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Various studies suggest that the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) is associated with the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) in different clinical scenarios. This review aimed to synthesize evidence of the association between AIP values and CAD. A literature search was carried out on four databases, namely, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Ovid-Medline. A handsearch was performed on preprint repositories (MedRxiv and Research Square). The effect measurements were expressed as odds ratios (OR) with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI). For the quantitative synthesis, we employed a random-effects model. We analyzed 14 articles (with 40,902 participants) from seven different countries. The quantitative analysis revealed that an increase in one unit of AIP was associated with higher odds of developing CAD (OR 2.11; 95% CI 1.65–2.69; P < 0.001; I 2 = 98%). We conducted subgroup analyses of Chinese (OR 1.89; 95% CI 1.40–2.56; P < 0.001) and non-Chinese studies (OR 2.51; 95% CI 1.42–4.42; P < 0.001). The sensitivity analysis by risk of bias continued to demonstrate an association, and the heterogeneity remained unchanged (OR 1.75; 95% CI 1.33–2.31; P < 0.001; I 2 = 98%). Higher AIP values were associated with higher odds of developing CAD.

Competing Interests: All authors declare no competing of interest. GC-M has received an independent grant from Pfizer through the Asociación Colombiana de Infectologia ACIN- capitulo central; speaker fees from Pfizer, Sanofi Pasteur and Biomerieux; and participated in Advisory Boards for MSD and Sanofi Pasteur.

Aim: This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the effect of vitamin E supplementation on testosterone, glucose, lipid profile, pregnancy rate, hirsutism, and body mass index (BMI) in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)., Methods: A multi-database search was performed from inception to January 2022 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reporting the effects of vitamin E supplementation with or without another nutritional supplement on women with PCOS. A random-effects model was used to obtain mean differences (MDs) and its 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). Evidence certainty was assessed with GRADE methodology., Results: We meta-analyzed eight RCTs reporting vitamin E supplementation alone or combined with other individual substances like omega-3, vitamin D3, or magnesium oxide in adult women ≤40 years old with PCOS. Vitamin E supplementation reduced fasting glucose (MD: -1.92 mg/dL, 95%CI: -3.80 to -0.05), fasting insulin (MD: -2.24 µIU/mL, 95%CI: -3.34 to -1.14), HOMA-IR (MD: -0.42, 95%CI: -0.65 to -0.19), total cholesterol (MD: -18.12 mg/dL, 95%CI: -34.37 to -1.86), LDL-cholesterol (MD: -15.92 mg/dL, 95%CI: -29.93 to -1.90), triglycerides (MD: -20.95 mg/dL, 95%CI: -37.31 to -4.58), total testosterone (MD: -0.42 ng/mL, 95%CI: -0.55 to -0.29), and increased sex hormone-binding globulin (MD: 7.44 nmol/L, 95%CI: 2.68 to 12.20). However, it had no impact on female sex hormones, HDL-cholesterol, BMI, and hirsutism. Two RCTs assessed pregnancy and implantation rates with inconsistent results. The certainty of the evidence was very low to moderate., Conclusion: Vitamin E supplementation improves glucose, lipid, and androgenic-related biomarkers in women with PCOS.

Background: In recent decades, several studies have found a strong association between prolonged use of video display terminals and ophthalmological symptoms encompassed in the so-called computer visual syndrome (CVS). Few studies have addressed this syndrome in graduate students., Methods: Observational, cross-sectional descriptive study. A total of 106 postgraduate students were surveyed without ophthalmological pathologies. The diagnosis of CVS was made by means of the questionnaire of Seguí et al. validated in Spanish, which evaluates the frequency and intensity of 16 ocular symptoms., Results: The prevalence of CVS among graduate university students was 62.3% (95% CI: 52.3-71.5). It was found that the highest proportion of students with the syndrome was in the group of older than 40 years old (88.2%) and in the group 21-30 years old (70.0%), showing statistically significant differences (p = 0.004). According to the device and its time of use, students who used the mobile phone for 7-10 h a day showed a higher prevalence of CVS compared to those who used the device for less time (p = 0.030). The business School had the highest prevalence (75.0%)., Conclusion: Three out of every five graduate students presented CVS with this prevalence being like reported in other populations. There is a need to investigate possible interventions that can help reduce this entity., (Copyright © 2021 Sociedad Española de Oftalmología. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The objective of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature to evaluate the efficacy and safety of therapies for cerebral toxoplasmosis in HIV-infected adults. The pyrimethamine plus sulfadiazine (P-S) combination is considered the mainstay therapy for cerebral toxoplasmosis and pyrimethamine plus clindamycin (P-C) is the most common alternative treatment. Although trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) has potential advantages, its use is infrequent., Methods: We searched PubMed and four other databases to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies. Two independent reviewers searched the databases, identified studies and extracted data. Risk ratios (RRs) were pooled across studies using random-effects models., Results: Nine studies were included (five RCTs, three retrospective cohort studies and one prospective cohort study). In comparison to P-S, treatment with P-C or TMP-SMX was associated with similar rates of partial or complete clinical response [P-C: RR 0.87; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.70-1.08; TMP-SMX: RR 0.97; 95% CI 0.78-1.21], radiological response (P-C: RR 0.92; 95% CI 0.82-1.03), skin rash (P-C: RR 0.81; 95% CI 0.56-1.17; TMP-SMX: RR 0.17; 95% CI 0.02-1.29), gastrointestinal impairment (P-C: RR 5.16; 95% CI 0.66-40.11), and drug discontinuation because of adverse events (P-C: RR 0.32; 95% CI 0.07-1.47). Liver impairment was more frequent with P-S than P-C (P-C vs. P-S: RR 0.48; 95% CI 0.24-0.97)., Conclusions: The current evidence fails to identify a superior regimen in terms of relative efficacy or safety for the treatment of HIV-associated cerebral toxoplasmosis. Use of TMP-SMX as preferred treatment may be consistent with the available evidence and other real-world considerations. Larger comparative studies are needed., (© 2016 British HIV Association.)

Objective:: To review evidence on the efficacy of HPV vaccines in the prevention of non-cancer lesions (anogenital warts [AGW], recurrent laryngeal papillomatosis and oral papillomatosis)., Materials and Methods:: We conducted a systematic review of randomized trials. We performed random effect models and effects were reported as relative risks (RR) and their confidence intervals (95%CI) following both intention to treat (ITT) and per protocol (PP) analyses., Results:: We included six studies (n=27 078). One study was rated as high risk of bias. One study could not be included in the meta-analysis because it provided combined results. We found that quadrivalent vaccine reduced the risk of AGW by 62% (RR: 0.38, 95%CI:0.32-0.45, I2:0%) in the ITT analysis and by 95% (RR: 0.05, 95%CI:0.01-0.25, I2:66%) in the PP analysis. Subgroup analyses of studies in women or with low-risk of bias provided similar results., Conclusion:: HPV quadrivalent vaccine is efficacious in preventing AGW in men and women.

In Peru, The National Health Authority (SUSALUD) is granted the responsibility to promote, protect and defend the health rights of every citizen. However, in the Peruvian Health System (PHS) there exists an insufficient culture of health rights, a low level of knowledge of health rights by the population, and a limited degree of cooperation between users, providers and funders. In light of this limited popular participation in the health rights of the citizenry, it has been necessary for SUSALUD to pursue various activities in order to promote the exercise of health rights by Peruvians. Among the strategies implemented are the development of Organized Boards of Users (OBU) and a Program of Integrated Actions for the Promotion of Health Rights (PIAPHI). The aim of both interventions is to increase the level of trust between citizens and government, which fosters and strengthens the capacity of citizens to pursue their health rights. In this article we begin with a brief presentation on the state of knowledge, attitudes and practices of users of the health system regarding their rights. Then we explain both programs, their goals and procedures, and a general description of their activities. Also, some indicators of process and some results are presented along with discussion and future prospects. We believe that the gradual implementation of the OBU and PIAPHI programs will enhance the participation of Peruvians in their health system, and will contribute positively to their empowerment and the pursuit of their health rights.

We evaluated the efficacy/effectiveness of community-based interventions to decrease neonatal mortality. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials, cluster randomized trials and cohort studies of interventions on pregnant women, neonates (up to 28 days after birth) or both was made. Thirty four studies were evaluated (n=844,989): 20 in pregnant women (n=406,172), 6 in neonates (n=24,994), and 8 in both (n=413,823). Risk of bias was generally low. There was heterogeneity among interventions. Interventions such as maternal health education and maternal and neonatal home care were associated to a decrease in neonatal mortality in half of the 6 studies of each group. Supplementation with multiple micronutrients, kangaroo mother care, and maternal supplementation with vitamin A did not decrease neonatal mortality. A few heterogeneous community-based interventions demonstrated a decrease in neonatal mortality.

Introduction: The Peruvian Ministry of Health does not have a national program of hemodialysis and hospitals that offer it have coverage problems, which may result in increased mortality., Objective: We evaluated mortality of a population with incident hemodialysis in a Peruvian public hospital as well as its associated factors., Methods: Retrospective and descriptive study of a population over 18 years-old who started treatment between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2013 with the final follow-up day on31 March 2014. We used bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models to evaluate factors associated with mortality and Kaplan Meier curves were used to determine the probability of survival., Results: We included 235 patients with a mean age of 56.4 ± 15.8 years. Median follow-up was 0.6 years (IQR 0.3 to 1.5). 50% of years withdrew from therapy during the study for lack of financial resources or space available. The third month mortality was 37.7% (95% CI 4.7 to 48.5) and 49.5% (95% CI 5.8 to 61.4) at 7 months. There was a trend towards lower mortality when patients had more than 6 months with a diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD) (OR = 0.39 [95% CI 0.12 to 1.27]) and when the patient was admitted with scheduled dialysis (OR = 0.28 [95% CI 0.01 to 2.28])., Conclusion: Half of patients died within seven months of follow-up. Scheduled dialysis and having longer time with CKD diagnosis tend to be associated with lower mortality.