Validation of a Latin American scale regarding reasons for studying Medicine (MEM-12)

Background: One’s motivations to study medicine as a career might play an important role in the performance of the future professional. Objective: To validate a motivation for choosing medicine scale in Latin American medical students. Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional multi-centered study including a sample of medical students from eight Spanish-speaking countries. Using a previously adapted Spanish scale and previous qualitative research, an initial 24- ítem Likert-like scale was generated, and subjects’ comprehension of this scale was tested in a pilot study. We calculated item-test correlation. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) using principal component analysis with oblimin rotation and Kaiser Normalization was performed. Statistical determination of the number of factors was based on the Kaiser criterion, the Cattell scree plot and an explained variance of 5%. Assignment of items was based on weak loadings greater than 0.35. Internal consistency was measured using Cronbach’s alpha (α). Results: 435 subjects were suitable for analysis; 55% were male subjects and the mean age was 21.7±2.7 years. Two items were excluded due to a low itemtest correlation. EFA initially showed five factors; however, three of them did not have adequate internal consistency and their exclusion did not affect the global internal consistency of the questionnaire. Finally, two six-item factors were included; i) social/altruistic (α=0.80) and ii) economic/prestige (α=0.71), revealed which together explained 45.5% of the variance and revealed an adequate global internal consistency (α=0.74). Conclusions: The generated scale is valid and reliable, and comprises two factors representing social and economic motivations. We recommend its use in assessing motivations regarding the choice of a medical career in Latin America.

Author(s): Mayta-Tristán, Percy; Mezones-Holguín, E.; Carbajal-Gonzalez, D.; Pereyra-Elías, R.; Montenegro-Idrogo, J.; 
Mejia, C. R.; Muñoz, S. Red-Lirhus
Source: Archivos de Medicina

URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10757/577155

Congenital toxoplasmosis

Background: Toxoplasmosis, caused by Toxoplasma gondii, is transmitted to humans in several ways, such as transplacental spread. It is estimated that this parasite infects a third of the world population and it is associated with congenital infection and fetal loss. Only 10 to 20% of the cases are symptomatic. Case report: We present the case of a pre-term newborn that had been referred to a tertiary care center. During the in-hospital period, diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis with many systemic manifestations was performed. Conclusions: Most cases of congenital toxoplasmosis are asymptomatic. Diagnosis tests and a complete physical examination should be performed on all newborns with suspicion of infection to detect all possible manifestations as in the case reported. © 2014 Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez. Published by Masson Doyma México S.A. All rights reserved.

Author(s): Beltrán-Flores, Santiago; Flores Arriaga, Joel; Lema Correa, Mauricio
Source:  Boletin medico del Hospital Infantil de Mexico

URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10757/566973

Influencia de los factores socioculturales en el Trastorno de Conducta Alimentaria

En un artículo previo realizado por Behar et al., se indica la importancia de la relación de la insatisfacción corporal (IC) y del perfeccionismo (P) como factores predisponentes para desarrollar trastornos de conducta alimentaria (TCA)1 . Asimismo, el artículo destaca la importancia del estudio de los factores socioculturales vinculados con el incremento de la IC y, consecuentemente, de los TCA2 .

Autor(s): Zevallos Delzo, Carolina; Catacora Villasante, Manuel M.
Source: Revista chilena de neuro-psiquiatría (Rev. chil. neuro-psiquiatr.)
URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10757/561283 

Guía para diagnóstico y tratamiento de la Enfermedad de Gaucher

Guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of Gaucher Disease

La enfermedad de Gaucher (EG), debe su nombre por haber sido descrita por Phillipe Gaucher en 1882. Es la enfermedad más frecuente del grupo de las enfermedades de depósito lisosomal comprendidas dentro de los errores innatos del metabolismo (1). La enfermedad de Gaucher se debe a mutaciones en el gen responsable de la síntesis de la enzima lisosomal b-glucocerebrosidasa ácida, también llamada ß-Glucosidasa ácida, (o ß-GA), cuyos locus se ubica en 1q21, es decir en la banda uno de la región 2 del brazo largo del cromosoma 1. El patrón de herencia es autosómico recesivo, es decir que la mutación en éste gen debe darse en estado de homocigocia (2).

Autor(s): Colquicocha Murillo, Maria; Cucho Jurado, Janetliz; Eyzaguirre Zapata, Renee Mercedes; Manassero Morales, Gioconda;Moreno Larrea, Mariela del Carmen; Salas Arbizu, Katia Liliana; Torres Argandoña, Aimee Margarita; Vargas Castro, Jesús Olga
Fuente: Revista Médica Herediana (Rev Med Hered.)
URL:  http://hdl.handle.net/10757/559196

Impacto del fenómeno "El Niño" de 1997-1998 en la salud de la población peruana, riesgo potencial para el 2015

Impact of the "El Niño" phenomenon from 1997 to 1998 on the health of the peruvian population: Risk potencial for 2015

Sr. Editor. El National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration de los Estados Unidos y el Servicio Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología del Perú han comunicado que en el 2015 se presentará un nuevo fenómeno “El Niño” (El Niño Oscilación Sur-ENSO). Este fenómeno produce elevación de la temperatura ambiental y un incremento de las precipitaciones pluviales (1); ocasionando inundaciones y aluviones (“huaycos”) como consecuencias inmediatas y posteriormente alteración del ecosistema favoreciendo el incremento de la vegetación y la aparición de plagas de insectos y roedores.

Author(s): Suarez Ognio, Luis; Estela Ayamamani, David; Cáceres Mejía, Brenda; Gambirazio Carbajal, Carlos; Cabrera, Rufino
Source:  Revista Peruana de Medicina Experimental y Salud Pública (Rev Peru Med Exp Salud Publica (Rev Peru Med Exp Salud Publica)

URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10757/559080