Guatemala

Four new species are described: Lepturges (Lepturges) consimilis sp. nov. (Acanthocinini), from Costa Rica and Panama; Oedopeza raberi sp. nov. and Oedopeza hovorei sp. nov. (Acanthocinini), from Panama; and Cirrhicera vandenberghei sp. nov. (Hemilophini), from Guatemala. Cirrhicera panamensis Bates, 1885 is synonymized with C. sallei Thomson, 1857.

Three new species of the cochyline genus Cirrothaumatia Razowski & Becker, 1986 are described and illustrated from submontane Andean sites in Peru (Depts. Amazonas, Junn, and San Martn): C. pichita n. sp., C. huemboana n. sp., and C. moyobamba n. sp. Comments and illustrations are provided for the three previously described species from southern Mexico (Veracruz), Central America (Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Panama), and northern South America (Venezuela: Edo. Aragua; Ecuador: Pichincha Prov.).

Paralethus montanus n. sp. is described from Chiapas, Mexico. This new species constitutes the first record of the genus for Mexico, previously known only for El Salvador and Guatemala, and it is the first episactid species collected at higher elevations (above 3000 m). A standardization for the abbreviations of the genital structures of episactids is proposed, which could apply to other groups of eumastacoids. A key for the identification of Paralethus species is also provided. Finally, the taxonomy of the genus and the spatial and altitudinal distribution of Central American taxa are discussed...

BACKGROUND: Guatemala remains one of the poorest countries in Central America and suffers from high rates of social inequality and violence. In addition to the negative impact that two years without attending school has had on Guatemalan children due to the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, this unfavourable socioeconomic context poses a risk to children's emotional and cognitive development. This work presents a protocol for implementing a cognitive and emotional stimulation program aimed at increasing the academic performance of these children and consequently improving their quality of life...

Chronic diarrhea is a common disorder in tropical regions, affecting residents, visitors, and even expatriates. It may stem from a myriad of infectious, inflammatory, and even malignant causes. In patients in whom no etiology has been found, tropical sprue (TS) is an important diagnosis to consider. We report the case of a 60-year-old man originally from Guatemala, presenting with chronic diarrhea and megaloblastic anemia due to severe vitamin B12 deficiency. Biopsies of the small bowel revealed partial villous atrophy and inflammatory infiltrate with the participation of eosinophils...

Combining ecological resilience theory with a phenomenological epistemology, we explored experiential, social, and cultural factors mediating resilience-building with participants from a village destroyed by the 2018 Fuego volcanic eruption in Guatemala. The purpose of the study is to find out what strategies displaced families and communities employ for living through the aftermath of a volcano eruption and for building psychological resilience. We conducted semistructured interviews with nine survivors of the Fuego eruption, now relocated and coping with the loss of community and family members killed in the disaster...

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects around 10% of the global population and has been estimated to affect around 50% of individuals with type 2 diabetes and 50% of those with heart failure. The guideline-recommended approach is to manage with disease-modifying therapies, but real-world data suggest that prescribing rates do not reflect this in practice. OBJECTIVE: To develop a cross-specialty consensus on optimal management of the patient with CKD using a modified Delphi method...

OBJECTIVE: We estimated the prevalence and time trends of the double burden of malnutrition (DBM) in Guatemala and explored its occurrence based on socio-demographic factors. STUDY DESIGN: This was a secondary data analysis using information from four Demographic and Health Surveys covering the period 1998-2015. METHODS: The unit of analysis was the household within which information was gathered from women 18-49 years and their children, 6-59 months...

BACKGROUND: In 2018, the World Health Organization commenced a multi-country validation study of the Cepheid GeneXpert for a range of molecular-based point-of-care (POC) tests in primary care settings. One study arm focused on the evaluation of POC tests for screening 'women at risk' for chlamydia (CT), gonorrhoea (NG) and trichomonas (TV) in four countries - Australia, Guatemala, Morocco and South Africa. METHODS: Study participants completed a pre-test questionnaire which included demographics, clinical information and general questions on POC testing (POCT)...

INTRODUCTION: Action 3 of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing plan is to deliver integrated care to improve older adults' lives. Integrated care is vital in meeting the complex needs of people with dementia but little is known about how this is or could be delivered in low and middle income countries (LMIC). This paper provides insights into previously unknown care system structures and on the potential and reality of delivering integrated care in Central America for people with dementia...

BACKGROUND: The advent of precision oncology (PO) has revolutionised diagnostic and follow up strategies and improved clinical outcomes for cancer patients. However, socio-economic inequalities in the level of implementation of PO in different countries is a prevailing issue. To improve this situation, the Latin America Patients Academy has gathered the recommendations of healthcare professionals and social civil members experienced in cancer management from Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Panama, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Peru and Argentina regarding the areas that need to be prioritised to improve the access to PO in Latin American (LATAM) countries...

BACKGROUND: Tools to accurately assess infants' neurodevelopmental status very early in their lives are limited. Wearable sensors may provide a novel approach for very early assessment of infant neurodevelopmental status. This may be especially relevant in rural and low-resource global settings. METHODS: We conducted a longitudinal observational study and used wearable sensors to repeatedly measure the kinematic leg movement characteristics of 41 infants in rural Guatemala three times across full days between birth and 6 months of age...

Achieving sustainable food security in Guatemala, where nearly half the population is food insecure and 50% of children face chronic malnutrition, is challenging. This mixed-methods study aimed to identify the impacts of climate change on food production, community food security, and household food security. Twelve agricultural group leaders in six communities were interviewed using semi-structured guides. Key informant interview themes included subsistence agriculture, commercial production, challenges related to climate, capital, market, and capacity, as well as sustainable opportunities...

The United States has long been the leading destination for Latin Americans seeking refuge. However, in the last 7 years, many children from Mexico and northern Central America, composed of El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala, have joined this migratory flow. The experience of forced migration is intense, chronic, and complex for children in their home countries, during their journey, and on arrival in the United States. Their stories can inform clinical practices, such as Psychological First Aid and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, to promote resilience in children in vulnerable conditions...

Data published on Panamanian fungal disease are scarce, mostly case reports. To date, there is no paper that compiles the burden of fungal disease Here we estimate for the first time the incidence and prevalence of fungal diseases in Panama. Data on fungal disease were obtained from different search engines: PubMed, Google Scholar, Scielo and Lilacs. For population and at risk diseases, we used statistics from worldometer, UNAIDS, and WHO. Incidence, prevalence, and absolute numbers were calculated based on the population at risk...

BACKGROUND: In the Americas, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has promoted initiatives that aim at the elimination of mother-to-child transmitted diseases for over two decades. Although Guatemala has assumed the commitment to improve access and coverage of reproductive and perinatal services, the goals have not yet been reached. Often, the implementation of these efforts is hampered by complexities rooted in social, cultural, and environmental intersections. The objective of this work is to share our experience applying gender intersectionality as a methodological and analytical tool in a participatory research project that aims to improve access to maternal and child health screening services...

Low and middle-income countries, such as Guatemala, shoulder a disproportionate share of cervical cancer, a preventable disease in high income countries. Tangible obstacles, such as lack of access to health care, cultural differences, and insufficient infrastructure, and facilitators, such as being Ladino, married, and educated, have been identified in the literature related to cervical cancer prevention. The aim of this survey was to explore barriers and facilitators to cervical cancer prevention, comparing rural Indigenous and urban Ladino populations...

INTRODUCTION: The frequency of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Latin America has decreased considerably. However, new infections continue to be recorded, and the pediatric population remains one of the most vulnerable groups in this region. The main objective of the study was to describe the clinical, epidemiological and psychosocial characteristics of new diagnoses of HIV MTCT in 2018 in the PLANTAIDS network (Paediatric Network for Prevention, Early Detection and Treatment of HIV in Children) during the 3 years following diagnosis...

Background Exposure to extreme heat impacts millions of people worldwide and outdoor workers are among the populations most affected by high temperatures. Heat stress induces several biological responses in humans, including the production of heat shock proteins (HSP) and antibodies against HSP (anti-HSP) which may play a central role in the body's cellular response to a hot environment. Objective This longitudinal study investigated the impact of high temperatures and humidity on the presence of HSP70 and anti-HSP70 and examined relationships with markers of kidney function in an at-risk workforce under conditions of extreme heat and exertion in Guatemala...

Nutrient-dense, acceptable foods are needed in low-resource settings. Rice bran, a global staple byproduct of white rice processing, is rich in amino acids, fibers, and vitamins, when compared to other cereal brans. This pilot study examines the nutritional contribution of rice bran to the daily diets of mother-child pairs in rural southwest Guatemala. Thirty households were screened. Mothers (≥18 years) and children (6 to 24 months) completed 24 h dietary recalls at baseline and after 12 weeks (endline) for diet intake and diversity analyses...