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Objective: To describe trends in mortality, major morbidity, and perinatal care practices of very low birth weight infants born at NEOCOSUR Neonatal Network centers from January 1, 2001, through December 31, 2016. Study design: A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from all inborn infants with a birthweight of 500-1500 g and 23-35 weeks of gestation. Results: We examined data for 13 987 very low birth weight infants with a mean birth weight of 1081 ± 281 g and a gestational age of 28.8 ± 2.9 weeks. Overall mortality was 26.8% without significant changes throughout the study period. Decreases in early onset sepsis from 6.3% to 2.8% (P

Background: Creativity is a highly valued quality in different fields. Despite this, it is rarely included in the curricula of medical careers. Aim: To assess creative thinking among undergraduate medical students. Material and Methods: Sixty-seven students aged 18 to 31 years (45% women) from the first (16), third (26) and seventh year (25) of medical school answered a sociodemographic questionnaire and the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking (TTCT). Results: Median creativity index according to age was in percentile 52 (range 2-99). Percentiles for fluency, originality, elaboration, abstraction of titles and resistance for premature closure were 31, 32, 79, 53 and 17 respectively. There were no significant differences between students of different levels (p = 0.73). Conclusions: In this group of students, there is a high performance in elaboration and a low score in Resistance to premature closure.

Background: Creativity is a highly valued quality in different fields. Despite this, it is rarely included in the curricula of medical careers. Aim: To assess creative thinking among undergraduate medical students. Material and Methods: Sixty-seven students aged 18 to 31 years (45% women) from the first (16), third (26) and seventh year (25) of medical school answered a sociodemographic questionnaire and the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking (TTCT). Results: Median creativity index according to age was in percentile 52 (range 2-99). Percentiles for fluency, originality, elaboration, abstraction of titles and resistance for premature closure were 31, 32, 79, 53 and 17 respectively. There were no significant differences between students of different levels (p = 0.73). Conclusions: In this group of students, there is a high performance in elaboration and a low score in Resistance to premature closure.

The study was conducted to determine the combined effect of birthweight and gestational age at birth on neonatal mortality using individually-identified livebirths. Logistic regression was used for studying the interactive effect of birthweight and gestational age on the individual probability of neonatal death. All livebirths from Chile in 2000 were included in a linked file. Odds ratio models for birthweight and gestational age were developed for each sex. The probability of neonatal death by sex was presented using contour plots. The models were statistically significant, and odds ratios were different and non-linear for the effects of birthweight and gestational age. Contour plots of constant neonatal mortality according to birthweight and gestational age were presented; they were similar for each sex. A single graph for both sexes that estimates the survival potential of infants born too early or too small would improve neonatal care in developing countries.

Biomass assessments of agricultural prunings base usually on average ratios of tons per hectare (t/ha) of biomass, usually known as residue to surface ratio (RSR). In biomass assessments at European scale it is usual the utilization of a single ratio per species for whole Europe. However, when comparing country or regional pruning biomass assessments, ratios are quite varying. EuroPruning project (FP7 contract 312078) has developed a methodology to find out relations between the pruning RSR and several of the mentioned factors. A database has been implemented from 61 surveys and multiple literature references, adding a total of 230 records from 7 countries. More than 20 climatic, agro-climatic and agro-ecological parameters were added to each record. The statistical analysis indicated small correlations for most of the variables, except for few agro-climatic variables. Regression study was applied to vineyards and citrus. Ramp functions were prepared for all crop groups: vineyards and citrus based on the regression model, and olive, nuts and fruits based on a zoning of the scatter plot. The ramps were applied to the agro-climatic GIS coverages to obtain a specific RSR ratio by NUTs3 and NUTs2. The theoretical biomass potential has been obtained by NUTs2 by multiplying each NUTs2 ratio by the NUTs2 crop area. Results were aggregated to obtain the EU28 member states biomass potentials. The final result is a theoretical potential in EU28 of more than 13 Mt of dry matter per year from agricultural prunings., Proceedings of the 24th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 6-9 June 2016, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, pp. 214-232

Background: Cardiovascular risk factors must be controlled since childhood. Aim: To assess the association of carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) with the components of the metabolic syndrome in Children. Material and Methods: Cross sectional assessment of 299 children aged 11.5 ± 0.9years (58% women) with and without metabolic syndrome components. Anthropometric parameters and blood pressure were measured and a blood sample was obtained to measure blood glucose and lipids. CIMT was measured using high resolution ultrasound. Results: Ninety three percent of children were post puberal, 64% were overweight and 25% had metabolic syndrome. Mean and maximum CIMT correlated with systolic blood pressure (r = 0.21 and 0.21 respectively p < 0.01). Children with a CIMTover the 75th percentile had higher blood pressure and lower HDL cholesterol. A stepwise logistic regression accepted both variables as predictors of CIMT with odds ratios for mean CIMT of 1.46 (1.19-1-79) and 0.81 (0.7-0.94) perfive units of change, respectively. Conclusions: In this group of children systolic blood pressure and HDL cholesterol are associated to CIMT.

Background: Plasma insulin and HOMA (homeostasis model assessment) index, used to determine insulin resistance, do not have local standard values for children and adolescents in Chile. Aim: To establish the normal reference intervals for insulin and HOMA in children and adolescents aged 10-15 years, according to sex and puberal maturation. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study of 2,153 children and adolescents from Puente Alto County was performed, during 2009 and 2010. Anthropometry and self-report of puberal maturation were assessed. Fasting glucose (hexoquinase) and insulin blood levels (chemiluminiscence), were determined and HOMA index was calculated. Percentile distributions of these variables were calculated. Results: The reference group included only subjects with normal body mass index and fasting blood glucose (n = 1,192). Girls had higher insulin and HOMA values than boys (12.5 ± 6.0 and 9.1 ± 4.9 μϋ/mL (p < 0.01) and 2.7 ± 1.4 and 2.1 ± 1,1 (p < 0.01), respectively). Subjects with Tanner I and IIpuberal stages had lower insulin and HOMA mean values than subjects with Tanner III and IV (9.0 ± 4.3 and 12.5 ± 6.2μϋ/ml (p < 0.01) and2.0 ± 1 and2.8 ± 1.4 (p < 0.01), respectively). Conclusions: The 90th percentile of insulin and HOMA distributions according to sex and maturation, was selected as the upper cut-off point to identify individuals with insulin resistance. HOMA cutoff point for Tanner I and II boys was 3.2, for Tanner I and II girls was 4.1, for Tanner III and IV boys was 4.2 and for Tanner III and IV girls was 5.0.

To study the rate of infection by Epstein Barr virus (EBV) in Santiago, Chile, the prevalence of antibody to the viral capsid antigen (VCA-IgG) was determined in a group of 663 healthy individuals grouped by age and socioeconomic level (SEL). In addition, several risk factors for infection were studied. VCA-IgG was determined by ELISA. The total prevalence was 76.7%. When grouped by age and SEL, 50% of the children from low and medium SEL had been already infected by the age two, compared to 5.9% in the high SEL (p0.01). However, by age twenty, 90% of the total sample had already specific antibodies to EBV. Age and number of household members were positively associated with the infection. High socioeconomic level represented a delay factor in the acquisition of the virus, (p0.01). These results show that EBV infection is frequent in Santiago, occurring early in childhood among medium and low SEL. Hence, the classical infectious mononucleosis should be recognized more frequently among adolescents and young adults belonging to high SEL, while the clinical spectrum of associated manifestations different from the typical mononucleosis syndrome should be investigated among those exposed in early age.