Impact of Colombian health journals: comparing Publindex versus Google Scholar Metrics, SciELO and SCOPUS

 The citation based indicators are recognized by the scientific community to assess the quality of scientific journals. Colombia has a rating system called the National Journal magazines Index (IBN) / Publindex. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of the Colombian health journals according to Google ScholarMetrics (GSM), SciELO, and SCOPUS, compared with the IBN classification for 2007-2011. In analyzing journals by GSM H index, we find that among the worst journals classified "C" by Publindex, there are publications with higher H5 index and H5 median than those top-ranked journals by IBN as "B" and "A2". There are journals such as The Colombian Anesthesiology that without being in IBN, has SciELO higher impact factor than several IBN "A1" journals. There are indexed journals in Scopus which despite being quartile 3 (Q3) are rated "A2" by IBN but they are Q4 journals classified as "A1" by IBN. This shows that Publindex classification is not consistent with journal impact indicators in three systems: GSM, Scopus, and SciELO, as it has been previously suggested by other authors. It is required to improve the Publindex classification and such classification should take into account citation and impact parameters so that the quality reflected in international indicators would be consistent with the national classification.
Authors: Rodríguez Morales, Alfonso J.; Ochoa Orozco, Sergio Andrés; Mayta Tristán, Percy
Source: Rev. cuba. inf. cienc. salud

URL:  http://hdl.handle.net/10757/316347

Gender differences in the intention of recent Peruvian medical graduates to emigrate

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of emigration intention and associated factors according to gender in recently Peruvian graduated physicians. Design and setting: Cross-sectional, analytic study developed in Lima, Peru in 2010. Participants: Two hundred eightynine recently graduated physicians from Peruvian universities were included. Interventions: An anonymous and auto-administered questionnaire was handed to the study subjects to measure their intention to work abroad. Data was analyzed using the statistical package STATA 11.2, and a log-binomial generalized lineal model was used as regression model for multiple variables. Main outcome measures: Self-reported emigration intention. Results: Prevalence of intended emigration was 42.1%, higher in males (50.0% versus 36.4%; p<0.01). For males, an intermediate/advanced level of English proficiency (PR=1.77; 95%CI: 1.04-2.98) and a monthly income expectation greater than or equal to 3600 U.S. dollars in five years (PR=1.55; 95%CI: 1.09-2.21) were associated with the intention of emigrating. In women there was association with fulfilling the career without delay (PR:1.66; 95%CI: 1.02-2.71) and expectation to win 3600 USD or more in five years (PR:1.71; 95%CI: 1.14-2.57). Conclusions: There was high prevalence of emigration intention in the studied population; the economic factor was associated independently. However, English proficiency and academic regularity differed by gender.
Authors: Pereyra Elías, Reneé; Cassana, Alessandra; Mezones Holguin, Edward; Mayta Tristán, Percy
Source:An. Fac. med

URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10757/316366

Deficient Reporting and Interpretation of Non-Inferiority Randomized Clinical Trials in HIV Patients: A Systematic Review

Objectives: Non-inferiority (NI) randomized clinical trials (RCTs) commonly evaluate efficacy of new antiretroviral (ARV) drugs in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients. Their reporting and interpretation have not been systematically evaluated. We evaluated the reporting of NI RCTs in HIV patients according to the CONSORT statement and assessed the degree of misinterpretation of RCTs when NI was inconclusive or not established. Design: Systematic review. Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus were reviewed until December 2011. Selection and extraction was performed independently by three reviewers. Results: Of the 42 RCTs (n = 21,919; range 41–3,316) selected, 23 were in ARV-naı¨ve and 19 in ARV-experienced patients. Twenty-seven (64%) RCTs provided information about prior RCTs of the active comparator, and 37 (88%) used 2-sided CIs. Two thirds of trials used a NI margin between 10 and 12%, although only 12 explained the method to determine it. Blinding was used in 9 studies only. The main conclusion was based on both intention-to-treat (ITT) and per protocol (PP) analyses in 5 trials, on PP analysis only in 4 studies, and on ITT only in 31 studies. Eleven of 16 studies with NI inconclusive or not established highlighted NI or equivalence, and distracted readers with positive secondary results. Conclusions: There is poor reporting and interpretation of NI RCTs performed in HIV patients. Maximizing the reporting of the method of NI margin determination, use of blinding and both ITT and PP analyses, and interpreting negative NI according to actual primary findings will improve the understanding of results and their translation into clinical practice.
Authors: Hernandez, Adrian V.; Pasupuleti, Vinay; Deshpande, Abhishek; Thota, Priyaleela; Collins, Jaime A.; Vidal, Jose E.
Source: PLoS ONE

URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10757/316304

Peritoneal dialysis in Peru

Sir, Due to the improved quality‑of‑life and the increased survival, it is important to consider the implementation of peritoneal dialysis (PD) in the developing countries. To do this, government policy needs to support the use of PD over hemodialysis (HD). The governments of Hong Kong and Thailand promoted the PD economically as a result the PD prevalence there exceeds 80%.[1] In Latin America, the case of Mexico is worth noting, where 25% of the end‑stage chronic kidney disease patients use PD.[2] An important reason to choose PD is the favorable cost‑efficiency over HD.[1,3] Although, it is important to highlight the importance of dialysis programs, they should have a multidisciplinary team of health professionals with adequate budgetary resources and advanced technology.[4]
Authors:Vélez Segovia, E.; Salazar Huayna, L.; Alva Bravo, E.
Source: Indian Journal of Nephrology
URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10757/316272

Anorectal Amelanotic Melanoma: A Case Report

We present the case of a 60 year old patient suffering pain and the sensation of a foreign body in the anal region associated with traces of blood in stools. Digital rectal exam (DRE) revealed a hardened lesion located on the wall of the anal canal. Colonoscopy revealed a raised proliferating lesion with a blackish color which was about 2 inches in diameter. This was compatible with an anal canal malignancy. We proceeded to a biopsy and immunohistochemistry study which tested positive for S-100 and negative for HMB-45. A multislice helical chest, abdominal and pelvic CAT scan ruled out metastatic tumors and lymphadenopathy. The patient underwent local transanal excision of the partially pigmented tumor. Post- surgical histopathological results confi rmed the diagnosis of malignant anal amelanotic melanoma positive for S-100. The sample tested weakly positive for Melan-A and positive for KI-67. The favorable outcome of the procedure led to the patient’s discharge 3 days after surgery.
Authors: Núñez Garbín, Alexandra; Córdova Pantoja, Cesia; Patiño Ascona, Suzanne; Santillana Callirgos, Juan
Source: Rev Col Gastroenterol
URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10757/316271