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Background and Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic posed significant challenges to healthcare systems worldwide, and mortality rates were driven by a complex interaction of patient-specific factors, one of the most important being those related to the scheduling of invasive mechanical ventilation. This study examined the sociodemographic, clinical, and ventilatory factors associated with mortality in COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU of a hospital in Colombia. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted, involving 116 patients over the age of 18 who were admitted to the ICU with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 between March 2020 and May 2021. Data were collected from the patients' medical records. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 24®. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated to identify factors associated with COVID-19 mortality, followed by adjustment through binary logistic regression. Results: It was found that 65.5% of the patients were male, with a mean age of 64 ± 14 years, and the overall mortality rate was 49%. Factors significantly associated with higher mortality included male sex (OR: 6.9, 95% CI: 1.5–31.7), low oxygen saturation on admission (OR: 7.6, 95% CI: 1.1–55), and PEEP settings at 96 h (OR: 8, 95% CI: 1.4–45). Mortality was not influenced by socioeconomic status or health system affiliation. Conclusions: This study identified male sex, age over 65 years, PEEP greater than 10 cmH2O at 96 h of mechanical ventilation, and low oxygen saturation as significant factors associated with higher mortality in COVID-19 patients, while no significant associations were found with socioeconomic status or health system affiliation. These findings highlight the importance of focusing on clinical management and ventilatory strategies in reducing mortality, particularly for high-risk groups, rather than relying on socioeconomic factors as predictors of outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives: Lung cancer is a common cancer, and its impact on public health is not only reflected in the 1 million deaths it causes annually but also in the significant implications it has on daily activities and quality of life, resulting in a considerable burden on healthcare systems. This review aims to determine the effects of pulmonary rehabilitation and pre- or post-surgical exercise in patients with lung cancer. Materials and methods: A systematic review with a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials published between 2010 and 2024 was conducted; the search was carried out in PubMed, Cochrane Clinical Trial, SCOPUS, Science Direct, Web of Science, Scielo, and LILAC. Results: Pulmonary rehabilitation or exercise before surgery was associated with a greater 6 min walking distance (MD: 37.42, 95% CI: 9.68–65.1; p = 0.008); however, it had no implications on hospital stay (MD: −0.91, 95% CI: −1.88–0.055; p = 0.06). When the intervention was performed post-surgery, higher FEV1 (SMD: 0.62, 95% CI: 0.32–0.92; p = 0.0001) and improved 6 min walking distances (60.8, 95% CI: 20.96–100.6; p = 0.0033) were found compared to standard management. Conclusions: This review suggests that, depending on the timing of implementation, pulmonary rehabilitation or exercise could produce positive effects on certain clinical variables in lung cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terrestrial mollusks, including the invasive giant African snail (Lissachatina fulica), pose significant public health risks due to their role as carriers of various pathogens, such as Angiostrongylus cantonensis and Angiostrongylus costaricensis. This scoping review aims to provide a comprehensive evaluation of diseases associated with Lissachatina fulica and other terrestrial mollusks, with a particular focus on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of these conditions. Following the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines and the PRISMA-ScR framework, we conducted a systematic search and filtered results, identifying 27 relevant case reports and series for analysis. Our findings reveal that ingesting raw or undercooked snails is the most hazardous exposure route, with a 75% mortality rate in affected adults, particularly in regions where snail consumption is culturally significant, such as France. A. cantonensis is the primary cause of eosinophilic meningitis, while A. costaricensis leads to abdominal angiostrongyliasis. The review also highlights the widespread impact of L. fulica in countries like France, the United States, Brazil, and Colombia, emphasizing the global nature of the threat. Children show consistent vulnerability across all exposure types, underscoring the need for targeted preventive strategies. This review underscores the urgent need for public health interventions, particularly educational campaigns to inform communities about the dangers of L. fulica. Additionally, it highlights the importance of enhancing diagnostic methods and expanding surveillance to better manage the risks associated with these invasive snails. The findings provide valuable insights for the scientific community and recommend a multidisciplinary approach to effectively mitigate the public health risks posed by L. fulica across diverse regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Salud Uninorte is the property of Fundacion Universidad del Norte and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The prevalence of fungal infections is increasing worldwide, especially that of aspergillosis, which previously only affected people with immunosuppression. Aspergillus fumigatus can cause allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis and endangers public health due to resistance to azole-type antimycotics such as fluconazole. Antifungal peptides are viable alternatives that combat infection by forming pores in membranes through electrostatic interactions with the phospholipids as well as cell death to peptides that inhibit protein synthesis and inhibit cell replication. Engineering antifungal peptides with nanotechnology can enhance the efficacy of these therapeutics at lower doses and reduce immune responses. This manuscript explains how antifungal peptides combat antifungal-resistant aspergillosis and also how rational peptide design with nanotechnology and artificial intelligence can engineer peptides to be a feasible antifungal alternative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study determines the factors of abandonment of tuberculosis treatment in the public health network of Cali, Colombia, during years 2016 to 2018. We conducted an operational case-control investigation including 224 patients with tuberculosis (112 abandoned treatment and 112 completed it). We found that treatment abandonment for tuberculosis is driven by factors related to the individuals and health services that facilitate non-adherence and drive them away from the care provided in medical institutions. DESCRIPTORS: Tuberculosis, prevention & control. Treatment Refusal. Antitubercular Agents, supply & distribution. Barriers to Access of Health Services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Physical exercise has been shown to have a favorable impact on the health of the individual. Its combination with other healthy lifestyles can positively impact various areas, including sleep quality., Objective: To determine the frequency of excessive daytime sleepiness in older adults of a municipal physical activity program in Santiago de Cali, Colombia., Methodology: Cross-sectional study that included 605 older adults from a community program of the Secretary of Recreation and Sports of the City of Cali, Colombia, during October 2018 and June 2019. To determine the presence of excessive daytime sleepiness, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale was used., Results: 81.5% of the population was female with a mean age of 73±8 years. The prevalence of excessive daytime sleepiness was 10.5%. Significant differences were only found in the frequency of excessive daytime sleepiness by socioeconomic stratum, being more common in the low socioeconomic stratum (13% vs 4% P=0.03)., Conclusion: Excessive daytime sleepiness is a phenomenon that affects older adults; however, its frequency may be lower in those who are physically active., (Universidad Nacional de Córdoba)

Introduction: Asthma as a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that is characterized by wheezing, respiratory distress, chest tightness and cough, which occurs mainly at night or in the early hours of the morning. In spite of the diagnostic and therapeutic advances, the prevalence of this pathology worldwide continues to increase, affecting mainly the child and adolescent population, in which it generates limitations in daily physical activity, interference in sleep, absence from school days and low academic performance. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of school absenteeism in asthmatic students of an educational institution in the city of Cali., Methodology: A total of 385 students from 5 to 14 years were included in the study, to which they were supplied with the ISAAC questionnaire, which were completed by the caregivers. From the data obtained, the statistical analysis was performed in the SPSS package version 20, Results: The prevalence of asthma found was 27%, in relation to the absenteeism in this group of students it was evidenced that in total 776 days of classes had been lost during the year, with an average of 7.5 days (DE +/- 7) per student. 45% missed 1-5 times and 6% more than 20 times, Conclusions: Based on the findings, it is concluded that asthma is a disease that can have clear repercussions at school level., (Universidad Nacional de Córdoba.)

Objective: To determine adherence, overall and by components, to the Helping Babies Breathe strategy by physicians caring for neonates in an intermediate complexity institution., Methods: Cross-sectional study that included live neonates born by spontaneous vaginal delivery and who received care from pediatricians, gynecologists or interns in the delivery room of a university hospital in the city of Cali, Colombia, in 2017. Fetuses with major congenital malformations, twins, and neonates with less than 34 weeks of gestational age were excluded. Sampling was systematic and the sample size was of 150 neonates. Baseline neonatal and maternal characteristics were assessed, as well as adherence to the Helping Babies Breathe strategy by physicians and its components. A descriptive analysis was performed., Results: Adherence to the Helping Babies Breathe was 65.6% (95% CI 53.8-78.4) for pediatricians, 33.33% (95% CI: 4.3-77.7) for obstetricians and gynecologists, and 75.3% (95% CI: 64.8-85.1) for interns. The lowest frequency was found for cap placement on the neonate's head (64.90%; 95% CI: 56.7- 72.4) and placement of the baby in contact with the mother's skin, (65%; 95% CI: 55.9-74.4); the highest frequency was found for covering the baby with warm blankets (98.6%: 95% CI: 95.3-99.8), and positive pressure ventilation in cases of absent response to initial stimulation (100%; 95% CI 30-100)., Conclusions: Results pertaining to the degree of adherence on the part of the practitioners suggest the need to implement continuous education and evaluation processes focused on the application of this proven strategy in institutions offering child-birth care., Competing Interests: None declared, (Copyright© 2019 This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License by-nc-nd/4.0.)