Higher levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 in cord blood associate with risk of asthma at age 3.

Rationale: Experimental studies and epidemiological data in adults suggest that somatomedin-C (insulin-like growth factor-1, IGF-1) may play a role in asthma by modulating airway inflammation, bronchial hyperreactivity, and airway smooth muscle hyperplasia. However, its role in children with asthma is not well understood.

Methods: We established a birth cohort with 339 Chilean pregnant mothers enrolled at the time of delivery from December 2014 to January 2016.

A Bayesian Mixture Cure Rate Model for Estimating Short-Term and Long-Term Recidivism.

Mixture cure rate models have been developed to analyze failure time data where a proportion never fails. For such data, standard survival models are usually not appropriate because they do not account for the possibility of non-failure. In this context, mixture cure rate models assume that the studied population is a mixture of susceptible subjects who may experience the event of interest and non-susceptible subjects that will never experience it.

Association of adenotonsillectomy with wheezing episodes in childhood: A secondary analysis of the Childhood Adenotonsillectomy Trial.

Background: Observational studies suggest that asthma/wheezing improves after adenotonsillectomy (AT). However, there is a paucity of randomized clinical trial (RCT) specifically studying the effects of AT in asthma/wheezing. Therefore, we conducted a post-hoc analysis of the Childhood Adenotonsillectomy Trial (CHAT), the largest RCT of AT in children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) to test the hypothesis that AT would result in fewer wheezing episodes.

Validity of a questionnaire on self-efficacy for Pap test adherence screening.

Introduction: Self-efficacy has been related to different health preventive behaviors, included adherence to the Papanicolaou test-also called Pap smear or Pap test. The aim of this study is to test construct and criterion validity and reliability of a questionnaire on self-efficacy and the Pap test in Chilean women.

Method: This study was carried out on a sample of 969 women of ages from 25 to 64, who are users of the public health care system in Santiago, Chile.

Identification of biomarkers for disease severity in nasopharyngeal secretions of infants with upper or lower respiratory tract viral infections.

Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) produced by viruses are the most frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in children younger than 5 years of age. The immune response triggered by viral infection can induce a strong inflammation in the airways and cytokines could be considered as biomarkers for disease severity as these molecules modulate the inflammatory response that defines the outcome of patients. Aiming to predict the severity of disease during respiratory tract infections, we conducted a 1-year follow-up observational study in infants who presented upper or lower respiratory tract infections caused by seasonal respiratory viruses.

The asthma predictive index as a surrogate diagnostic tool in preschoolers: Analysis of a longitudinal birth cohort.

Unlabelled: Diagnosing asthma in preschool children remains an unsolved challenge, at a time when early identification would allow for better education and treatment to prevent morbidity and lung function deterioration.

Objective: To evaluate if the asthma predictive index (API) can be used as surrogate for asthma diagnosis in preschoolers.

Methods: Birth cohort of 339 pregnant women enrolled at delivery and their offspring, who were followed for atopy, wheezing, and other respiratory illnesses through 30 months of age.

[Prevalence of smoking among Chilean older people].

Background: Smoking is one of the main causes of death among adults worldwide.

Aim: To characterize smoking among Chilean older people, according to sociodemographic and clinical variables.

Material And Methods: Secondary analysis of data obtained during the National Health Survey 2009-10, selecting individuals aged 60 years and older.

Number of Remaining Teeth and Its Association with Educational Level in Chilean Adults: Data from the National Health Survey 2016-2017.

Introduction: Several population studies have addressed oral health inequalities. Edentulism, functional dentition, and number of remaining teeth have been associated with different socioeconomic level measurements. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between educational level and tooth loss in the Chilean population aged 15 years and above, based on the 2016-2017 National Health Survey (ENS 2016-2017).

Leptin in Cord Blood Associates with Asthma Risk at Age 3 in the Offspring of Women with Gestational Obesity.

Maternal obesity is associated with asthma in the offspring. Whether cord blood leptin is associated with risk of asthma in offspring is unclear. To assess whether cord blood leptin from women with pregestational obesity predict preschool asthma.

Bradykinin Exerts Independent Effects on Trophoblast Invasion and Blood Pressure in Pregnant Guinea Pigs.

Introduction: The pleiotropic kininogen-kallikrein-kinin system is upregulated in pregnancy and localizes in the uteroplacental unit. To identify the systemic and local participation of the bradykinin type 2 receptor (B2R), this was antagonized by Bradyzide (BDZ) during 2 periods: from days 20 to 34 and from days 20 to 60 in pregnant guinea pigs.

Methods: Pregnant guinea pigs received subcutaneous infusions of saline or BDZ from gestational day 20 until sacrifice on day 34 (Short B2R Antagonism [SH-B2RA]) or on day 60 (Prolonged B2R Antagonism [PR-B2RA]).

Fair reliability of eckardt scores in achalasia and non-achalasia patients: Psychometric properties of the eckardt spanish version in a multicentric study.

Background: Eckardt symptom score (ESS) is the most used tool for the evaluation of esophageal symptoms. Recent data suggest that it might have suboptimal reliability and validity. The aims of this study were as follows: (a) Develop and validate an international Spanish ESS version.

Predictors of damage accrual in systemic lupus erythematosus: a longitudinal observational study with focus on neuropsychological factors and anti-neuronal antibodies.

Objective: Central nervous system disease occurs in over 20% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) resulting in major morbidity and damage. Cognitive dysfunction is common in SLE, but the cause remains uncertain and treatment options are limited. This study explores the influence of clinical, neuropsychological factors and anti-neuronal antibodies on lupus damage accrual.

Preschoolers with recurrent wheezing have a high prevalence of sleep disordered breathing.

: Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is highly prevalent in school children with poorly-controlled asthma. However, this association has not been assessed in preschoolers with recurrent wheeze, nor in those at risk for asthma. We hypothesized that preschoolers with asthma risk (positive asthma predictive index [API]) have a higher prevalence of SDB and higher inflammatory biomarkers (blood-hsCRP and urinary-LTE4) levels than those with negative API.

Bradykinin Exerts Independent Effects on Trophoblast Invasion and Blood Pressure in Pregnant Guinea Pigs.

Introduction:: The pleiotropic kininogen-kallikrein-kinin system is upregulated in pregnancy and localizes in the uteroplacental unit. To identify the systemic and local participation of the bradykinin type 2 receptor (B2R), this was antagonized by Bradyzide (BDZ) during 2 periods: from days 20 to 34 and from days 20 to 60 in pregnant guinea pigs.

Methods:: Pregnant guinea pigs received subcutaneous infusions of saline or BDZ from gestational day 20 until sacrifice on day 34 (Short B2R Antagonism [SH-B2RA]) or on day 60 (Prolonged B2R Antagonism [PR-B2RA]).

[Clinical learning strategies among medical students].

Background: Throughout medical education, students are gradually incorporated into authentic clinical practice scenarios.

Aim: To describe the use of clinical learning strategies by Chilean students and compare them according to sex and year of training.

Material And Methods: The Clinical Learning Strategies Questionnaire (CEACLIN) was applied to 336 students from the 4th to 6th year of medicine at a Chilean university.

Simulated training program in abdominal paracentesis for undergraduate medical students.

Background And Aims: Abdominal paracentesis is an area that every general physician should know about, and the current learning model is unsafe for patients. Simulation allows students to develop their skills prior to clinical confrontation with minimal risks. The aims of this study were to design and evaluate a paracentesis simulation workshop for undergraduate students.

[Undergraduate student's perception of clinical simulation workshops: assessment of an instrument].

Background: Simulation is a useful training tool for undergraduate medical students. A valid instrument is needed to assess students' perception of simulation workshops.

Aim: To adapt and validate an instrument to assess the undergraduate medical student's perception of simulation workshops of clinical procedures.

The conundrum of the Epstein-Barr virus-associated gastric carcinoma in the Americas.

Epstein-Barr virus-associated gastric carcinoma shows a higher prevalence in the Americas than Asia. We summarize all studies of Epstein Barr virus-associated gastric carcinoma in the Americas, focusing on host characteristics, environmental associations and phylogeographic diversity of Epstein-Barr virus strains. In the Americas, the prevalence of Epstein Barr virus-associated gastric carcinoma is 11.

[Fear of falling: Validation of a measurement tool in Chilean elderly living in the community].

Unlabelled: INTRODUCCIóN: Fear of falling, with or without previous falls history, is a risk factor for decreased mobility, disability, as well as a decreased quality of life, and can trigger the self-restriction of activities with loss of independence and functionality. Validated tools for measuring the fear of falling in the Chilean population is a needed to detect those at risk. There are currently no validated instruments to measure this phenomenon in Chile.

Development and testing of the questionnaire CEC-61: Knowledge about cervical cancer in Chilean adolescents.

Despite a clear association between human papillomavirus and cervical cancer, knowledge in adolescent populations regarding the disease and methods for its detection and prevention is deficient. The aim of this study was to develop and test a new questionnaire concerning knowledge on cervical cancer. An instrument was developed and validated to measure knowledge in 226 Chilean adolescents between April and June 2011.

Caregiver's depressive symptoms and asthma control in children from an underserved community.

Unlabelled: Caregiver's or maternal depression has been associated with increased asthma morbidity in children from prosperous nations, but little is known about this link in low and middle-income countries.

Objective: To examine if caregiver's depressive symptoms are associated with poor asthma control and abnormal immune responses in school-aged children.

Methods: Case-control study of 87 asthmatic children (aged 4-11 years) attending a primary care clinic in an underserved area of Santiago (Chile).

Validation of a Spanish Version of the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form Questionnaire.

Background: The Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF) is a multidimensional measure of well-being designed to assess emotional, psychological and social well-being.  It has been translated into different languages; however, there is no validated Spanish version.  Our aim was to provide the Spanish-speaking community with a validated version of the MHC-SF.

[Benefit of adjuvant 5-fluorouracil based chemotherapy for colon cancer: a retrospective cohort study].

Background: Multiple clinical trials have demonstrated the benefits of adjuvant 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy for patients with resectable colon cancer (CC), especially in stage III.

Aim: To describe the clinical characteristics of a cohort of CC patients treated at a single university hospital in Chile since 2002, and to investigate if chemotherapy had an effect on survival rates.

Material And Methods: Review of a tumor registry of the hospital.