Gac Med Mex
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Health literacy integrates skills around health care. The measurement of health literacy is relevant for proposing improvement interventions. The European HLS-EU-Q16 scale allows to comprehensively evaluate health literacy, but its psychometric properties have not been assessed in Mexico. ⋯ The HLS-EU-Q12M scale in Mexican Spanish is a valid instrument for assessing health literacy in adults with hypertension.
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A perspective of epidemics and pandemics in Mexico is offered, focusing on three time periods, namely, end of the 18th century, the 20th century, and the 21st century, in order to analyze how they were approached by health and government authorities, as well as the challenges they have represented. Historical documentary sources were consulted and, in current cases, participation in them was analyzed. Epidemiological and social historical methodologies were combined. The presence of epidemics in Mexico is a constant on its evolution, which highlights the need for the epidemiological surveillance system to be updated, the importance of being prepared to face an epidemic and to develop a contingency plan.
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Although most patients with celiac disease (CD) have digestive manifestations, in some of them they may be of extraintestinal (atypical) nature, such as chronic anemia, ataxia, and fertility disorders. ⋯ Up to 4.6% of women with infertility had at least one positive marker for CD. As in other parts of the world, screening for CD could be recommended in women with infertility, especially in those with unexplained infertility.
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SARS-CoV-2 infection is confirmed with the polymerase chain reaction test. Its positivity is determined by the cycle threshold (Ct), which is inversely proportional to viral load. ⋯ The Ct value, correlated with other patient characteristics, can guide the prognosis, as well as the design of interventions that limit the spread of the virus within the population.
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Data on visual impairment (VI) in patients with diabetes are necessary in order to guide economic and human resources for reducing its prevalence. ⋯ Thirty percent of participants had some degree of VI. Moderate or worse VI showed a strong association with STDR and referable DME.