Salinas Grandes y ciudad de Córdoba. Esta similitud llevó a profundizar en la búsqueda de patrones morfológicos, anatómicos y reproductivos que la expliquen. Las especies dominantes en ambas comunidades resultaron las mismas, con variaciones en su cobertura, reproducción, anatomía y morfología. El parámetro que más alteraciones presentó es el espesor de la corteza superior en cada especie.Distributions of twenty five species of epiphytic lichens were registered at 140 sites in four ecosystems in Córdoba province. Multivariate analyses (DCA) were applied. The lichen communities were analyzed over native phorophytes in the Chaco forest, mountain woodland and nearby area, and over introduced phorophytes in Córdoba city. The DCA ordination of the sample plots and species of Salinas Grandes and Córdoba city showed a single group. This similarity made as to find morphological, anatomical and reproductive characters between both communities. The same dominant species were found with some variations in cover, reproduction, anatomy and morphology. Thickness of upper cortex was the most variable pattern in each species.

Este estudio transversal y multicéntrico investigó las características clínicas e inmunológicas asociadas con la nefritis lúpica en pacientes colombianos de Medellín. Se incluyeron treinta y nueve pacientes con nefritis lúpica y se compararon sus características con las de 100 pacientes con lupus eritematoso sistémico (LES) sin compromiso renal. Se realizó un análisis multivariado para evaluar los factores asociados con la nefritis lúpica. Los pacientes que desarrollaron nefritis presentaron, al inicio, más úlceras orales (41% vs. 21%, OR=3,1, IC95%: 1,3-7,5, p=0,01) y eritema malar (77% vs. 45%, OR=4,4, IC95%: 1,8-10,8, p=0,001) que aquellos pacientes sin nefropatía. La nefritis lúpica se observó en 77% de los casos durante el primer año de evolución del LES. La frecuencia de anticuerpos anti-ADN fue mayor en los pacientes con nefritis; sin embargo, las diferencias no fueron significativas (83% vs. 64%, OR=2,57, IC95%:1,03-6,41, p=0,06). La presencia de otros anticuerpos (anti-Ro, anti-La, anti-RNP, anti-Sm y anticardiolipina) en el momento del diagnóstico fue similar en ambos grupos. El perfil de los autoanticuerpos permaneció sin modificación significativa durante el curso del LES. Los pacientes con nefritis lúpica presentaron una mayor prevalencia de hipertensión arterial (60% vs 10%, OR=13,7, IC95%: 5-37, p=0,00001) y dislipidemia (30% vs 7%, OR=8,1, IC95%: 2,5-27, p=0,0006) al inicio de la enfermedad que aquellos pacientes sin nefropatía. Los pacientes con nefritis lúpica requirieron más hospitalizaciones (>1) durante el curso de la enfermedad (89% vs 60%, OR=7,8, IC95%: 2,1-29, p=0,002). En conclusión, la nefritis lúpica se presenta tempranamente en el LES. El eritema malar, las úlceras orales, la hipertensión arterial y la dislipidemia son factores asociados. A su vez, la nefritis lúpica es un factor de riesgo de hospitalizaciones repetidas. Este estudio puede ser útil en la toma de decisiones de políticas de salud para beneficio de los pacientes y reducción de costos.

Sex differences in Parkinson disease clinical features have been reported, but few studies have examined sex influences on use of dopaminergic medication in early Parkinson disease. The objective of this study was to test if there are differences in the type of dopaminergic medication used and levodopa equivalent daily dose between men and women with early Parkinson disease enrolled in a large multicenter study of Creatine as a potential disease modifying therapy - the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Exploratory Trials in Parkinson Disease Long-Term Study-1.Baseline data of 1,741 participants from 45 participating sites were analyzed. Participants from the United States and Canada were enrolled within five years of Parkinson Disease diagnosis. Two outcome variables were studied: type of dopaminergic medication used and levodopa equivalent daily dose at baseline in the Long-Term Study-1. Chi-square statistic and linear regression models were used for statistical analysis.There were no statistically significant differences in the frequency of use of different types of dopaminergic medications at baseline between men and women with Parkinson Disease. A small but statistically significant difference was observed in the median unadjusted levodopa equivalent daily dose at baseline between women (300 mg) and men (325 mg), but this was not observed after controlling for disease duration (years since Parkinson disease diagnosis), disease severity (Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Motor and Activities of Daily Living Scores), and body weight.In this large multicenter study, we did not observe sex differences in the type and dose of dopaminergic medications used in early Parkinson Disease. Further research is needed to evaluate the influence of male or female sex on use of dopaminergic medication in mid- and late-stage Parkinson Disease.

El objetivo de este documento es el de relacionar el programa de construcción de infraestructura de transporte del Plan de integración Nacional (PlN) con la implantación del modelo de apertura en el país y con la política interna de estabilización de precios. Para ello, se resumen las metas propuestas para el desarrollo del sector transporte y los objetivos del Plan dentro de cada sub-sector, junto con sus programas de inversiones y la forma de financiarlos; se pasa luego a sintetizar la política de comercio exterior que el país viene implementando desde 1967, y que el PIN aspira continuar. Con esta base, se discuten las relaciones existentes entre la construcción de infraestructura, la ampliación del mercado y las fuentes de financiamiento, incluyendo -al final- algunos comentarios e ideas discutidas en el seminario sobre la evaluación del PIN organizado por el Centro de investigaciones Económicas (ClE) en el mes de agosto.

There is currently no doubt about the serious threat that oxidative stress (OS) poses to human health. Therefore, a crucial strategy to maintain a good health status is to identify molecules capable of offering protection against OS through chemical routes. Based on the known efficiency of the phenolic and melatonin (MLT) families of compounds as antioxidants, it is logical to assume that phenolic MLT-related compounds should be (at least) equally efficient. Unfortunately, they have been less investigated than phenols, MLT and its non-phenolic metabolites in this context. The evidence reviewed here strongly suggests that MLT phenolic derivatives can act as both primary and secondary antioxidants, exerting their protection through diverse chemical routes. They all seem to be better free radical scavengers than MLT and Trolox, while some of them also surpass ascorbic acid and resveratrol. However, there are still many aspects that deserve further investigations for this kind of compounds.

Breast cancer screening programs have been effective in detecting tumors prior to symptoms. Recently, there has been concern over the issue of over-diagnosis, that is, diagnosis of a breast cancer that does not manifest prior to death. Estimates for over-diagnosis vary, ranging from 7 to 52%. This variability may be due partially to issues associated with bias and/or incorrect inferences associated with the lack of probability modeling. A critical issue is how to evaluate the long-term effects due to continued screening. Participants in a periodic screening program can be classified into four mutually exclusive groups depending on whether individuals are diagnosed and whether their symptoms appear prior to death: True-earlydetection; No-early-detection; Over-diagnosis; and Not-sonecessary. All initially superficially healthy people will eventually fall into one of these four categories. This manuscript reviews the major methodologies associated with the over-diagnosis and long-term effects of breast cancer screening.

IntroductionThe epidemic of childhood obesity has been well-documented. Prevalence of obesity among students in Texas is higher than the US prevalence. Our objective was to understand the combined influence of physical activity and television viewing on weight status of students in Texas.MethodsStudents in grades 4, 8, and 11 participated in the School Physical Activity and Nutrition survey during the 2004-2005 academic year. Multinomial logistic regression tested the associations between both being overweight and obese (vs underweight/normal weight) and the combined influence of physical activity and watching television, adjusting for age, grade, race/ethnicity, language spoken at home, and percentage of economically disadvantaged students in the school. We used 5 physical activity indicators to describe students’ physical activity.ResultsGirls who participated in less than 3 days of exercise per week to strengthen or tone muscles and watched 2 hours or less per day of television had increased odds of being obese (adjusted odds ratio, 1.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-3.0) compared with girls who participated in 3 or more days per week of exercise to strengthen or tone muscles and watched 2 hours or less per day of television. Boys in our study who watched 3 or more hours per day of television and did not meet physical activity recommendations had increased odds of being obese in all of our 5 physical activity indicators. ConclusionAlthough results varied by physical activity indicator and sex, our findings provide further evidence for the combined effect of high television watching and low physical activity engagement on the risk for obesity in children and adolescents.