sing predictors of sexual function in mid-aged sexually active women

Objective: To assess predictors of sexual function in mid-aged women. Methods: We analyzed data of 262 healthy sexually active women (40–59 years) who filled out the Female Sexual Functioning Index (FSFI), the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) and a general questionnaire containing female/partner data. Correlations between these two measures were also analyzed. Results: Significant inverse correlations were found between all FSFI and MRS scores. This was most evident for the MRS urogenital score in relation to FSFI total, pain and lubrication scores. Multiple linear regression analysis determined best model predicting total FSFI index scores that explained a 66% of the variance. In this model, MRS urogenital score was an important predictor of female sexual function (total FSFI scores) with a significant inverse relation. Additionally total FSFI scores displayed a significant positive correlation with female educational level and HT use and an inverse relation with partner age and female parity. Conclusion: Several female/partner factors predicted female sexual function in this mid-aged series. MRS urogenital scores significantly correlated with total FSFI scores.
Authors: Chedraui, Peter; Pérez López, Faustino R.; Mezones Holguin, Edward; San Migue, Glenda; Avila, Carlos
Source: Maturitas

URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10757/347065

Characterisation of extended-spectrum b-lactamases among Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates causing bacteraemia and urinary tract infection in Mozambique

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of extended-spectrum b-lactamase (ESBL)- producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from urinary tract and bloodstream infections in a rural hospital in Manhic¸a, Mozambique. ESBLs were investigated among ceftriaxone-non-susceptible K. pneumoniae clinical isolates recovered between 2004 and 2009. Characterisation of blaCTX-M, blaSHV, blaOXA and blaTEM genes was performed by PCR and sequencing. Epidemiological relationships were established by phylogenetic analysis, repetitive extragenic palindromic PCR (REP-PCR), pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multilocus sequence typing (MLST), whilst plasmid transferability was evaluated by conjugation. In addition,the presence of class 1 and 2 integrons was studied.A total of 19 K. pneumoniae were analysed. The blaCTX-M-15 gene was found in all strains. Other ESBL genes were found concomitantly, including blaSHV-5, blaSHV-2, blaSHV-2A, blaSHV-12 and blaSHV-38. In addition, other b-lactamases such as blaTEM-1 and blaOXA-30 were also detected. REP-PCR identified 15 different epidemiological profiles. MLST analysis also showed great variability of sequence types. The blaCTX-M-15 gene showed a high transfer capacity. The presence of class 1 integrons was high. High levels of multidrug resistance were also found. In conclusion, these data show the dominance of the CTX-M-type ESBL, particularly CTX-M-15, supporting its worldwide dissemination, including in areas with limited access to third-generation cephalosporins. This finding is a matter of concern for clinical management as third-generation cephalosporins are an alternative for treating severe cases of multidrug-resistant infections in this community.
Authors: Pons, Maria J.; Vubil, Delfino; Guiral, Elisabet; Jaintilal, Dinis; Fraile, Oscar; Soto, Sara M.; Sigauque, Betuel; Nhampossa, Tacilta; Aide, Pedro; Alonso, Pedro L.; Vila, Jordi; Mandomando, Inacio; Ruiz, Joaquim
Source: Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance

URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10757/347017

Incidence of Respiratory Viruses in Peruvian Children With Acute Respiratory Infections

Acute respiratory infections are responsible for high morbi–mortality in Peruvian children. However, the etiological agents are poorly identified. This study, conducted during the pandemic outbreak of H1N1 influenza in 2009, aims to determine the main etiological agents responsible for acute respiratory infections in children from Lima, Peru. Nasopharyngeal swabs collected from 717 children with acute respiratory infections between January 2009 and December 2010 were analyzed by multiplex RT-PCR for 13 respiratory viruses: influenza A, B, and C virus; parainfluenza virus (PIV) 1, 2, 3, and 4; and human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) A and B, among others. Samples were also tested with direct fluorescent-antibodies (DFA) for six respiratory viruses. RT-PCR and DFA detected respiratory viruses in 240 (33.5%) and 85 (11.9%) cases, respectively. The most common etiological agents were RSV-A (15.3%), followed by influenza A (4.6%), PIV-1 (3.6%), and PIV-2 (1.8%). The viruses identified by DFA corresponded to RSV (5.9%) and influenza A (1.8%). Therefore, respiratory syncytial viruses (RSV) were found to be the most common etiology of acute respiratory infections. The authors suggest that active surveillance be conducted to identify the causative agents and improve clinical management, especially in the context of possible circulation of pandemic viruses
Authors: Valle Mendoza, Juana del; Cornejo Tapia, Ángela; Weilg, Pablo; Verne, Eduardo; Nazario Fuertes, Ronald; Ugarte, Claudia;del Valle, Luis J.; Pumarola, Toma´ s
Source: Journal Medical Virology (J. Med. Virol)

URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10757/347016

Childhood Abuse and Early Menarche Among Peruvian Women

Purpose: Childhood abuse has been associated with age of menarche in some studies, but not all, and few have assessed the independent associations of sexual and physical abuse with early menarche. We examined the association between childhood abuse and early menarche among pregnant women in Lima, Peru. Methods: Multinomial logistic regression procedures were used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for early menarche ( 11 years) in relation to any physical or sexual childhood abuse, physical abuse only, sexual abuse only, and both physical and sexual abuse in a cohort of 1,499 pregnant (first trimester) women. Results: Approximately 69% of participants reported experiencing physical or sexual abuse in childhood. The frequencies of physical abuse only, sexual abuse only, and both physical and sexual abuse were 37.4%, 7.7%, and 24.5%, respectively. Compared with women who reported no childhood abuse, those who reported any childhood abuse had a 1.38-fold increased odds of early menarche (95% CI, 1.01e1.87). Compared with no abuse, the odds of early menarche was 1.60-fold among women with childhood sexual abuse only (OR, 1.60; 95% CI, .93e2.74) and 1.56-fold for those with both physical and sexual abuse (OR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.07e2.25) during childhood. Isolated physical abuse was weakly associated with early menarche (OR, 1.23; 95% CI, .87e1.74). There was no clear evidence of association of childhood abuse with late menarche ( 15 years). Conclusions: Childhood abuse, particularly joint physical and sexual abuse, is associated with early menarche. Our findings add to an expanding body of studies documenting the enduring adverse health consequences of childhood abuse.
Authors: Barrios, Yasmin V.; Sánchez, Sixto E.; Nicolaidis, Christina; Garcia, Pedro J.; Gelaye, Bizu; Zhong, Qiuyue; Williams, Michelle A.
Source: Journal of Adolescent Health

URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10757/345745

China in Latin America: the cases of Ecuador and Peru between the years 2009-2012, Is it possible a commitment to the future?

A diferencia de hace algunas décadas, el dinamismo económico actual de China ha impulsado un mayor nivel de actividad en sus relaciones con los países de América Latina. Al interior de América Latina (AL), en la región andina, Ecuador y Perú cuentan con una cada vez mayor presencia de capitales de origen chino que buscan asegurar las materias primas necesarias para sostener la que hoy es la “fábrica del mundo”, todo ello basado en una visión economicista del fenómeno chino que invisibiliza la coyuntura político-social del gigante asiático. El presente artículo revisa el desarrollo histórico de la política exterior china hacia AL, desde la fundación de la República Popular China (RPC) por Mao Zedong en 1949, hasta hoy a inicios del siglo XXI, y describe, a través de los casos de Ecuador y Perú, las características actuales de la relación de China con los países de América Latina. Si bien el contexto sugiere una creciente amenaza china para las economías latinoamericanas, de ser ella estudiada minuciosamente, podría sentar las bases para una integración pragmática y urgente en la región.
Authors: Terán Samanamud, Germán
Source: Anuario Mexicano de Derecho Internacional

URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10757/345760