National Autonomous University of Nicaragua

About: National Autonomous University of Nicaragua is a education organization based out in Managua, Nicaragua. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Public health. The organization has 775 authors who have published 715 publications receiving 9791 citations.

Degradation of toxaphene by Bjerkandera sp. strain BOL13 using waste biomass as a cosubstrate

Abstract: The white-rot fungus Bjerkandera sp. strain BOL13 was capable of degrading toxaphene when supplied with wood chips, wheat husk or cane molasses as cosubstrates in batch culture experiments. Approximately 85% of toxaphene was removed when wheat husk was the main substrate. The production of lignin peroxidase was only stimulated when wheat husk was present in the liquid medium. Although xylanase was always detected, wheat husk supported the highest xylanase production. A negligible amount of β-glucosidase and cellulase were found in the batch culture medium. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of toxaphene degradation by white-rot fungi.

Community diarrhea incidence before and after rotavirus vaccine introduction in Nicaragua

Abstract: We estimated the incidence of watery diarrhea in the community before and after introduction of the pentavalent rotavirus vaccine in Leon, Nicaragua. A random sample of households was selected before and after rotavirus vaccine introduction. All children < 5 years of age in selected households were eligible for inclusion. Children were followed every 2 weeks for watery diarrhea episodes. The incidence rate was estimated as numbers of episodes per 100 child-years of exposure time. A mixed effects Poisson regression model was fit to compare incidence rates in the pre-vaccine and vaccine periods. The pre-vaccine cohort (N = 726) experienced 36 episodes per 100 child-years, and the vaccine cohort (N = 826) experienced 25 episodes per 100 child-years. The adjusted incidence rate ratio was 0.60 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.40, 0.91) during the vaccine period versus the pre-vaccine period, indicating a lower incidence of watery diarrhea in the community during the vaccine period.

Innovations in plant health services in Nicaragua: from grassroots experiment to a systems approach

Abstract: Establishing a few community-based plant clinics in Nicaragua led to a series of innovations in plant health service delivery. A grassroots experiment became a nationwide initiative involving local service providers, universities, research institutions and diagnostic laboratories. This led to the creation of a 'National Plant Health System' offering regular advice to farmers. The innovations were driven by a momentum for change, committed individuals, joint learning and flexibility in programme management. External facilitation encouraged experimentation and bolstered growth of new alliances. The development of the national plant health system was constrained by existing work cultures that limit the scope of individual and institutional innovations. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Performance of the acetic acid test when used in field conditions as a screening test for cervical cancer.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE To assess if visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) is a useful alternative screening test for cervical cancer, when used in a resource-poor setting with an existing cytology-based screening programme. METHODS Women living in Rivas district (Nicaragua), who attended the programme, were concurrently screened with VIA and Papanicolau (PAP) smear. Screening was performed by health providers who had received training in VIA and a refresher course in cytology. Women testing positive for either of the results were referred for colposcopy and biopsy when indicated. The performance of VIA was compared with PAP smear, calculating the relative true and false positive rate (RELTPR and RELFPR) and for a high threshold on biopsy (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or a higher grade). We determined the trade-off between both tests by calculating the ratio of extra false positives detected through extra true positives (EFP:ETP ratio). RESULTS A total of 1076 patients were screened. Nearly 33% had a positive screening test. On biopsy, 7.6% had a low-grade intraepithelial lesion, 4.5% a high-grade intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) and 0.5% invasive cancer. The RELTPR (VIA to PAP) was 1.96, the RELFPR 5.02 and the EFP:ETP ratio 8.04. VIA detected twice as much HSIL and invasive cancers as the PAP smear. Yet, for every extra diagnosis, eight extra false positives had to be examined at the referral level. CONCLUSIONS The VIA spectacularly increases the number of HSIL and invasive cancers detected. The high FPR is a concern for the organization of the referral level. There is a need to establish uniform criteria on test positivity and to further improve the performance in field conditions.

Mundo virtual interactivo con actividades de articulación de fonemas y sinfones para niños con dislalia funcional

Abstract: Los mundos virtuales han tenido su aplicacion en diferentes areas, en pocas ocasiones relacionados con problemas del habla en ninos. La dislalia funcional es uno de los problemas mas comunes en edad escolar, no es causada por cuestiones neurologicas. Los tratamientos directos tradicionales que los terapeutas realizan no son tan versatiles para realizarse con una cantidad considerable de ninos simultaneamente, lo que facilitaria la labor del terapeuta. Este trabajo aborda aspectos de diseno de un mundo virtual con actividades de articulacion de fonemas1 y de sinfones2, para apoyar en el proceso de reeducacion del habla de ninos con dislalia funcional. Se indican algunos resultados cualitativos asi como una respuesta favorable de uno de los ninos con dislalia funcional durante las pruebas.