COVID-19 Public Health Measures and Patient and Public Involvement in Health and Social Care Research: An Umbrella Review.

An umbrella review of previously published systematic reviews was conducted to determine the nature and extent of the patient and public involvement (PPI) in COVID-19 health and social care research and identify how PPI has been used to develop public health measures (PHM). In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on PPI in research as it offers alternative perspectives and insight into the needs of healthcare users to improve the quality and relevance of research. In January 2022, nine databases were searched from 2020-2022, and records were filtered to identify peer-reviewed articles published in English. From a total of 1437 unique records, 54 full-text articles were initially evaluated, and six articles met the inclusion criteria. The included studies suggest that PHM should be attuned to communities within a sociocultural context. Based on the evidence included, it is evident that PPI in COVID-19-related research is varied. The existing evidence includes written feedback, conversations with stakeholders, and working groups/task forces. An inconsistent evidence base exists in the application and use of PPI in PHM. Successful mitigation efforts must be community specific while making PPI an integral component of shared decision-making.

Caracterización clínica-epidemiológica de pacientes menores o iguales a 40 años con cáncer de mama / Clinical-epidemiological characterization of patients under or equal to 40 years old with breast cancer

El cáncer de mama se encuentra dentro de los tres primeros cánceres diagnosticados en las mujeres a nivel mundial. En las mujeres menores de 40 años ocupa el primer puesto de incidencia. Alrededor de 146 000 nuevos casos son diagnosticados en mujeres menores de 40 años a nivel global. Objetivo. Identificar las características epidemiológicas y clínicas de las pacientes con edad menor o igual a 40 años con diagnóstico de cáncer de mama en un hospital de tercer nivel especializado en la atención de la mujer. Metodología. Estudio transversal descriptivo. Se recolectó información de 60 expedientes de pacientes con diagnóstico de cáncer de mama con edad menor o igual de 40 años diagnosticados entre enero 2019 y diciembre 2020. Resultados. El mayor número de casos se encontró en las mujeres entre 39 y 40 años (18,3 %, cada uno). El 60 % era del área urbana; el 80 % de las pacientes tenía una paridad entre uno a cuatro hijos; el 40 % de se encontraba con sobrepeso y el 58 % no tenía antecedentes familiares de cáncer de mama. El estadio clínico más frecuente fue IIIA. El diagnóstico histopatológico más común fue carcinoma de mama invasivo de tipo no especial (91,6 %), pobremente diferenciado, con receptores para estrógeno y progesterona positivos. Conclusión. Las mujeres con edad menor o igual a 40 años, con cáncer de mama, son pacientes procedentes del área urbana, con sobrepeso, con uno a cuatro hijos y sin antecedentes familiares de cáncer de mama; con presentación clínica inicial en etapas localmente avanzadas, con diagnóstico de carcinoma de mama invasivo de tipo no especial, pobremente diferenciado y receptores para estrógeno y progesterona positivos

Breast Breast cancer is among the first three cancers diagnosed in women worldwide. In women younger than 40 years old it occupies the first place in incidence. About 146 000 new cases are diagnosed globally in women under 40 years old. Objective. To identify the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients under or equal to 40 years old, diagnosed with breast cancer in a tertiary hospital specialized in women's care. Methodology. Descriptive cross-sectional study. Information was collected from 60 clinical records of patients diagnosed with breast cancer with an age less than or equal to 40 years old, between January 2019 and December 2020. Results. The highest number of cases was found in women between 39 and 40 years old (18.3 % each). Sixty percent were from the urban area; 80 % of the patients had parity between one and four children; 40 % were overweight and 58 % had no family history of breast cancer. The most frequent clinical stage was IIIA. The most common histopathological diagnosis was invasive breast carcinoma of non-special type (91.6 %), poorly differentiated with positive estrogen and progesterone receptors. Conclusion. Women aged less than or equal to 40 years old, with breast cancer, are patients from urban areas, overweight, with one to four children and no family history of breast cancer, with initial clinical presentation in locally advanced stages, with a diagnosis of invasive breast carcinoma of non-special type, poorly differentiated and positive estrogen and progesterone receptors

Variation of cleaning organ structures and setae of pedipalp tarsus in the family Phrynidae (Arachnida: Amblypygi).

The pedipalp tarsus of Amblypygi is used as a cleaning tool in grooming behavior and as a weapon in prey capture. The tarsus presents several structures with unknown functions that probably relate to both processes. The Amblypygi tarsus possesses a cleaning organ with two lines of projections and a group of setae distributed along the structure. We analyzed the morphological variation of the cleaning organ structures and the setae of the tarsus in species of the family Phrynidae using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Additionally, we made histological sections to evaluate the sensory function of the structures. We found variation in the shape and size of the setae, projections and granular area of the cleaning organ; however, the observed differences do not allow for differentiation of taxonomic genera. The setae and projections of the cleaning organ have an internal structure similar to tip-pore sensilla. Externally, the setae are similar to the sensorial hairs in spiders and differ from the cleaning organ projections, which probably are modified setae. Mechanoreception function is evident in the setae, and is probable in projections of the cleaning organ; the evidence observed indicates that both structures may be considered as putative chemoreceptors.

Neural therapy approach in a hospitalized patient with acute stress disorder. case report

ABSTRACT Introduction: Acute stress disorder is a picture of rapid onset that follows a traumatic event. It is characterized by dissociative, intrusive, avoidance and activation symptoms that affect the quality of life of the patient. To date, there is no evidence of a relationship between altered organ function and this disorder, and there is no literature on its treatment with neural therapy on an inpatient basis. Case presentation: 53-year-old woman, who developed symptoms compatible with acute stress disorder after the resection of an intra-abdominal mass diagnosed as lymphoma. The patient was assessed by the neural therapy department, which applied procaine into specific skin zones -determined by the clinical history and physical examination-, with improvement of dissociated symptoms. Discussion: The neural therapy approach allowed identifying the relationship between the dissociative symptoms of the patient and the associated alteration in organ function, as well as applying a therapy that led to the resolution of the symptoms. Conclusions: The neural therapy approach allows for a comprehensive perspective and treatment of the patient, taking into account the close functional relationship between mind-emotions-body. This type of treatment also offers therapeutic strategies to hospitals, which can accompany the treatment established by other health specialists.

RESUMEN Introducción. El trastorno por estrés agudo es un cuadro de rápida instauración que se da luego de un evento traumático y se caracteriza por síntomas disociativos, intrusivos, de evitación y de activación que afectan la calidad de vida del paciente. A la fecha, no se ha evidenciado una relación causal orgánica de este trastorno y tampoco existe literatura sobre su intervención mediante terapia neural intrahospitalaria. Presentación del caso. Paciente femenino de 53 años quien desarrolló síntomas compatibles con un trastorno por estrés agudo posterior a la resección de una masa abdominal secundaria a un linfoma. La mujer fue valorada por el servicio de medicina neuralterapéutica, que intervino con procaína en sitios específicos de la piel -determinados por anamnesis y examen físico- con posterior mejoría de los síntomas disociativos. Discusión. El enfoque neuralterapeútico permitió, por un lado, identificar un vínculo entre los síntomas disociativos de la paciente y la alteración orgánica asociada, y, por el otro, hacer una intervención con la que se logró la resolución de tales síntomas. Conclusiones. La medicina neuralterapéutica ofrece estrategias de intervención a nivel hospitalario que pueden ir concomitantes al tratamiento instaurado por otras profesiones en el área de la salud ya que permite tener una perspectiva integral del paciente al considerar la estrecha relación funcional entre mente, emociones y cuerpo.

4-Hydroxybutyrate Promotes Endogenous Antimicrobial Peptide Expression in Macrophages.

IMPACT STATEMENT: This study evaluated the biological activity of hydroxylated derivatives of butyrate as inductors of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in murine bone marrow-derived macrophages in vitro. A differential modulation of AMP expression by the hydroxylated derivatives of butyrate is shown. The ability of sodium 4-hydroxybutyrate to upregulate AMP expression through a histone deacetylase inhibitory-independent mechanism, and to promote increased resistance to bacterial contamination in vivo are also shown. The findings provide an alternative for prevention of bacterial contamination of implanted biomaterials. Functionalization of biomaterials with hydroxylated derivatives of butyrate can enhance the endogenous antimicrobial activity of the immune system through increased production of AMPs by host cells, thus providing protection against bacterial contamination.

Risk of endometrial cancer and endometrial hyperplasia with atypia in asymptomatic postmenopausal women with endometrial thickness ≥11 mm: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the risk of endometrial cancer and/or endometrial hyperplasia with atypia in asymptomatic postmenopausal women with endometrial thickness ≥ 11 mm. METHODS: Systematic review of literature using database search (PubMed and Web of Science) of articles published between January 1990 and December 2016 evaluating the correlation between endometrial thickness as measured by transvaginal ultrasound (double layer) and histopathological findings in asymptomatic postmenopausal women, using the following terms: "endometrial thickness," "postmenopausal," "postmenopause," and "asymptomatic." Inclusion criteria were prospective or retrospective studies of more than 150 cases that provided information on endometrial thickness and its correlation with histopathological data. Studies that included patients with hormone replacement therapy, tamoxifen, or aromatase inhibitors were excluded. The overall relative risk (RR) for EC/EHA was calculated, stratifying the patients into two groups according to endometrial thickness (<11 mm and ≥11 mm). Heterogeneity was assessed by calculating I2 . RESULTS: The search identified 289 studies. After exclusions, nine articles that met all the inclusion criteria were included, comprising data from 4751 women. The prevalence of endometrial cancer and/or endometrial hyperplasia with atypia was 2.4%. The relative risk of endometrial cancer and/or endometrial hyperplasia with atypia in the ≥11 mm group was 2.59 (95% CI: 1.66-4.05). High heterogeneity was observed between studies (I2 : 57.3%, P = .016). CONCLUSIONS: Overall the risk for EC/EHA was 2.6 times greater in women with ET ≥11 mm vs women with ET 5-10 mm, although there was significant heterogeneity in estimates across studies.

Benznidazole and Posaconazole in Eliminating Parasites in Asymptomatic T. Cruzi Carriers: The STOP-CHAGAS Trial.

BACKGROUND: Benznidazole is recommended for treatment of Chagas infection. Effects of combination therapy with benznidazole and posaconazole have not been tested in Trypanosoma cruzi carriers. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine whether posaconazole alone or combined with benznidazole were superior to benznidazole monotherapy in eliminating T. cruzi parasites measured by real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in asymptomatic Chagas carriers. METHODS: A prospective, multicenter randomized placebo-controlled study was conducted in 120 subjects from Latin America and Spain who were randomized to 4 groups: posaconazole 400 mg twice a day (b.i.d.); benznidazole 200 mg + placebo b.i.d.; benznidazole 200 mg b.i.d. + posaconazole 400 mg b.i.d.; or placebo 10 mg b.i.d. T. cruzi deoxyribonucleic acid was detected by RT-PCR at 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, and 360 days. The primary efficacy outcome is the proportion of subjects with persistent negative RT-PCR by day 180; the secondary outcome was negative RT-PCR at 360 days. RESULTS: Only 13.3% of those receiving posaconazole and 10% receiving placebo achieved the primary outcome, compared with 80% receiving benznidazole + posaconazole and 86.7% receiving benznidazole monotherapy (p < 0.0001 vs. posaconazole/placebo). Posaconazole monotherapy or posaconazole combined with benznidazole achieved high RT-PCR conversion rates during treatment (30 days; 93.3% and 88.9% and 60 days; 90%, and 92.3%) that were similar to benznidazole (89.7% and 89.3%); all were superior to placebo or posaconazole (10% and 16.7%, p < 0.0001). This was not observed at 360 days; benznidazole + posaconazole and benznidazole monotherapy (both 96%) versus placebo (17%) and posaconazole (16%, p < 0.0001). Serious adverse events were rare (6 patients) and were observed in the benznidazole-treated patients. Permanent discontinuation was reported in 19 patients (31.7%) receiving either benznidazole monotherapy or combined with posaconazole. CONCLUSIONS: Posaconazole demonstrated trypanostatic activity during treatment, but it is ineffective long-term in asymptomatic T. cruzi carriers. Benznidazole monotherapy is superior to posaconazole, with high RT-PCR conversion rates sustained at 1 year. Side effects lead to therapy discontinuation in 32%. No advantages were observed with combined therapy versus benznidazole monotherapy. (A Study of the Use of Oral Posaconazole [POS] in the Treatment of Asymptomatic Chronic Chagas Disease [P05267] [STOP CHAGAS]: NCT01377480).

Perfil clínico de casos con diagnóstico de muerte fetal temprana manejada ambulatoriamente con misoprostol vaginal en la unidad de emergencias del Hospital Nacional de la Mujer "Dra. María Isabel Rodríguez" en el periodo de enero a diciembre de 2015 / Clinical profile of cases with a diagnosis of early fetal death managed outpatiently with vaginal misoprostol in the emergency unit of the National Hospital for Women "Dra. María Isabel Rodríguez" in the period from January to December 2015

El termino de muerte fetal que ha sido definida por la OMS como aquélla que ocurre antes de la expulsión o extracción completa del producto de la concepción, independientemente de la duración del embarazo. En la última década se ha dado el manejo a la muerte fetal temprana, generalmente hasta las 12 semanas de gestación, con misoprostol vía vaginal. Esto permite evitar la realización de procedimientos quirúrgicos invasivos. En el presente estudio se investigó de manera retrospectiva, a través de revisión de expedientes clínicos, los resultados del manejo ambulatorio con misoprostol vaginal en pacientes con muerte fetal temprana menor o igual a 12 semanas, en la unidad de emergencias del Hospital Nacional de la Mujer. Entre los principales resultados se evidencia que el tiempo de consulta posterior a la colocación de medicamento fue variable, desde 1 día hasta más de 7 días. El 32% de las pacientes consulto en las primeras 48 horas. Del total de pacientes estudiadas, el 70% presento retención de restos placentarios, según reporte ultrasonografico. En cuanto a las complicaciones con el uso de misoprostol, el 8% presento hemorragia uterina y el 6% presento un cuadro de aborto séptico

Randomized Trial of Benznidazole for Chronic Chagas' Cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: The role of trypanocidal therapy in patients with established Chagas' cardiomyopathy is unproven. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, multicenter, randomized study involving 2854 patients with Chagas' cardiomyopathy who received benznidazole or placebo for up to 80 days and were followed for a mean of 5.4 years. The primary outcome in the time-to-event analysis was the first event of any of the components of the composite outcome of death, resuscitated cardiac arrest, sustained ventricular tachycardia, insertion of a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, cardiac transplantation, new heart failure, stroke, or other thromboembolic event. RESULTS: The primary outcome occurred in 394 patients (27.5%) in the benznidazole group and in 414 (29.1%) in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.93; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.81 to 1.07; P=0.31). At baseline, a polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR) assay was performed on blood samples obtained from 1896 patients; 60.5% had positive results for Trypanosoma cruzi on PCR. The rates of conversion to negative PCR results (PCR conversion) were 66.2% in the benznidazole group and 33.5% in the placebo group at the end of treatment, 55.4% and 35.3%, respectively, at 2 years, and 46.7% and 33.1%, respectively, at 5 years or more (P<0.001 for all comparisons). The effect of treatment on PCR conversion varied according to geographic region: in Brazil, the odds ratio for PCR conversion was 3.03 (95% CI, 2.12 to 4.34) at 2 years and 1.87 (95% CI, 1.33 to 2.63) at 5 or more years; in Colombia and El Salvador, the odds ratio was 1.33 (95% CI, 0.90 to 1.98) at 2 years and 0.96 (95% CI, 0.63 to 1.45) at 5 or more years; and in Argentina and Bolivia, the odds ratio was 2.63 (95% CI, 1.89 to 3.66) at 2 years and 2.79 (95% CI, 1.99 to 3.92) at 5 or more years (P<0.001 for interaction). However, the rates of PCR conversion did not correspond to effects on clinical outcome (P=0.16 for interaction). CONCLUSIONS: Trypanocidal therapy with benznidazole in patients with established Chagas' cardiomyopathy significantly reduced serum parasite detection but did not significantly reduce cardiac clinical deterioration through 5 years of follow-up. (Funded by the Population Health Research Institute and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00123916; Current Controlled Trials number, ISRCTN13967269.).

Anatomo-Functional Correlation between Head Zones and Acupuncture Channels and Points: A Comparative Analysis from the Perspective of Neural Therapy.

Background. Neural therapy and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) are part of complementary and alternative medicine in western world. Both of them share characteristics in diagnosis and therapeutics in search of changes in tenderness, pain, and skin stiffness related to visceral disease, as well as therapeutic procedures with specific stimuli on the skin that generate local, segmental, or remote reactions. Head zones explain segmental viscerocutaneous relations in neural therapy; however, interference fields and remote reactions after infiltration of local anesthetic go beyond this segmental distribution. Methods. This descriptive research required review and analysis of texts of Henry Head and traditional Chinese medicine. Results. Anatomical and functional relationships were found between Head zones in body, and head and neck with 14 acupuncture channels and their points. Anatomical areas of strong correlations were found: Head zones of heart and lung with heart and pericardium channels; Head zones of genitals with bladder and kidney channels. Strong functional relations between all Head zones, channels, and acupoints were found when following the pattern of segmental dermatomes; 235 acupuncture points were found in concordance.

Sistemas dinámicos cardiacos en neonatos normales: Ley caótica cardiaca neonatal / Cardiac dynamic systems in normal neonates: Neonate chaotic cardiac law

Objetivo: Caracterizar matemáticamente la dinámica cardiaca neonatal normal en cuatro estados: Dormido quieto, Dormido activo, Despierto quieto y Despierto activo, para desarrollar una generalización determinando todos los posibles atractores normales. Materiales y métodos: Con base en la teoría de los sistemas dinámicos se tomaron los intervalos RR mínimos y máximos de un neonato en cuatro estados comportamentales. Se realizó una simulación de la frecuencia de la dinámica cardiaca para cada estado construyendo atractores caóticos. Posteriormente se cuantificaron los espacios de ocupación y las dimensiones fractales de los atractores en el espacio generalizado de Box Counting, buscando igualdades y diferencias entre estos estados dinámicos. Finalmente se calcularon todos los posibles atractores normales, con base en una ley exponencial desarrollada previamente para la dinámica cardiaca de adultos. Resultados: Se encontraron diferencias entre los cuatro estados comportamentales al comparar medidas de ocupación espacial, las cuales presentaron valores de 199 para S1, 131 para S2, 61 para S3 y 175 para S4 en la rejilla Kp. Asimismo, se encontraron valores de dimensión fractal diferenciadores para cada uno de los estados. El número de atractores normales totales fue de 4602. Conclusión: Se desarrolló una nueva metodología fisicomatemática causal de la dinámica cardiaca neonatal que permite la diferenciación de diferentes estados comportamentales y el establecimiento de la totalidad de dinámicas normales.

Objective: To characterize mathematically normal cardiac dynamic on neonate in four states: Quiet asleep, Active asleep, Quiet awake, and Active awake, to develop a generalization determining all possible normal attractors. Materials and methods: Based on dynamic system theory, there were taken minimal and maximal RR intervals on a neonate in four behavioral states. Were made a simulation of cardiac dynamic frequency for each state building chaotic attractors. Later were quantified occupation spaces and fractal dimensions of the attractors on Box Counting general space, searching similarities and differences between these dynamic states. Finally there were calculated all possible normal attractors, based on an exponential law previously developed for adults cardiac dynamic. Results: There were found differences in every four behavioral states, comparing space occupation measures, which had values of 199 for S1, 131 for S2, 61 for S3 and 175 for S4 on Kp grille. Also there were found fractal dimension values distinguished for every state. Normal attractor's total number was 4602. Conclusion: There were developed a new a causal physical-mathematical methodology of neonate cardiac dynamic, which allow distinguish different behavioral states and establishment of all normal dynamics.

Metodología diagnóstica geométrica fractal y euclidiana de células del cuello uterino / Fractal and Euclidean geometric diagnostic methodology of uterine cervix cells

Introducción: la interpretación patológica de las formas celulares halladas en la citología cervicovaginal es de gran importancia para la prevención del cáncer de cuello uterino. Los métodos más ampliamente utilizados para la evaluación de este examen presentan problemas de reproducibilidad y variabilidad interobservador. Objetivo: hacer medidas fractales y euclidianas para diagnosticar matemáticamente células normales y preneoplásicas del epitelio escamoso del cuello uterino. Metodología: se evaluaron 21 células con diagnósticos de normalidad, ASCUS o LIEBG según el sistema Bethesda. Se establecieron medidas geométricas fractales y euclidianas de tres objetos matemáticos definidos: citoplasma, núcleo y totalidad celular. Se calcularon proporciones matemáticas entre estas medidas con el fin de compararlas con los métodos convencionales de clasificación. Resultados: se encontró que las medidas del borde con la rejilla de 2 pixeles y de la superficie del núcleo celular pudieron diferenciar matemática y objetivamente las células normales y las anormales, clasificadas como ASCUS y LIEBG, cuantificando la gravedad de la lesión. Conclusiones: se estableció una metodología diagnóstica objetiva y reproducible que permite identificar la evolución hacia estados celulares de gravedad con base en medidas fractales y euclidianas simultáneas, estableciendo así el nivel de gravedad de las células ASCUS y LIEBG.

Background: Pathological interpretation of cellular form in cervical cytology is very important for prevention of cervical cancer. The methods most frequently used for assessment of this test have reproducibility and inter-observer variability problems. Objective: To make fractal and Euclidean measurements to mathematically diagnose normal and premalignant cells of cervical squamous epithelium. Methodology: 21 cells with normal, ASCUS or LSIL diagnosis according to the Bethesda system were assessed. Fractal and Euclidean geometric measures of three mathematical objects were calculated: cytoplasm, nucleus and whole cell. Mathematical proportions between these measurements were calculated in order to compare them with conventional classification methods. Results: It was found that the nuclear border measures calculated with the 2-pixel grill and the surface measures could mathematically and objectively differentiate normal cells from the pre-malignant ones (ASCUS and LSIL). Conclusions: An objective and reproducible diagnostic method was developed; it allows to identify the evolution towards malignant cellular states based on simultaneous fractal and Euclidean measures, establishing the severity level of ASCUS and LSIL cells.

Los principios de la terapia neural desde los fundamentos del nervismo hasta la neurociencia actual / The principles of neural therapy from the foundations of nervism to current neuroscience

Introducción: La terapia neural es un tipo de medicina alternativa de origen relativamente reciente, por lo cual constituye un sistema médico complejo en construcción. Hasta el momento, no se ha realizado una síntesis conceptual que permita formular los principios teóricos que sustentan su corpus doctrinario como sistema médico complejo. Objetivo: Formular los principios teóricos que sustentan el corpus doctrinario de la terapia neural. Metodología: Se revisó la literatura de la escuela neurofisiológica inglesa, la escuela rusa pavloviana, además de trabajos de investigación en el área de terapia neural, para poder realizar la formulación de los principios con un carácter general y de este modo sustentarlos en premisas que de preferencia cumplieran con las características de inducción cualitativa, las cuales desde la lógica peirceana confieren un alto grado de veracidad y rigurosidad lógico-científica. Resultados: Se realizó una síntesis lógica de las inferencias, de las que se obtuvieron 7 enunciados con el estatuto final de principio. Conclusiones: La descripción de los principios realizada en este trabajo es un aporte para la construcción del corpus doctrinario de la terapia neural como sistema médico complejo. Salud UIS 2012; 44 (2):57-65.

Introduction: Neural therapy is a type of alternative medicine of relatively recent origin, so is a complex medical system under construction. So far, it has not made a conceptual synthesis that allows formulating the theoretical principles underpinning its doctrinal corpus as complex medical system. Objective: To develop the theoretical principles that underlines the doctrinal corpus of neural therapy. Methodology: Literature review neurophysiological school English Russian Pavlovian school, in addition to research in the area of neural therapy, in order to make the formulation of a general principles and thus sustain them in premises of preference comply with the qualitative characteristics of induction, which from Peircean logic confer a high degree of accuracy and logical-scientific rigor. Results: We performed a synthesis of logical inferences, of which 7 were obtained with the final status statements of principle. Conclusions: The description of the principles carried out in this work is a contribution to the construction of the doctrinal corpus of neural therapy as complex medical system. Salud UIS 2012; 44 (2):57-65.

Dinámica probabilista temporal de la epidemia de dengue en Colombia / Temporary probabilistic dynamics of the dengue's epidemic in Colombia

En el estudio de las enfermedades epidémicas se han aplicado diferentes modelos, tanto matemáticos como epidemiológicos, orientados hacia la comprensión y predicción de la dinámica de estos fenómenos. Dichas aproximaciones se fundamentan en la búsqueda de relaciones causales, tales como el clima, la precipitación pluvial, los movimientos poblacionales, entre otros, lo cual dificulta la generalización de dichas predicciones. Partiendo de la construcción de dos espacios de probabilidad que cuantifican el número anual de infectados de dengue en Colombia en rangos de 5 000 y 10 000 infectados y del comportamiento probabilista de casos durante rangos de años consecutivos, se realizó una predicción temporal del número de casos de dengue en Colombia.El número de casos de dengue predicho para el 2007 se encontró en el rango de 35 000-45 000 y de 37 500-42 500, valores calculados con los rangos de 10 000 y 5 000 respectivamente. Estos valores fueron corroborados con los datos del Instituto Nacional de Salud que corresponde, en la semana epidemiológica 52, a 43 564 casos en Colombia, lo que evidenció una autoorganización matemática de la dinámica de aparición de casos de la epidemia de dengue de carácter predictivo. El estudio de las probabilidades durante la dinámica de la epidemia permite predecir la cantidad de infectados para el 2007 con predicciones simples, directamente comprobables y aplicables, lo cual evita el problema causal de los modelos matemáticos y establece predicciones más fáciles que economizan tiempo y recursos.

Studying some epidemical diseases have been applied different models also mathematical like epidemiological, towards understand and predict the dynamical of this phenomena. These methodologies are founded in search for acausal relations, like climate, pluvial precipitation, demographic movements and more, which difficult to generalize these predictions. Starting from the construction of two sample spaces for probability, which quantify the annual infected number of dengue in Colombia in ranges of 5.000 and 10.000 infected, and from the probabilistic behaviour along consecutive group of years, it was made a temporal prediction about cases number of dengue in Colombia. The prediction for infected people for 2007 year was founded in the ranges 35000-45000 and 37500-42500, values calculated with the ranges of 10000 and 5000 respectively. These values ware corroborated with the National Health Institute data, for the accumulate value in the epidemiological week number 52, equals to 43564 cases in Colombia, it was evident a mathematical self-organization for the dynamics of infected people for dengue epidemics of predictive way. To study the probabilities along the epidemic dynamics led to predict the infected people for 2007, in a simple way, directly probed and useful, avoiding the causal problem for some mathematical models and establishing predictions in a more easy way, economizing sources and time.

An evaluation of D-dimer in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism: a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: It may be safe to omit additional diagnostic testing in selected patients with suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) who have a negative D-dimer test, but this approach has never been evaluated in a randomized, controlled trial. OBJECTIVE: To determine if additional diagnostic testing can be safely withheld in patients with suspected PE who have negative erythrocyte agglutination D-dimer test results. DESIGN: Randomized comparisons in 2 subgroups of a prospective multicenter study. SETTING: 7 university hospitals. PATIENTS: 1126 outpatients or inpatients with suspected PE; of these, 456 patients with negative erythrocyte agglutination D-dimer test results were randomly assigned to the intervention groups. Patients were classified into 2 clinical probability groups: those with a low clinical probability of PE (low-probability group) and those with a moderate or high clinical probability of PE, a nondiagnostic ventilation-perfusion lung scan, and no evidence of proximal deep venous thrombosis on bilateral ultrasonography (moderate- or high-probability group). INTERVENTIONS: The experimental intervention for both probability groups was no further diagnostic testing for PE. The control intervention for the low-probability group was a ventilation-perfusion lung scan followed by ultrasonography of the proximal deep veins of the legs on the same day. If the lung scan was nondiagnostic, ultrasonography of the legs was repeated 7 and 14 days later. The control intervention for the moderate- or high-probability group was ultrasonography of the proximal deep veins of the legs after 7 and 14 days. In the control and experimental groups, anticoagulation was withheld or withdrawn if PE was not diagnosed. MEASUREMENTS: Symptomatic venous thromboembolism (VTE) during 6 months of follow-up. RESULTS: Prevalence of VTE was 15.2% in the 1126 enrolled patients. In the low-probability group, VTE occurred during follow-up in 0 of 182 patients who had no additional diagnostic testing and in 1 of 185 patients who had additional testing (difference, -0.5 percentage point [95% CI, -3.0 to 1.6 percentage points]). In the moderate- or high-probability group, VTE occurred during follow-up in 1 of 41 patients who had no additional diagnostic testing and in 0 of 41 patients who had additional testing (difference, 2.4 percentage points [CI, -6.4 to 12.6 percentage points]). LIMITATIONS: The authors could not enroll 2000 patients as originally planned; 3 randomly assigned patients did not receive the allocated intervention, and 7 received inadequate follow-up. Personnel who performed follow-up evaluations were not blinded to the results of diagnostic testing at enrollment or to allocation group assignments. CONCLUSION: In patients with a low probability of PE who have negative D-dimer results, additional diagnostic testing can be withheld without increasing the frequency of VTE during follow-up. Low clinical probability and negative D-dimer results occur in 50% of outpatients and in 20% of inpatients with suspected PE.

Incidencia de trastornos psíquicos en pacientes con enfermedades médicas ¿qué hacer? / Incidence of psychic disorders in medical patients, what to do?

La prevalencia de morbilidad psíquica en hospitales generales es muy alta, constituyendo un problema a considerar por sus implicancias sobre la evolución, el pronóstico y la calidad de vida de los pacientes, tanto durante la internación como luego del alta. Este trabajo reporta datos sobre la incidencia de problemas psicosociales, detectados a través de instrumentos de screening, en la población que ingresó a los Servicios de Medicina de un Hospital General (N= 130). La incidencia de trastornos cognitivos fue del 30 por ciento, llegando al 100 por ciento en los fallecidos (5 por ciento de la población). Presentaba depresión y/o ansiedad el 50 por ciento de los pacientes. Los pacientes con comorbilidad depresivo-ansiosa de grado moderado-severo tuvieron un promedio de estadía mayor que el promedio de la población. Sin embargo, los casos en que se solicitó interconsulta a Salud Mental bajaron su promedio de estadía en cuatro días, respecto a los pacientes con igual sintomatología que no recibieron atención psiquiátrica. La frecuencia de interconsultas a Salud Mental fue del ll por ciento, cifra mayor que la reportada en numerosos trabajos internacionales. Reconociendo los logros obtenidos y sobre la base de los datos epidemiológicos, se plantea la necesidad de planificar, instrumentar y evaluar un modelo de trabajo integrado de los Servicios de Salud Mental en el ámbito hospitalario, en busca de lograr una mayor eficiencia y eficacia de la atención en salud, promoviendo la satisfacción y calidad de vida de los pacientes y del equipo de salud.

Dynamic tests and FSH biological activity in female rats with acute nephrotic syndrome.

To investigate the pituitary-ovarian status during the acute state of the nephrotic syndrome, a sequence of experiments were undertaken in adult female rats after a single dose of the puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN). The functional condition of the hypophyseal-ovarian unit was determined in control and nephrotic rats by two dynamic tests. In the first one, 10 days after PAN or placebo administration female rats were stimulated with LHRH (300 ng/100 g body wt) and samples were collected at 0, 20, 40, 60 and 80 min after releasing factor administration. The second dynamic test, which was performed in control and nephrotic rats, consists of one (day 10 after PAN) or four (between days 7-10 after PAN) doses of hCG (8 UI), respectively. In all cases, serum samples were collected on day 10. In addition, the relative in vitro biological activity of FSH from control and nephrotic rats before and after LHRH stimulus was determined. The results reveal that after a stimulatory dose of LHRH the secretion of LH was significantly diminished in nephrotic rats at all registered times. By contrast, normal response was observed in terms of FSH secretion in nephrotic females. On the other hand, no ovarian response, in terms of progesterone or estradiol synthesis, was observed in nephrotic rats after either one or four stimuli with hCG Interestingly, in spite of the normal or high concentrations of FSH, the biological activity of FSH was totally abolished in nephrotic rats. On the whole, the results from this study indicate that the nephrotic syndrome had a harmful effect on the pituitary-ovarian unit, and strongly suggest that the endocrine dysfunction could be initiated at the hypophysial level; even though a specific ovarian damage is also predictable.

Prevalencia de alcoholismo y comorbilidad psíquica en población hospitalaria / Prevalence of alcoholism and psychiatric morbidity in hospital population

Se estima que entre un 30-60 por ciento de los pacientes en un hospital general presenta algún tipo de trastorno psicológico significativo. Estos trastornos son muchas veces la causa de prolongación de días de internación y/o abandono de tratamientos, incidiendo en la morbi-mortalidad y en la calidad de vida. Objetivos: Evaluar la prevalencia de alcoholismo, ansiedad, depresión y trastorno cognitivo en población general del hospital, población de alcoholistas y portadores de hepatopatía. Métodos: Se realizó un corte transversal de todos los pacientes ingresados en el Hospital Pasteur en el mes de setiembre de 1998. Se aplicaron tres escalas: Minimental, EADG y CAGE. Resultados: En la población general hospitalaria la prevalencia de ansiedad fue de 54,2 por ciento, depresión 56,4 por ciento, trastorno cognitivo 22 por ciento y alcoholismo 28 por ciento. Se evidenció un mayor porcentaje de alcoholismo y trastornos cognitivos en la población portadora de cirrosis hepática. Conclusión: Los pacientes internados en el hospital general tienen una elevada frecuencia de morbilidad psíquica habitualmente no detectada. Se comprueba la utilidad de los tests de tamizaje y la importancia de la formación de los médicos generales para el diagnóstico precoz y tratamiento de estos trastornos