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This paper considers the problem of designing a supply chain assuming routing decisions. The objective is to select a subset of depots to open from a set of candidates, the inventory policies for a two-echelon system, and the set of routes to perform distribution from the upper echelon to the next by a homogeneous fleet of vehicles over a finite planning horizon considering deterministic demand. To solve the problem, a partition is proposed using a Dantzig-Wolfe formulation on the routing variables. A hybridization between column generation, Lagrangian relaxation, and local search is presented within a heuristic procedure. Results demonstrate the capability of the algorithm to compute high quality solutions and empirically estimate the improvement in the cost function of the proposed model at up to 9% compared to the sequential approach. Furthermore, the suggested pricing problem is a new variant of the shortest path problem with applications in urban transportation and telecommunications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What is the limit of the model of the PT government? To answer this question it is necessary to study in more detail this model, both in its theoretical definition, as the scope of their policies. This paper discusses one aspect of this model, the policy of internationalization of Brazilian capital through loans from the BNDES, and has reference to the supporting JBS Friboi and the meat industry. For this we seek a theoretical reference in the Marxist theory of value to read some data from the industry and company. The findings are incomplete, since they are part of an ongoing research and leads us to more questions how the limitations of the association between the state in the form of financial capital and capital of agribusiness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introducción: Los cuidados de enfermería en el campo materno-infantil es un proceso de empatía que brinda la oportunidad a los padres de participar de manera activa en el crecimiento de sus hijos. En el Hospital "Nuestra Sra. de la Salud" se puso en marcha en Enero de 2012 la consulta de Educación Materno Infantil siendo copartícipes en su implantación gestores, enfermeras, pediatras, matronas de la Unidad de Ginecología-Obstetricia. Objetivos: Valorar necesidades de salud de la madre y su bebé. Disminuir el nivel de ansiedad de la madre relacionado con su nueva situación familiar. Realizar educación en hábitos de vida saludables. Favorecer la implementación de la lactancia materna exclusiva. Material y método: Se realizaron reuniones multidisciplinares para establecer y consensuar una metodología de trabajo, modificaciones estructurales, creación de una agenda de citaciones específica de Enfermería Materno-lnfantil y edición de folletos informativos sobre puerperio y lactancia materna. El universo estuvo constituido por 376 madres, obteniéndose una muestra n = 357 madres que asistieron a consulta. Resultados: El 100% de las madres han mostrado un alto nivel de satisfacción, disminuyendo el nivel de ansiedad. Se realiza un seguimiento a la puérpera haciendo hincapié en la importancia del seguimiento de la lactancia materna exclusiva durante los seis primeros meses. Conclusión: Se ha mejorado la atención integral de las gestantes que acudieron a nuestro Hospital a dar a luz, incremento la calidad asistencial y el nivel de satisfacción. La educación sanitaria a los pacientes/usuarios mejora el estado de salud de ahí la importancia de la implicación de todos los profesionales que participan en el proceso asistencial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension, pseudotumor cerebri, and benign intracranial hypertension are terms used to describe a neurologic syndrome characterized by elevated intracranial pressure, headache, vision loss, and absence of underlying mass lesion and infection. Increased cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) production has been proposed to play a role in this condition; however, in patients with CSF hypersecretion with known causes such as choroid plexus hyperplasia, patients often develop ventriculomegaly and hydrocephalus. Classically, pseudotumor cerebri is diagnosed as a triad of headache, visual changes, and papilledema. This article discusses the role of medical and surgical management and the expanding role of venous stenting., Competing Interests: Disclosure M. Mokin—Grants: Principal investigator NIHR21NS109575; Consultant: Medtronic, Cerenovus; Stock options: Brain Q, Endostream, Serenity medical, Synchron. S.T. and W. Guerrero: none., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

HPV infection results in changes in host gene methylation which, in turn, are thought to contribute to the neoplastic progression of HPV-associated cancers. The objective of this study was to identify joint and disease-specific genome-wide methylation changes in anal and cervical cancer as well as changes in high-grade pre-neoplastic lesions. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) anal tissues (n = 143; 99% HPV+) and fresh frozen cervical tissues (n = 28; 100% HPV+) underwent microdissection, DNA extraction, HPV genotyping, bisulfite modification, DNA restoration (FFPE) and analysis by the Illumina HumanMethylation450 Array. Differentially methylated regions (DMR; t test q<0.01, 3 consecutive significant CpG probes and mean Δβ methylation value>0.3) were compared between normal and cancer specimens in partial least squares (PLS) models and then used to classify anal or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia-3 (AIN3/CIN3). In AC, an 84-gene PLS signature (355 significant probes) differentiated normal anal mucosa (NM; n = 9) from AC (n = 121) while a 36-gene PLS signature (173 significant probes) differentiated normal cervical epithelium (n = 10) from CC (n = 9). The CC progression signature was validated using three independent publicly available datasets (n = 424 cases). The AC and CC progression PLS signatures were interchangeable in segregating normal, AIN3/CIN3 and AC and CC and were found to include 17 common overlapping hypermethylated genes. Moreover, these signatures segregated AIN3/CIN3 lesions similarly into cancer-like and normal-like categories. Distinct methylation changes occur across the genome during the progression of AC and CC with overall similar profiles and add to the evidence suggesting that HPV-driven oncogenesis may result in similar non-random methylomic events. Our findings may lead to identification of potential epigenetic drivers of HPV-associated cancers and also, of potential markers to identify higher risk pre-cancerous lesions., Competing Interests: I have read the journal’s policy and the authors of this manuscript have the following competing interests: Dr. Berglund discloses grants from NIH and from Florida Biomedical Research program, during the conduct of the study. Dr. Eschrich reports grants from the NCI, during the conduct of the study and other relevant financial activities with Cvergenx, Inc., outside the submitted work. Dr. Guha reports grants and personal fees from Johnson & Johnson, grants from Celldex, and other financial activities from Focused Ultrasound Foundation and Varian, outside the submitted work. Dr. Siegel reports grant from the NIH and from the Florida Biomedical Research Program, during the conduct of the study. This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.

Background and Purpose: The modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarct (mTICI) score is used to grade angiographic outcome after endovascular thrombectomy. We sought to identify factors that decrease the accuracy of intraprocedural mTICI., Methods: We performed a 2-center retrospective cohort study comparing operator (n=6) mTICI scores to consensus scores from blinded adjudicators. Groups were also assessed by dichotomizing mTICI scores to 0–2a versus 2b–3., Results: One hundred thirty endovascular thrombectomy procedures were included. Operators and adjudicators had a pairwise agreement in 96 cases (73.8%). Krippendorff α was 0.712. Multivariate analysis showed endovascular thrombectomy overnight (odds ratio [OR]=3.84 [95% CI, 1.22–12.1]), lacking frontal (OR, 5.66 [95 CI, 1.36–23.6]), or occipital (OR, 7.18 [95 CI, 2.12–24.3]) region reperfusion, and higher operator mTICI scores (OR, 2.16 [95 CI, 1.16–4.01]) were predictive of incorrectly scoring mTICI intraprocedurally. With dichotomized mTICI scores, increasing number of passes was associated with increased risk of operator error (OR, 1.93 [95 CI, 1.22–3.05])., Conclusions: In our study, mTICI disagreement between operator and adjudicators was observed in 26.2% of cases. Interventions that took place between 22:30 and 4:00, featured frontal or occipital region nonperfusion, higher operator mTICI scores, and increased number of passes had higher odds of intraprocedural mTICI inaccuracy.

Objective: To examine how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) relate to healthy weight behaviors in children., Methods: We examined data from the 2016 National Survey of Children's Health. ACE scores were calculated from 6 measures of household dysfunction. Outcome measures included 5 healthy weight behaviors. Logistic regression models assessed associations between ACEs and healthy weight behaviors controlling for sociodemographic variables., Results: Children 6 to 17 years of age (n = 32,528) with 0 ACEs had increased odds of: watching 2 hours or less of television daily (6-12 years: odds ratio [OR] 1.46; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.20-1.80, 13-17 years: OR 1.64; 95% CI, 1.39-1.94), using electronics for 2 hours or less daily (6-12 years: OR 1.44; 95% CI, 1.15-1.80, 13-17 years: OR 1.86; 95% CI, 1.60-2.16), sharing 4 or more family meals per week (6-12 years: OR 1.39; 95% CI, 1.17-1.66, 13-17 years: OR 1.68; 95% CI, 1.44-1.95), and getting adequate age-specific sleep (6-12 years: OR 1.50; 95% CI, 1.26-1.79, 13-17 years: OR 1.31; 95% CI, 1.11-1.55) when compared to children with one or more ACEs. Children 13 to 17 years of age with 0 ACEs had increased odds of exercising for 60 minutes daily (OR 1.27; 95% CI, 1.02-1.58) when compared to children with one or more ACEs. There was an overall gradient dose pattern; the odds of engaging in a healthy weight behavior decreased as the number of ACEs increased, with mixed significance levels., Conclusions: In children, ACE exposure is associated with decreased healthy weight behaviors and behavior counseling alone may be insufficient. Trauma-informed care to address intra-familial adversity may be necessary., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background and Purpose: Epidemiological studies have shown racial and ethnic minorities to have higher stroke risk and worse outcomes than non-Hispanic Whites. In this cohort study, we analyzed the STAR (Stroke Thrombectomy and Aneurysm Registry) database, a multi-institutional database of patients who underwent mechanical thrombectomy for acute large vessel occlusion stroke to determine the relationship between mechanical thrombectomy outcomes and race., Methods: Patients who underwent mechanical thrombectomy between January 2017 and May 2020 were analyzed. Data included baseline characteristics, vascular risk factors, complications, and long-term outcomes. Functional outcomes were assessed with respect to Hispanic status delineated as non-Hispanic White (NHW), non-Hispanic Black (NHB), or Hispanic patients. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify variables associated with unfavorable outcome or modified Rankin Scale ≥3 at 90 days., Results: Records of 2115 patients from the registry were analyzed. Median age of Hispanic patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy was 60 years (72–84), compared with 63 years (54–74) for NHB, and 71 years (60–80) for NHW patients (P<0.001). Hispanic patients had a higher incidence of diabetes (41%; P<0.001) and hypertension (82%; P<0.001) compared with NHW and NHB patients. Median procedure time was shorter in Hispanics (36 minutes) compared to NHB (39 minutes) and NHW (44 minutes) patients (P<0.001). In multivariate analysis, Hispanic patients were less likely to have favorable outcome (odds ratio, 0.502 [95% CI, 0.263–0.959]), controlling for other significant predictors (age, admission National Institutes Health Stroke Scale, onset to groin time, number of attempts, procedure time)., Conclusions: Hispanic patients are less likely to have favorable outcome at 90 days following mechanical thrombectomy compared to NHW or NHB patients. Further prospective studies are required to validate our findings.

Background: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many centers altered stroke triage protocols for the protection of their providers. However, the effect of workflow changes on stroke patients receiving mechanical thrombectomy (MT) has not been systematically studied., Methods: A prospective international study was launched at the initiation of the COVID-19 pandemic. All included centers participated in the Stroke Thrombectomy and Aneurysm Registry (STAR) and Endovascular Neurosurgery Research Group (ENRG). Data was collected during the peak months of the COVID-19 surge at each site. Collected data included patient and disease characteristics. A generalized linear model with logit link function was used to estimate the effect of general anesthesia (GA) on in-hospital mortality and discharge outcome controlling for confounders., Results: 458 patients and 28 centers were included from North America, South America, and Europe. Five centers were in high-COVID burden counties (HCC) in which 9/104 (8.7%) of patients were positive for COVID-19 compared with 4/354 (1.1%) in low-COVID burden counties (LCC) (P<0.001). 241 patients underwent pre-procedure GA. Compared with patients treated awake, GA patients had longer door to reperfusion time (138 vs 100 min, P=<0.001). On multivariate analysis, GA was associated with higher probability of in-hospital mortality (RR 1.871, P=0.029) and lower probability of functional independence at discharge (RR 0.53, P=0.015)., Conclusion: We observed a low rate of COVID-19 infection among stroke patients undergoing MT in LCC. Overall, more than half of the patients underwent intubation prior to MT, leading to prolonged door to reperfusion time, higher in-hospital mortality, and lower likelihood of functional independence at discharge., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC) offers a potential cure for peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC), whereas aborted cytoreduction is associated with a poor outcome. We evaluate factors associated with aborted CRS procedures., Methods: An IRB approved retrospective review was performed from 12/2011 to 2/2016. Clinicopathologic variables and outcomes are described., Results: Seventy-four patients underwent attempted CRS/HIPEC which was completed in 51 (69%) and aborted in 23 (31%). There was no difference in age, race, gender or prior treatment between groups. Patients who underwent aborted procedures had a higher peritoneal cancer index (PCI, 26.1±9.9 vs . 16.2±10.5, P=0.001). Overall survival (OS) was significantly improved for patients who underwent completed CRS/HIPEC (41.0±10.4 vs. 6.0±2.3 months, P<0.0001). Patients with an appendiceal and colorectal primary who underwent CRS/HIPEC had a significantly better outcome (median not reached vs. 6±5.4 months, P<0.0001, and 28.0±7.5 vs. 8.0±4.0 months, P<0.0001, respectively). Colorectal pathology (P=0.014) and PCI score (<0.0001) were independent predictors of aborted CRS procedures., Conclusions: One-third of patients with PC had significant disease which prevented successful completion of CRS/HIPEC. PCI and colorectal primary tumor pathology were associated with a greater likelihood of aborted CRS procedures., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: This work was presented in part at the 11th Annual Regional Therapies Meeting, February 13–15, 2016, Phoenix, AZ, and the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress, October 17–20, 2016, Washington, DC, USA.

The uniportal approach for major pulmonary resections began in 2010, with the first case being reported by D González-Rivas and colleagues in La Coruña, Spain. Since then, in different countries, thoracic surgeons had been performing hundreds of cases, with more advanced and complex procedures. Nowadays, there are reports of uniportal tracheal resection and reconstruction, carinal resection, bronchoplastic procedures, lobectomies with en bloc chest wall excision, and vascular reconstruction with optimal outcomes. The development of technologies and the potential benefits of a direct view, anatomic instrumentation, better cosmesis, and, potentially, less postoperative pain have led uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery to grow exponentially worldwide., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Introduction: In 2008, the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC) issued a quality guideline for stage III colon cancer (CC) recommending adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) within 120 days of diagnosis. We examined adherence in a healthcare system serving a region with disparities in CC outcomes., Methods: In a retrospective analysis of patients (2005-2014) with stage III CC in a multi-hospital healthcare system, the associations between adherence, clinicopathologic, demographic, geographic, and socioeconomic data and overall survival (OS) were examined., Results: Of 1171 CC patients, 438 (37.4%) had stage III disease with 63% (n = 276) receiving AC and 37% (n = 162) not. AC conferred a 5-year OS advantage (62.4 vs. 42.5%, p < 0.0001). Younger age independently predicted AC receipt (OR = 0.95, p < 0.0001). Of 252 AC patients < 80 years, 75.8% were CoC guideline compliant (GC) whereas 24.2% were not (nGC). Although there was no OS difference between GC and nGC, both had superior survival (p < 0.0001) compared to non-AC patients. Surgical complications trended towards independent association with non-compliance (p = 0.07) CONCLUSION: Guideline compliance in our system (63%) is lower than the CoC Estimated Performance Rate (72.4%). Age influenced absolute receipt of AC while surgical complications may impact guideline compliance. Even when administered beyond 120 days, AC was associated with a survival benefit.

Background Aims: Extensive animal data indicate that mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) improve outcome in stroke models. Intra-arterial (IA) injection is a promising route of delivery for MSCs. Therapeutic effect of MSCs in stroke is likely based on the broad repertoire of secreted trophic and immunomodulatory cytokines produced by MSCs. We determined the differential effects of exposing MSCs to different types of clinically relevant vehicles, and/or different additives and passage through a catheter relevant to IA injections., Methods: MSCs derived from human bone marrow were tested in the following vehicles: 5% albumin (ALB), 6% Hextend (HEX) and 40% dextran (DEX). Each solution was tested (i) alone, (ii) with low-dose heparin, (iii) with 10% Omnipaque, or (iv) a combination of heparin and Omnipaque. Cells in vehicles were collected directly or passed through an IA catheter, and MSC viability and cytokine release profiles were assessed., Results: Cell viability remained above 90% under all tested conditions with albumin being the highest at 97%. Viability was slightly reduced after catheter passage or exposure to heparin or Omnipaque. Catheter passage had little effect on MSC cytokine secretion. ALB led to increased release of angiogenic factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor compared with other vehicles, while HEX and DEX led to suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6. However, when these three vehicles were subjected to catheter passage and/or exposure to additives, the cytokine release profile varied depending on the combination of conditions to which MSCs were exposed., Discussion: Exposure of MSCs to certain types of vehicles or additives changes the profile of cytokine secretion. The activation phenotype of MSCs may therefore be affected by the vehicles used for these cells or the exposure to the adjuvants used in their administration., (Copyright © 2017 International Society for Cellular Therapy. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has experience an exponential growth in lung anatomic resections. Since its beginnings in early 90s with the conventional multiport VATS to the more recent uniportal approach, a continuous search for a less invasive procedure has fueled the development of minimally invasive thoracic surgery. In this sense, subxiphoid uniportal VATS has surge as a uniportal option that avoids damage to the intercostal nerve created in a transthoracic approach. In order for this technique to become as an acceptable choice for lung cancer, oncologic principles must be respected, including a feasible and safe mediastinal lymphadenectomy. Although technically more difficult than other VATS approaches, a complete lymphadenectomy is possible in the hands of expert VATS surgeons through a subxiphoid approach., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) has become one of the most important advances in thoracic surgery in this generation. It has evolved continuously into a less invasive approach, being uniportal VATS the last step in this evolution. Since the first uniportal VATS lobectomy was performed in La Coruña in 2010, the procedure has suffered and exponential growth that has allowed it to widespread around the world, expanding the indications from initially early stage lung cancer cases to complex advance cases nowadays. In Costa Rica, uniportal VATS started to be used for major pulmonary resection in June 2014, thanks to the tutoring from Dr. Gonzalez-Rivas. In our center, uniportal VATS is the standard approach for minimally invasive procedures, and major pulmonary resections had only been done through the single port approach. In order to evolve and progress in the experience of the procedure, and to expand the indications in which it was being performed, a "uniportal VATS master class" was held in Rafael Angel Calderón Guardia Hospital in San José, Costa Rica, from September 16 to September 18 2015. The master class was led by Dr. Diego Gonzalez-Rivas and it counted with the contribution of Dr. Li Wentao and Dr. Yang Yang, from Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital. The course attracted almost every thoracic surgeon in our country and participants also included anesthesiologists, pulmonologists, nurses and medical students. Three uniportal VATS were performed during the course, a left lower and a right upper lobectomy and a wedge resection that was the first non-intubated VATS procedure ever performed in our country., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Uniportal thoracic surgery is being continuously adopted by thoracic units around the world. Growing interest in the procedure is demonstrated by numerous workshops and training programs along every continent. The success of the technique lies in that it does not compromise oncologic principles and be carried out safely when proper training is acquired. For a surgeon to be able to perform a uniportal lobectomy successfully and safely proper steps must be ensuring. Multiple key maneuver and tricks are inherent to the uniportal approach. This article summarizes the equipment and key steps necessary to do a uniportal lobectomy., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Background: Surgical treatment of lung cancer has evolved to a minimally invasive approach and currently is recognized as an acceptable treatment for resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). As the volume and complexity of cases has increased technical difficulties had arisen. Hilar and sublobar lymph nodes can represent a challenge for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) surgeons in order to complete a safe dissection of vascular and bronchial structures without complications or conversion. It is not unusual the patients with smoking history or benign infections in the past present with enlarged calcified nodes that are fused to the hilum, fissure and specially the bronchus which can lead to an accident during the procedure if the surgeon has no experience handling this issue. As the amount of surgeons carrying out VATS lobectomies grows it is very important for them to know what to do in this specific case so the completion of the procedure can be achieved safely., Methods: The coordination between the surgeon and the assistant is very important in order to carry out the procedure without discomfort positions and good visualization, the use of energy devices in expert hands can help considerably during the dissection of lymph nodes in the hilum and fissure reducing the bleeding, which provides a clean operative field. It is a necessary maneuver during the dissection to find the correct adventitial plane between the lymph node and the structure before passing it., Results: The videos in this article show the different maneuvers a VATS surgeon can implement when facing enlarged fussed lymph nodes in the hilum, fissure or mediastinum. Improving exposure, opening the fissure, using energy and carrying out the dissection through the correct plane are keys to complete the procedure successfully., Conclusions: With growing experience in uniportal VATS and advances in surgical technology, enlarged or fussed lymph nodes are no longer a contraindication to complete a VATS lobectomy, experience VATS surgeons have a repertory of options in order to perform a safe and effective dissection., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Objective: Approximately 18,000 patients suffer from a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in the United States annually. SAH is a form of stroke and comprises 1%-5% of all strokes. Nearly 50% of all SAH cases end in fatality within 30 days of presentation; one of eight patients die before reaching a hospital. Those who survive often have neurological or cognitive impairment., Methods: This case report describes the course of two patients who presented to the emergency department with aneurismal subarachnoid hemorrhage and received external ventricular drainage and endovascular treatment of their aneurysm., Results: Both patients required treatment with Eptifibatide drip after endovascular approach and their SAH in the basal cisterns resolved by day 5. Neither patient developed signs of clinical or subclinical vasospasm., Comments: Eptifibatide drip facilitated resolution of the thick clot in the subarachnoid space early enough to eliminate the direct toxicity of oxyhemoglobin on the cerebral arteries and arachnoid granulations, thus preventing vasospasm and eliminating the necessity for a long-term shunt.

Background: Current guidelines for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening recommend initial screening at 50 years of age for normal-risk patients. Alcohol and tobacco use can be associated with an earlier onset of CRC and possibly polyps., Methods: We reviewed all colonoscopies performed at our institution from January to December 2007. Patient data were collected on age, sex, tobacco and alcohol history, and the presence of colon lesions., Results: Our data included 663 patients (643 men and 20 women) with a mean age of 60.7 years (range 23-89 years); 68.5% were current/former tobacco users, 53.7% were current/former alcohol users, 37.6% had used both, and 21.7% had used neither. Colonoscopy findings were as follows 64% of patients had no lesions, 30.6% had tubular polyps, 3.5% had villous polyps, and 2% had cancer. The current use of tobacco, alcohol, or both was associated with the early development of colon pathology (ie, 66.9 years, 61.1 years, and 59.2 years [P < .05], respectively). In nonusers, the mean age was 67.7 years., Conclusions: Our work confirms that the use of alcohol and tobacco is associated with an earlier onset of colon pathology. Consideration should be given to modifying screening guidelines to include these habits as "high-risk" factors., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Setting: In July 2005, Médecins Sans Frontières and the Ministry of Health, Kenya, implemented an integrated tuberculosis-human immunodeficiency virus (TB-HIV) programme in western Kenya., Objective: To evaluate the impact of an integrated TB-HIV programme on patient care and TB programme outcomes., Design: Retrospective evaluation of three time periods: before (January-June 2005), shortly after (January-June 2006) and medium term after (January-December 2007) the implementation of the integrated programme., Results: Respectively 79% and 91% of TB patients were HIV tested shortly and at medium term after service integration. The HIV-positive rate varied from 96% before the intervention to respectively 88% (305/347) and 74% (301/405) after. The estimated number of HIV-positive cases was respectively 303, 323 and 331 in the three periods. The proportion of patients receiving cotrimoxazole prophylaxis increased significantly from 47% (142/303) to 94% (303/323) and 86% (285/331, P < 0.05). Before the intervention, 87% (171/197) of the TB-HIV patients would have been missed when initiating antiretroviral treatment, compared to respectively 29% (60/210) and 36% (78/215) after the integration. The TB programme success rate increased from 56% (230/409) to 71% (319/447) in the third period (P < 0.05); however, there was no significant decrease in the default rate: 20% to 22% (P = 0.66) and 18% (P = 0.37)., Conclusion: Integrated TB-HIV care has a very positive impact on the management of TB-HIV patients and on TB treatment outcomes.

Pesticide use is one of the most significant occupational exposures for agricultural workers in the Amazon basin of Ecuador. A structured questionnaire was developed focusing on sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge and experience of adverse health effects related to pesticide use, details of work practices, and an inventory of pesticides used on the farm. Of the 112 farmers interviewed, 111 (99.1%) used pesticides. Paraquat was most commonly used (77.4%), followed by glyphosate (65.7%). Respondents had good knowledge about the acute health effects of pesticides and their exposure routes. Risk behaviors were identified as frequent pesticide use, washing pesticide equipment in water sources used by humans, inadequate disposal of empty pesticide containers, eating and drinking during pesticide application, and using inadequate protective clothing. Training and educational campaigns on pesticide use should be encouraged for this cohort, along with suggestions for alternative methods of pest control.