Jorge Andrés Ramos Castañeda

OBJECTIVE: To characterize retractions of biomedical research papers that had a least one author affiliated with a Latin American (LATAM) institution. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of research papers published in scientific journals focusing on the field of biomedical research and identified by means of the Retraction Watch database. The retracted articles identified were required to have at least one author whose institutional affiliation was a LATAM country. Data were collected on the authors’ countries and institutional affiliations, the reason for retraction, dates of publication and retraction, indexing, journal quartile and impact factor. Reasons for retraction were categorized into three major groups, i.e., scientific misconduct, error, and not specified. RESULTS: According to Retraction Watch, 181 papers were retracted across 1987–2024 which fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Guatemala, Bolivia, Peru, Panama, Ecuador, Colombia, and Argentina were the countries that had a retraction rate above 1 per 10 thousand papers throughout the study period. The principal reason for retraction was scientific misconduct (63.0%) followed by honest error (21.5%). The main causes of retraction due to scientific misconduct were ethical and legal problems (33.1%), followed by fabrication/falsification (20.2%). CONCLUSION: The number of retractions in some LATAM countries, mainly due to scientific misconduct, highlights the need to strengthen ethical practices in research. Future initiatives should focus on developing and evaluating effective strategies to prevent misconduct and promote scientific integrity.

Background/Objectives: Intrinsic biomarkers, such as serum vitamin D levels and the conjunctival ultraviolet autofluorescence (CUVAF) area, have been proposed to quantify sunlight exposure. Evidence suggests that reduced outdoor activity during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic accelerated the progression of myopia; however, there is little information on the impact of such restrictions on vitamin D levels and CUVAF area in populations with myopia. This study aims to assess the association between serum vitamin D levels and conjunctival ultraviolet autofluorescence area (CUVAF) in young adults with myopia during and after the pandemic, as well as its relationship with sun exposure habits and the use of skin protection measures. Methods: A prospective observational study was carried out. A total of 59 students participated, 32 with a diagnosis of myopia and 27 controls, during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Two serological tests for total 25-hydroxy vitamin D (D2 + D3) (Calciferol) were taken, activity habits and sun exposure were identified using the Intermountain Live Well Institute tool, and CUVAF images were taken post-pandemic. Results: In the 59 participants, we observed similar vitamin D concentrations between the myopic and control groups during and after the pandemic. However, analysis of CUVAF areas after the pandemic revealed that myopes had significantly smaller areas compared to controls (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The study demonstrated that using vitamin D as a biomarker for outdoor activity requires additional investigation; the CUVAF biomarker showed a significant association with myopia.

Basic first aid (FA) knowledge is important for in‐school adolescents to save lives in emergency situations. The study aimed to evaluate the change in basic and psychological FA knowledge levels after developing an educational intervention. A quasi‐experimental study with a pre and posttest design and no control group was conducted. The intervention consisted of sessions on basic and psychological first aid for students in six schools. A knowledge test was administered to the students prior to the start of the intervention. At the end, a posttest was administered with the same questions used in the pretest. A change in the knowledge level of 185 students was evaluated. The mean difference between the pretest and posttest for knowledge level was significant (3.11 95% CI: 2.68–3.54). Airway management, poisoning, FA basics, and psychological FA all increased by more than 10 points in the posttest. The study showed that the intervention improves the level of knowledge of basic and psychological FA in adolescents. The results demonstrate that health education in the school setting can have a significant impact.

Introducción. Los cuidados paliativos se han convertido en una pieza fundamental para garantizar el bienestar y proporcionar alivio durante el curso de la enfermedad y el final de la vida del paciente. El objetivo del presente estudio es analizar los factores relacionados con el uso de sedación paliativa en pacientes con enfermedades crónicas no oncológicas que reciben cuidados paliativos. Pacientes y métodos. El presente estudio es descriptivo, observacional, relacional y de corte transversal. Se revisaron 180 historias clínicas de personas mayores de 18 años ingresadas en una clínica de alta complejidad de la ciudad de Manizales entre enero de 2022 y diciembre de 2023, todos ellos en atención paliativa. Resultados. La edad promedio fue de 79,3 años y el 92,8% residía en el área urbana. Según el índice de Barthel, el 18,9% presentaba dependencia total para las actividades diarias y el 65% necesitó manejo paliativo para controlar los síntomas refractarios, el más frecuente fue el delirium (32,2%). Conclusión. Las características demográficas como el sexo, la presencia de comorbilidades, el índice de Barthel y los antecedentes de procedimientos quirúrgicos no se relacionaron con mayor uso de sedación paliativa en pacientes en fase terminal, aunque los antecedentes de procedimientos invasivos se relacionaron con mayor uso (1,96 veces más) de sedación paliativa en pacientes en fase terminal. Los procedimientos invasivos a los que se hace referencia corresponden a procedimientos que no tienen impacto en el pronóstico y más bien se relacionan con las condiciones del paciente como presencia de gastrostomía, traqueostomía, sonda vesical y catéteres. Además, un mayor grado de dependencia funcional, según el índice de Barthel, sugiere una mayor necesidad de estrategias de cuidados paliativos.

Introduction: Obesity and physical inactivity in adolescents are associated with some diseases, and poor academic performance. Studies have reported differences in the level of physical activity according to the type of school. Objective: To compare the prevalence of obesity and physical inactivity in adolescents in a public and a private school. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among adolescents attending a public school and a private school. Ninth, tenth, and eleventh-grade students between 14 and 17 years were included. Physical activity level was assessed using the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents, and nutritional status using body mass index for age. Results: Information was collected from 343 students, of whom 55.10% (n=189) were from a public school. The 28.28% were overweight. The overall level of physical activity in adolescents was low (mean= 1.97 95% CI 1.92 – 2.01). It was found that public school students were more inactive adjusted (PR= 1.40; 95% CI 1.03 - 1.92) compared to private school students. Discussion: Adolescents do not achieve optimal levels of frequency and duration of physical activity, highlighting the need for educational programs and attractive interventions to promote physical activity. Conclusion: Adolescent students have low levels of physical activity, with more inactive students in the public school compared to the private school. The prevalence of overweight was high in both schools.

Outdoor exposure is considered the primary modifiable risk factor in preventing the development of myopia. This effect is thought to be attributed to the light-induced synthesis and release of dopamine in the retina. However, until recent years, there was no objective quantifiable method available to measure the association between time spent outdoors and myopia. It is only recently that the conjunctival ultraviolet autofluorescence (CUVAF) area, serving as a biomarker for sun exposure, has begun to be utilized in numerous studies. To provide a comprehensive summary of the relevant evidence pertaining to the association between the CUVAF area and myopia across different geographic regions and age groups, a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted. The search encompassed multiple databases, including MEDLINE, SCIENCE DIRECT, GOOGLE SCHOLAR, WEB OF SCIENCE, and SCOPUS, and utilized specific search terms such as "conjunctival ultraviolet autofluorescence", "CUVAF", "UVAF", "objective marker of ocular sun exposure", "myopia", "degenerative myopia", and "high myopia". The bibliographic research included papers published between the years 2006 and 2022. A total of 4051 records were initially identified, and after duplicates were removed, 49 articles underwent full-text review. Nine articles were included in the systematic review. These studies covered myopia and outdoor exposure across different regions (Australia, Europe and India) with a total population of 3615 individuals. They found that myopes generally had smaller CUVAF areas compared to non-myopes. The meta-analysis confirmed this, revealing statistically smaller CUVAF areas in myopic patients, with a mean difference of − 3.30 mm² (95% CI − 5.53; − 1.06). Additionally, some studies showed a positive correlation between more outdoor exposure and larger CUVAF areas. In terms of outdoor exposure time, myopic patients reported less time outdoors than non-myopic individuals, with a mean difference of − 3.38 h/week (95% CI − 4.66; − 2.09). Overall, these findings highlight the connection between outdoor exposure, CUVAF area and myopia, with regional variations playing a significant role. The results of this meta-analysis validate CUVAF as a quantitative method to objectively measure outdoor exposure in relation with myopia development.

Resumen Objetivos: identificar las condiciones sociodemográficas de la comunidad y determinar la prevalencia del estado nutricional de niños menores de seis años en el Resguardo Indígena Nasa Paéz, Rionegro-Huila, Colombia. Métodos: estudio descriptivo transversal cuyos datos se obtuvieron de dos bases de datos, una de las condiciones sociodemográficas y otra de medidas antropométricas de niños menores de seis años. La muestra correspondió a la totalidad población menor seis años. Los datos se analizaron mediante estadística descriptiva utilizando el software R Studio 3.4. Resultados: el 98,6% de la población está inscrito en el sistema de salud. El consumo de agua proviene en un 71,6% de fuentes no potables. El 25,5% de la población tiene acceso a sistemas de eliminación de aguas residuales. En cuanto al estado nutricional, la prevalencia de retraso en el crecimiento y riesgo de retraso en el crecimiento es del 43,3% en la población menor de seis meses y del 69,4% en edad entre los seis meses a seis años. Además, el 34,3% de los niños menores de seis meses estaban en riesgo de tener sobrepeso. Conclusiones: las condiciones sociodemográficas están determinadas por diferentes inequidades, bajos niveles de educación, vivienda inadecuada, consumo de agua no potable, así como por una alta prevalencia de malnutrición infantil.

Objectives: identify the sociodemographic conditions of the community and determine the prevalence of the nutritional status of children under six years of age in the Nasa Paéz Indigenous Reserve, Rionegro-Huila, Colombia. Methods: cross-sectional descriptive study whose data was obtained from two databases, one of sociodemographic conditions and other anthropometric measurements of children under six years of age. The sample corresponded to the total population of less than six years. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics using the R Studio 3.4 software. Results: 98.6% of the population is enrolled in the health system. Water consumption comes from 71.6% of non-potable sources. 25.5% of the population has access to wastewater disposal systems. Regarding nutritional status, the prevalence of delay in growth and risk of delay in growth is 43.3% in the population under six months and 69.4% in those aged between six months and six years. Furthermore, 34.3% of children under six months of age are at risk of being overweight. Conclusions: sociodemographic conditions are determined by different inequities, low education levels, inadequate housing, drinking water consumption, as well as a high prevalence of child malnutrition.