Early prediction of 30-day mortality in patients with surgical wound infections following cardiothoracic surgery: Development and validation of the SWICS-30 score utilizing conventional logistic regression and artificial neural network.

Introduction: We aimed to create and validate the 30-day prognostic score for mortality in patients with surgical wound infection (SWICS-30) after cardiothoracic surgery.

Methods: This retrospective study enrolled patients with surgical wound infection following cardiothoracic surgery admitted to a Cardiologic Reference Center Hospital between January 2006 and January 2023. Clinical data and commonly used blood tests were analyzed at the time of diagnosis.

Strategies for Moderate-risk Delisting in Highly Sensitized Patients.

Background/aim: Despite the donor-exchange program implementation for highly sensitized (HS) patients, no improvement in waiting list in those HS patients with 100% calculated panel reactive of antibodies (cPRA) is observed. Recently, it has been published the treatment with imlifidase in desensitization algorithm. However, there are low-risk strategies to reduce cPRA.

Systematic Configurator for Complexity Management in Manufacturing Systems.

Complexity management in manufacturing systems is crucial for the economic growth of countries, as efficient management can significantly improve business performance and ensure competitiveness in globalized markets. This research aims to develop a complexity management configurator that identifies critical effects, proposes solution strategies, and optimizes processes through a Lean Production and Industry 4.0 approach.

Association of Abnormal Cardiac Biomarkers and Cardiovascular Complications, with Mortality in Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Latin America.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted a correlation between cardiac complications and elevated cardiac biomarkers, which are linked to poorer clinical outcomes.

Objective: This study aims to determine the clinical impact of cardiac biomarkers in COVID-19 patients in Latin America.

Subjects And Methods: The CARDIO COVID 19-20 Registry is a multicenter observational study across 44 hospitals in Latin America and the Caribbean.

[Construct validity of the TECS questionnaire for the quality of teamwork in surgery].

Objective: To assess the construct validity and reliability of the Trabajo en Equipo en Cirugía (TECS) questionnaire.

Method: The questionnaire was administered to 401 undergraduate students who were doing surgery practices at three universities. An exploratory factor analysis was performed on the first 200 observations, and a confirmatory factor analysis on the remaining ones.

Accuracy of an intraoral scanner based on sleeve type, decontamination, and calibration.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of an intraoral scanner based on camera sleeve type, decontamination protocol, and calibration status. Five extracted human teeth were set into a gypsum stone model and prepared for various indirect restorations. An optical impression was completed with a benchtop scanner to serve as a reference standard.

Dysregulation of complement system in neuropsychiatric disorders: A mini review.

Complement system is one of the most important defense mechanisms of the innate immune system. In addition to their roles in immune regulation, complement proteins are also involved in neurodevelopment and adult brain plasticity. Complement dysregulation has been shown in neurodevelopmental disorders including schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder as well as in mood disorders.

Cognitive impairment in young adults with post COVID-19 syndrome.

In this study, we aimed to examine different cognitive domains in a large sample of patients with post COVID-19 syndrome. Two hundred and fourteen patients, 85.04% women, ranged 26 to 64 years (mean = 47.

Hand rehabilitation based on the RobHand exoskeleton in stroke patients: A case series study.

The RobHand (Robot for Hand Rehabilitation) is a robotic neuromotor rehabilitation exoskeleton that assists in performing flexion and extension movements of the fingers. The present case study assesses changes in manual function and hand muscle strength of four selected stroke patients after completion of an established training program. In addition, safety and user satisfaction are also evaluated.

Effects of feeds, supplemented with humic substances and calcium carbonate, on performance, egg quality and heart rate variability in laying hens.

This study aimed to determine the effects of in-feed inclusion of humic substances (HS) and/or calcium carbonate (CaCO) on the performance and welfare of laying hens. A total number of 144 Hy-Line Brown laying hens (55 weeks old) were randomly assigned to four treatments, T1-T4 (36 birds per treatment). T1 hens were fed on a control diet without HS or CaCO, T2 hens were fed on the control diet + 2.

[Origins and development of a national scientific policy in Chile: Conicyt, 1967-1981].

In 1967, the founding of the Comisión Nacional de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (Conicyt) constituted a milestone by creating a national and public body, different from the university, which coordinated and financed scientific-technological activity, linked to the productive development in Chile, and the history of Latin American research councils. Conicyt led a demanding process by debating the contents of a scientific policy in a period in which Chile experienced opposing political-economic development models that conditioned its formulation and objectives. This article characterizes the origins and development of this commission from 1967 to 1981 when the Fondo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología was created and a new institutional stage began.

Microbiota of diabetic foot infections in a University Hospital in Bogotá, Colombia.

The presence of infection in diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) is one of the main causes of lower limb amputation in the world. The presence of polymicrobial infections is usually the standard for isolation in such lesions, with Gram Positive (GP) germs being the main organisms involved, as is described in the global literature. However, some studies indicate a greater number of isolates with Gram Negative (GN) germs, reported mainly in the literature of Middle Eastern countries and in the tropics.

Solid-phase synthesis and evaluation of linear and cyclic ferrocenoyl/ruthenocenoyl water-soluble hexapeptides as potential antibacterial compounds.

A series of novel water-soluble short peptide-bioconjugates containing a ferrocenoyl (Fc) or ruthenocenoyl (Rc) unit was synthesized and characterized to combine the unique activity of ferrocene and the isoelectronic ruthenocene with precisely designed peptide structures. We aim at evaluating these bioconjugates as a new class of OrganoMetallic Short AntiMicrobial Peptides (OM-SAMPs). The series of OM-SAMPs was designed with a set of linear and "head-to-tail" cyclic metallocene-based hexapeptides derived from the homo-sequence H-KKKKKK-NH by substitution of lysine (K) by tryptophan (W) and by orthogonal derivatization of the ε-N-amine group of lysine by a metallocene moiety.

Biological outcomes and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) of minimally invasive full-mouth rehabilitations of patients with erosions and/or abrasions by means of the "3-step technique": part 2 of the 6-year outcomes of a retrospective clinical study.

Purpose: To evaluate biologic and esthetic outcomes, as well as the patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), of full-mouth rehabilitations in patients suffering from generalized erosive and/or abrasive tooth wear following the 3-step technique.

Materials And Methods: Patients who received a minimally invasive full-mouth rehabilitation according to the 3-step technique and who were treated at the University of Geneva and/or in a private practice were considered for inclusion. The minimum service time of the restorations was 12 months.

Retrospective clinical study of minimally invasive full-mouth rehabilitations of patients with erosions and/or abrasions following the "3-step technique". Part 1: 6-year survival rates and technical outcomes of the restorations.

Purpose: To evaluate the survival rates and technical outcomes of minimally invasive full-mouth rehabilitations in patients affected by dental erosion and attrition.

Materials And Methods: For this retrospective study, 28 subjects (8 women, 20 men; mean age: 45.6 years) who suffered from generalized erosions and attrition and who were treated according to the 3-step technique were invited to participate.

Dental Unit Waterlines in Quito and Caracas Contaminated with Nontuberculous Mycobacteria: A Potential Health Risk in Dental Practice.

Three cases of severe odontogenic infections due to nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in Venezuela that were directly associated with dental procedures and the finding of dental unit waterlines (DUWLs) in dental offices that were colonized with mycobacteria species was the reason for assessing the water quality of DUWLs in dental offices in two capital cities in South America, namely, Quito and Caracas. The main water supplies and the water from 143 DUWLs in both cities were sampled and especially checked for contamination with NTM. To measure the overall bacteriological quality of the water also the presence of heterotrophic bacteria, coliform bacteria, and was determined.

[Evaluation of changes in physical activity among participants in a company-based program].

Objetive: To analyze the effectiveness of a company-based physical activity program using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) questionnaire.

Methods: In March 2014 we implemented a company-based physical activity program (Mueve-T, by its Spanish acronym) with the objective of increasing awareness of physical activity among employees, and measuring improvements in activity level. To evaluate the effectiveness of the program, we administered the IPAQ Questionnaire, before the program began in 2014 and two years later, in 2016.

How Do Waterpipe Smoking Establishments Attract Smokers? Implications for Policy.

Background: Given the unique social nature of waterpipe smoking, an important factor contributing to its popularity is the spread of waterpipe establishments.

Objectives: With a focus on implications for regulations, we conducted a qualitative assessment of customers' online reviews on Yelp.com to gain insight into their positive and negative perceptions about waterpipe establishments and products, and identify features that are most important to them.

Design of Bactericidal Peptides Against Escherichia coli O157:H7, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Background: Antimicrobial peptides are on the first line of defense against pathogenic microorganisms of many living beings. These compounds are considered natural antibiotics that can overcome bacterial resistance to conventional antibiotics. Due to this characteristic, new peptides with improved properties are quite appealing for designing new strategies for fighting pathogenic bacteria.

Secondhand Smoke Exposure Among High-Risk Patients in the United States (NHANES 2001-2012): Implications for Clinical Practice.

Introduction: Patients with cancer, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and respiratory disease are susceptible to health consequences related to secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure. This study examined the prevalence, time trends, and correlates of SHS exposure among these patients compared with individuals without these diseases (control).

Methods: Data were obtained from the 2001-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

A cluster randomized pilot trial of a tailored worksite smoking cessation intervention targeting Hispanic/Latino construction workers: Intervention development and research design.

Construction workers have the highest smoking rate among all occupations (39%). Hispanic/Latino workers constitute a large and increasing group in the US construction industry (over 2.6 million; 23% of all workers).

Physical Exposures, Work Tasks, and OSHA-10 Training Among Temporary and Payroll Construction Workers.

Objective: We characterize and compare the self-reported physical exposures, work tasks, and OSHA-10 training in a non-probabilistic sample of temporary and payroll construction workers.

Methods: In June 2016, a total of 250 payroll and temporary general laborers employed at Florida construction sites completed a survey at the job site as part of the falls reported among minority employees (FRAME) study.

Results: Workers employed through temp agencies (57.

DNA secondary structure formation by DNA shuffling of the conserved domains of the Cry protein of .

Background: The Cry toxins, or δ-endotoxins, are a diverse group of proteins produced by . While DNA secondary structures are biologically relevant, it is unknown if such structures are formed in regions encoding conserved domains of Cry toxins under shuffling conditions. We analyzed 5 holotypes that encode Cry toxins and that grouped into 4 clusters according to their phylogenetic closeness.