Sedoanalgesia With Ketamine in the Emergency Department: Factors Associated With Unsatisfactory Effectiveness.

OBJECTIVE: Ketamine is a safe and widely used sedative and analgesic in children. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the response to sedoanalgesia for painful procedures in the pediatric emergency department. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted in children younger than 16 years who underwent painful procedures with intravenous/intranasal ketamine between January 2016 and December 2022. We collected demographic variables, effectiveness, route of administration, indication, dose, sedation strategy, duration of procedure, and associated adverse effects. RESULTS: A total of 671 ketamine sedation procedures (411 males/260 females) were included, with a mean age of 7.2 years. Closed reduction was the most common painful procedure (53.8%), followed by burn healing (24.6%). Ketamine was administered intravenously in 93.4% of procedures and intranasally in 6.6%. The result of sedoanalgesia was satisfactory in 84.9% and unsatisfactory in 15.1%. The percentage of cases with unsatisfactory analgesia was higher with intranasal administration (36.4%; P < 0.001). In the intravenous group, the percentage of cases with unsatisfactory effectiveness (28.7%) was higher for patients younger than 2 years of age (P < 0.001). Arthrocentesis procedures were associated with the highest percentage of unsatisfactory sedoanalgesia failures among patients receiving intravenous ketamine (39.3%; P < 0.001). Intranasal ketamine patients who received a dose between 3.6 and 4 mg/kg had a significantly higher percentage of unsatisfactory sedoanalgesia (66.7%; P = 0.048). Patients receiving intravenous ketamine had significantly higher rates of unsatisfactory sedoanalgesia when the initial dose interval was 1.6 to 2 mg/kg (11.8%; P = 0.002) and when the final total dose was also 1.6 to 2 mg/kg (17.6%; P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: This study concludes that intravenous/intranasal ketamine can provide safe and successful analgesia in pediatric patients in the ED. At intravenous doses of 1-1.5 mg/kg, good effectiveness was achieved in almost 90% of cases. Arthrocentesis had the highest percentage of unsatisfactory results. Repeat dosing should be considered for procedures longer than 20 minutes.

In Vivo, In Vitro and In Silico Anticancer Activity of Ilama Leaves: An Edible and Medicinal Plant in Mexico.

Ilama leaves are an important source of secondary metabolites with promising anticancer properties. Cancer is a disease that affects a great number of people worldwide. This work aimed to investigate the in vivo, in vitro and in silico anticancer properties of three acyclic terpenoids (geranylgeraniol, phytol and farnesyl acetate) isolated from petroleum ether extract of ilama leaves. Their cytotoxic activity against U-937 cells was assessed using flow cytometry to determine the type of cell death and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Also, a morphological analysis of the lymph nodes and a molecular docking study using three proteins related with cancer as targets, namely, Bcl-2, Mcl-1 and VEGFR-2, were performed. The flow cytometry and histomorphological analysis revealed that geranylgeraniol, phytol and farnesyl acetate induced the death of U-937 cells by late apoptosis and necrosis. Geranylgeraniol and phytol induced a significant increase in ROS production. The molecular docking studies showed that geranylgeraniol had more affinity for Bcl-2 and VEGFR-2. In the case of farnesyl acetate, it showed the best affinity for Mcl-1. This study provides information that supports the anticancer potential of geranylgeraniol, phytol and farnesyl acetate as compounds for the treatment of cancer, particularly with the potential to treat non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

SARS-CoV-2 Virus in Cancer Patients: A New Unknown in an Unsolved Equation.

INTRODUCTION: Cancer patients are more susceptible to infections, and infection can be more severe than in patients without cancer diagnosis. We conducted this retrospective study in patients admitted for SARS-CoV-2 infection in order to find differences in inflammatory markers and mortality in cancer patients compared to others. METHODS: We reviewed the electronic records of patients admitted for SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed by PCR from March to September 2020. Data on socio-demographics, comorbidities, inflammatory makers, and cancer-related features were analyzed. RESULTS: 2,772 patients were admitted for SARS-CoV-2, to the Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal in Madrid during this period. Of these, 2,527 (91%) had no history of neoplastic disease, 164 (5.9%) patients had a prior history of cancer but were not undergoing oncological treatment at the time of infection, and 81 (2.9%) were in active treatment. Mortality in patients without a history of cancer was 19.5%, 28.6% for patients with a prior history of cancer, and 34% in patients with active cancer treatment. Patients in active oncology treatment with the highest mortality rate were those diagnosed with lung cancer (OR 5.6 95% CI: 2.2-14.1). In the multivariate study, active oncological treatment (OR 2.259 95% CI: 1.35-3.77) and chemotherapy treatment (OR 3.624 95% CI: 1.17-11.17), were statistically significant factors for the risk of death for the whole group and for the group with active oncological treatment, respectively. CONCLUSION: Cancer patients on active systemic treatment have an increased risk of mortality after SARS-CoV-2 infection, especially with lung cancer or chemotherapy treatment.

A Controversial Old Topic Revisited: Should Diagnostic Hysteroscopy Be Routinely Performed Prior to the First IVF Cycle? A Systematic Review and Updated Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to analyze the impact of performing diagnostic hysteroscopy before the first in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle on the clinical pregnancy rate and live birth. DATA SOURCES: PubMed-MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, Gynecology and Fertility Specialized Register of Controlled Trials, and Google Scholar were consulted from inception to June 2022 using combinations of the relevant Medical Subject Headings terms and keywords. The search included major clinical trial registries such as ClinicalTrials.gov and the European EudraCT registry without language restrictions. In addition, manual cross-reference searches were also performed. METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION: All randomized and controlled clinical trials, prospective and retrospective cohort studies, and case-control studies comparing the probability of pregnancy and live birth among patients who underwent diagnostic hysteroscopy with possible treatment of any abnormal findings before the IVF cycle and patients who underwent the IVF cycle directly have been considered for inclusion. Studies with insufficient information on the results of interest or without the necessary information to perform the pooled analysis, those without a control group or with end points considered different than those of interest, were excluded. The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022354764). TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS: A total of 12 studies were included in the quantitative synthesis, reporting the reproductive outcomes of 5056 patients undergoing ART treatment for the first time. Selected studies included 6 randomized controlled trials, 1 prospective cohort study, 3 retrospective cohort studies, and 2 case-control studies. The likelihood of clinical pregnancy of patients undergoing hysteroscopy before IVF was significantly higher than those without hysteroscopy (odds ratio [OR], 1.49; 95% confidence CI 1.16-1.91; I2 = 69%). (odds ratio [OR], 1.51; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.22-1.88; I2 59%). Eight studies included live birth rate; no statistically significant differences were found between the 2 groups for this outcome (OR,1.24; 95% CI, 0.94-1.64; I2 = 62%). Subsequently, a sensitivity analysis was performed, including only randomized clinical trials. Clinical pregnancy OR of patients undergoing hysteroscopy before starting the IVF cycle remained significantly higher than the control group (OR,1.62, 95% CI, 1.15-2.29; I2 = 62%). Risk of bias assessment was performed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation. CONCLUSION: The available scientific evidence suggests that performing routine hysteroscopy before the first IVF attempt improves the clinical pregnancy rate; however, the live birth rate is unaffected.

Effect of Hysteroscopic Metroplasty on Reproductive Outcomes in Women with Septate Uterus: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this systematic review with meta-analysis is to evaluate the impact of hysteroscopic metroplasty on adverse reproductive outcomes such as miscarriage, preterm birth, and fetal malpresentation in patients with history of infertility or previous poor obstetrical outcomes. DATA SOURCES: A systematic electronic search from inception each database up to April 2021 including the following databases was conducted: PubMed-MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, the CGF Specialized Register of Controlled Trials, Google Scholar, and trial registries. A combination of the following keywords was used: uterine septum, septate uterus, congenital uterine malformation, class 2 uterus, class V uterus, metroplasty, hysteroscopic, pregnancy, clinical pregnancy, ongoing pregnancy, miscarriage, live birth, preterm birth, cesarean section, 'cesarean delivery, and fetal malpresentation. METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION: Studies comparing reproductive outcomes between women undergoing hysteroscopic resection of the uterine septum and those with expectant management were included. Eligible population consisted of infertile women, women with poor obstetrical history, or women without previous pregnancy failures and a diagnosis of septate uterus. TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS: The systematic electronic search retrieved 1076 studies; after elimination of duplicates, 688 titles and abstracts were screened, and 55 were assessed for eligibility. Eleven studies were included in the quantitative synthesis: one randomized controlled trial and 10 observational studies involving reproductive outcomes from 1589 patients with either complete or partial uterine septum. The pooled OR for miscarriage was 0.45, (95% CI, 0.22-0.90). When the analysis was performed considering subgroups according to the type of septum, pooled OR in complete septum subgroup was 0.16 (95% CI, 0.03-0.78), OR = 0.36 (95% CI, 0.19-0.71) in the partial septum subgroup and 0.58 (95% CI, 0.20-1.67) in those studies not differentiating between complete or partial septum. No significant differences were found between the 2 groups in OR of clinical pregnancy, term live birth, or risk of cesarean delivery. There was a significant decrease in the frequency of preterm birth in patients who underwent partial septum resection (OR = 0.30, 95% CI, 0.11-0.79). This difference was detected neither in patients with complete septum nor in studies not differentiating between partial or complete septum. The risk of fetal malpresentation was also significantly reduced (OR = 0.32, 95% CI, 0.16-0.65). CONCLUSION: The results of the present meta-analysis support that hysteroscopic metroplasty is effective in reducing the risk of miscarriage in patients with complete or partial uterine septum, although these data should be confirmed with a well-designed randomized controlled trial.

Impact of Surgery for Deep Infiltrative Endometriosis before In Vitro Fertilization: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this systematic review and meta-analysis were to compare reproductive outcomes in patients who underwent surgery for deep infiltrative endometriosis (DIE) before in vitro fertilization (IVF) with those in patients who underwent IVF without a previous surgery for DIE, to analyze data according to different types of surgery (complete or incomplete) or subgroups of patients (DIE with or without bowel involvement), and to assess surgical and IVF complications and data regarding safety concerns. DATA SOURCES: A systematic literature search from January 1980 to November 2019 with no language restriction was performed in PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science. The search strategy used the following Medical Subject Headings terms: "in vitro," "fertilization," "IVF," "assisted reproduction," "colorectal," "endometriosis," "deep," "infiltrating," "deep infiltrative endometriosis," "intestinal," "bowel," "rectovaginal," "uterosacral," "vaginal," and "bladder." METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION: We included studies that compared reproductive outcomes in women with infertility with DIE who received IVF with or without a previous surgery for DIE lesions. Meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager (RevMan v.5.3; Cochrane Training, London, United Kingdom). The risk of bias of the included studies was assessed using the method recommended by Cochrane Collaboration. TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS: The systematic search retrieved 150 articles; 98 studies were potentially eligible, and their full texts were reviewed. Of these, 12 studies met our inclusion criteria, and 5 presented data suitable for inclusion in a meta-analysis; however, 2 of the studies provided overlapping data, and only the larger study was finally included. No randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were found. The pregnancy rate per patient was 1.84 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.28-2.64), the pregnancy rate per cycle was 1.84 (95% CI, 1.26-2.70), and the live birth rate per patient was 2.22 (95% CI, 1.42-3.46) times more likely for operated patients than for nonoperated ones. The addition of data from the incomplete surgery groups also showed a higher pregnancy rate per patient for surgery before IVF (odds ratio [OR] 1.63; 95% CI, 1.16-2.28). The results favor previous surgery in DIE with digestive involvement (OR 2.43; 95% CI, 1.13-5.22) and also in DIE without digestive involvement (OR 1.55; 95% CI, 0.61-3.95). A qualitative analysis of the complications of surgery and IVF showed a partial or complete lack of information on these issues as well as high heterogeneity in the reported data. None of these studies is an RCT; therefore, all have a high risk of selection and allocation bias, except for 1 study that statistically controlled the latter risk by using propensity scores. Funnel plots showed no asymmetry. CONCLUSION: The results were very consistent for all the studied outcomes, showing a statistically significant benefit for surgery before IVF, although they should be confirmed with RCTs. In addition to the reproductive outcomes, safety data should also be reported to obtain a complete assessment of the risks and benefits.

Linearolactone and Kaempferol Disrupt the Actin Cytoskeleton in Entamoeba histolytica: Inhibition of Amoebic Liver Abscess Development.

Linearolactone (1) and kaempferol (2) have amebicidal activity in in vitro studies. The type of cell death induced by 1 and 2 and their effects on the virulence of E. histolytica were analyzed by transmission and confocal electron microscopy, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and apoptosis, detected by flow cytometry with dichlorofluorescein 2',7'-diacetate and annexin-V binding, respectively, and confirmed by TUNEL. The interaction of 1 and 2 with actin was analyzed by docking, and the in vivo amoebicidal activity was established with the Mesocricetus auratus model; amebic liver abscess (ALA) development was evaluated by magnetic resonance (MR) and validated post mortem. In vitro, compounds 1 and 2 caused chromatin condensation, intracellular ROS, and loss of actin structures. Coupling analysis showed that they bind to the allosteric and catalytic sites of actin with binding energies of -11.30 and -8.45 kcal/mol, respectively. Treatments with 1 and 2 induced a decrease in ALA formation without toxic effects on the liver and kidney. Thus, compound 1, but not 2, was able to induce apoptosis-like effects in E. histolytica trophozoites by intracellular production of ROS that affected the actin cytoskeleton structuration. In vivo, compound 1 was more active than compound 2 to reduce the development of ALA.

Ultrastructural and proapoptotic-like effects of kaempferol in Giardia duodenalis trophozoites and bioinformatics prediction of its potential protein target.

BACKGROUND: Kaempferol (KPF) is a flavonoid with antiparasitic activity including experimental giardiasis which mechanism of action is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To analyse the cytotoxic effects of KPF on Giardia duodenalis trophozoites and to identify a likely parasite target of this compound. METHODS: We used inhibitory concentrations of KPF (IC25, IC50 and IC100) and albendazole (ABZ) as reference drug. The ultrastructure of the trophozoites was analysed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) whilst apoptosis/necrosis, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cell cycle progression were assessed by flow cytometry (FCM) and confocal laser microscopy (CLM). Ligand-protein docking analyses were carried out using KPF structure from a drug library and crystal structure of a G. duodenalis aldose reductase (GdAldRed) homolog. RESULTS: KPF provoked appearance of perinuclear and periplasmic spaces devoid of cytosolic content and multilamellar structures. KPF induced proapoptotic death associated with partial arrest in the S phase without ROS production. Bioinformatics approaches predicted that GdAldRed is a viable KPF target (ΔG = -7.09 kCal/mol), exhibiting 92% structural identity and a similar coupling pattern as its human homolog. CONCLUSIONS: KPF exerted a proapoptotic effect on G. duodenalis trophozoites involving partial interruption of DNA synthesis without oxidative stress or structure damage to chromatin and cytoskeletal structures. GdAldRed is a likely target underlying its antigiardial activity.

Seizures in Children With Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection.

BACKGROUND: Although respiratory symptoms are the most prominent manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and especially the omicron variant, may cause neurological manifestations such as seizures. It remains unclear if specific variants of the virus increase the risk of seizures more than others. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a retrospective multicenter study of pediatric (zero to 16 years) patients with COVID-19 who attended five pediatric emergency departments in Madrid, Spain, between March 2020 and July 2022. An analysis of demographics, medical history, and seizure characteristics was conducted. The data obtained were correlated with the incidence of the different strains of SARS-CoV-2 in the Community of Madrid. RESULTS: A total of 2411 seizures (infectious and noninfectious) were recorded, and 35 of them (1.4%) were positive for SARS-CoV-2. Of those 35 patients, 18 (51.4%) reported a history of previous seizures. The highest percentage of cases occurred when the omicron variant was the most prevalent (28 [80%] vs 7 [20%] before omicron variant). Typical febrile seizures accounted for 52.9% of the cases. No treatment was required in more than half (57.1%) of the cases. CONCLUSION: during the emergence of the omicron variant, there has been an increase in the number of COVID-19-associated seizures. These findings highlight the need for SARS-CoV-2 screening in patients with febrile and afebrile seizures, in addition to other microbiological, biochemical, or neuroimaging tests, depending on the patient's age and clinical presentation.

Quality of clinical evidence and political justifications of ivermectin mass distribution of COVID-19 kits in eight Latin American countries.

BACKGROUND: Several countries in Latin America conducted mass distribution of COVID-19 kits intended to treat mild COVID-19, thereby preventing excess hospitalisations. Many of the kits contained ivermectin, an antiparasitic medicine that was not approved at the time for the treatment of COVID-19. The study objective was to compare the timing of the publication of scientific evidence about the efficacy of ivermectin for COVID-19 with the timeline of distribution of COVID-19 kits in eight Latin American countries and to analyse whether evidence was used to justify ivermectin distribution. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) published on the efficacy of ivermectin or ivermectin as adjuvant therapy on mortality from, or as prevention for, COVID-19. Each RCT was assessed using the Cochrane Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE). Information on the timing and justification of government decisions was collected through a systematic search of leading newspapers and government press releases. RESULTS: After removing the duplicates and abstracts without full text, 33 RCTs met our inclusion criteria. According to GRADE, the majority had a substantial risk of bias. Many government officials made claims that ivermectin was effective and safe in the prevention or treatment of COVID-19, despite the lack of published evidence. CONCLUSION: All eight governments distributed COVID-19 kits to their populations despite the absence of high-quality evidence on the efficacy of ivermectin for prevention, hospitalisation and mortality in COVID-19 patients. Lessons learnt from this situation could be used to strengthen government institutions' capacities to implement evidence-informed public health policies.

Interobserver Variability in Contouring Hepatocellular Carcinoma at a Tertiary Center.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The optimal imaging test for delineation of the gross tumor volume (GTV) in hepatocellular carcinoma has not been defined. The hypothesis is that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows for better visualization of the extent of tumor and will optimize the accuracy of tumor delineation for liver stereotactic radiotherapy compared with computed tomography (CT) only. We evaluated the interobserver agreement in GTV of hepatocellular carcinoma in a multicenter panel and compared MRI and CT in GTV delineation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After the institutional review boards approved the study, we analyzed anonymous CT and MRI obtained from five patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Eight radiation oncologists at our center used CT and MRI to delineate five GTVs of liver tumors. In both CT and MRI, the GTV volumes were compared. RESULTS: The median GTV volume on MRI was 2.4 cm3 (range=0.59-15.6 cm3) compared to 3.5 cm3 (range=0.52-24.9 cm3) on CT (p=0.36). The GTV volume as defined on MRI was larger or at least as large as the GTV volume on CT in two cases. Variance and standard deviation between observers in CT and MRI were minor (6 vs. 7.87 cm3, and 2.5 vs. 2.8 cm3 respectively). CONCLUSION: In cases with well-defined tumors, CT is easier and reproducible. In cases with no defined tumor in CT, other tools are needed and MRI can be complementary. The interobserver variability in target delineation of hepatocellular carcinoma in this study is noteworthy.

Hysteroscopic metroplasty for the treatment of the dysmorphic uterus: A SWOT analysis.

Introduction: Dysmorphic uterus or T-shaped uterus is an increasingly frequent diagnosis among the infertile population that has been associated to worse reproductive results. Hysteroscopic metroplasty is a safe and simple procedure that can improve the reproductive outcomes in this group of patients, although the benefits of this procedure remains controversial due to the lack of adequate scientific evidence. Objective: To analyze the hysteroscopic metroplasty using the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) methodology. Data sources: An electronic search from inception each database up to December 2021 including the following databases was conducted: PubMed-MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar. Methods of study selection: Studies reporting outcomes of patients undergoing hysteroscopic metroplasty were included. Tabulation: Not applicable. Integration and Results: Clinical evidence from the included studies suggests an improvement in reproductive results after performing hysteroscopic metroplasty especially in women with recurrent pregnancy loss and previous infertility, but all of them have relevant methodological limitations. For this reason, benefits, risks and alternatives of this intervention should be considered with caution. Conclusions: Evidence from published data shows a probable association between dysmorphic uterus and poor reproductive outcomes. Hysteroscopic metroplasty in patients with dysmorphic uterus could improve pregnancy outcomes, but there is need of properly designed prospective controlled studies to determine the benefits of this technique.

Multicentre study of magnet ingestion in Spanish paediatric emergency departments.

INTRODUCTION: The ingestion of magnetic objects can cause complications in children, and there are no epidemiological or clinical data on the subject in Spain. OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidence, epidemiological characteristics and management of magnet ingestion in paediatric emergency departments in Spain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective observational multicentre study conducted over a 3-year period. The study universe consisted of patients aged less than 14 years. RESULTS: The incidence was 4.8 cases per 100 000 emergency care episodes. Of the 72 patients included (mean age, 7.2 years), 54% were male. Seven percent had neuropsychiatric disorders. Sixty-one percent of the magnets were spherical and 69% came from toys. The size was variable, most frequently between 5 and 10 mm (50%), and ranging from 3 to 30 mm. Eighty-six percent of patients were asymptomatic. The most frequent symptom was abdominal pain. Eighty-three percent of the patients sought medical care within 6 h of ingestion and 92% within 24 h. Thirty-one percent of the cases were of multiple ingestion. Endoscopy was required for extraction in 15% of cases, a proportion that rose to 36% in the group of cases of multiple ingestion. None of the patients required surgery. We did not observe any gastrointestinal complications of magnet ingestion. CONCLUSIONS: The ingestion of multiple magnets is less frequent than single magnet ingestion, and we did not observe any complications despite the lower frequency of procedures compared to other studies.

Child sexual abuse detection in the pediatric emergency room.

BACKGROUND: Children who report sexual abuse are often first evaluated in a Pediatric Emergency Room (ER). OBJECTIVE: This study aims to describe clinical characteristics and management among these children. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of child sexual abuse (CSA) cases in the ER of a tertiary hospital in Madrid over a 9-year period (January 2011 to April 2020) was conducted. 213 children up to 16 years old were included. Descriptive statistics were performed. RESULTS: An 83% of victims were girls, of whom 97.7% reported physical contact. The mean age was 8.5 ± 4.4 years, with two peaks of incidence at ages of 3 and 13. Aggressors were known by the victim in 77.8% of cases. Anogenital lesions were present in 39.9% of children who described physical contact, of which 31.7% were suspicious or specific of CSA. We obtained positive microbiological samples in 41 patients, with 14.6% specific findings for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). 23,9% received prophylaxis for bacterial STIs and 13.6% against HIV. 59.6% were followed-up in outpatient clinics. Since our protocol renovation in 2019, we observe a statistically significant increase in microbiological detection (p < .005) and outpatient follow-up (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: STIs screening should always be done when physical contact is reported for eventual treatment and perpetrator prosecution, as physical lesions are frequently not found. The optimal treatment of CSA requires the use of renewed specific protocols and the involvement of multidisciplinary trained teams to ensure adequate medical and personal care.

Linearolactone Induces Necrotic-like Death in Giardia intestinalis Trophozoites: Prediction of a Likely Target.

Linearolactone (LL) is a neo-clerodane type diterpene that has been shown to exert giardicidal effects; however, its mechanism of action is unknown. This work analyzes the cytotoxic effect of LL on Giardia intestinalis trophozoites and identifies proteins that could be targeted by this active natural product. Increasing concentrations of LL and albendazole (ABZ) were used as test and reference drugs, respectively. Cell cycle progression, determination of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptosis/necrosis events were evaluated by flow cytometry (FCM). Ultrastructural alterations were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Ligand-protein docking analyses were carried out using the LL structure raised from a drug library and the crystal structure of an aldose reductase homologue (GdAldRed) from G. intestinalis. LL induced partial arrest at the S phase of trophozoite cell cycle without evidence of ROS production. LL induced pronecrotic death in addition to inducing ultrastructural alterations as changes in vacuole abundances, appearance of perinuclear and periplasmic spaces, and deposition of glycogen granules. On the other hand, the in silico study predicted that GdAldRed is a likely target of LL because it showed a favored change in Gibbs free energy for this complex.

Urgent Bordetella PCR in infants under 3 months, a useful tool in the Pediatric Emergency Department. / PCR urgente de Bordetella en lactantes menores de 3 meses, una herramienta útil en el Servicio de Urgencias Pediátricas.

INTRODUCTION: Whooping cough in patients aged under 3 months has higher rates of morbimortality. Hospitalization and treatment with azithromycin is generally recommended. Many patients with cough without other signs of alarm, are admitted and started antibiotic therapy until a result of Bordetella-PCR is available. This technique, when performed urgently, can provide the diagnosis in a few hours. The objective of this study is to determine if its generalisation in the Emergency Department allows to improve patient management. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of patients aged under 3 months who underwent Bordetella-PCR testing from upper respiratory tract secretions since March 2011 to December 2017. From December 2015 the test was performed urgently. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty-eight PCR were performed, 16 (10%) were positive for B. pertussis. Negative results (142; 90%) were divided in 2 cohorts: conventional-PCR, with 74 cases, and urgent-PCR, with 68 cases. The 2 groups were homogeneous in terms of clinical and analytical characteristics. In the urgent-PCR group there was 18% reduction in chest X-rays performed (P=.008). There were 33 (48.5%) patients admitted in the urgent-PCR group, compared to 49 (66.2%) in the conventional-PCR (P=.042). Antibiotic treatment was initiated in 32% of the patients in the urgent-PCR group compared to 67% in the conventional-PCR group (P=.000047), without observing any significant increase in the number of visits to the Emergency Department or worse clinical performance. CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of urgent PCR in the Emergency Department is a useful tool in the management of infants under 3 months of age with suspected pertussis, since it can avoid unnecessary admissions, diagnostic tests and antibiotic treatments.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on emergency department: Early findings from a hospital in Madrid.

INTRODUCTION: SARS-CoV-2, coronavirus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), was first detected in Spain on 31 January 2020. On 14 March 2020, a state of emergency was declared in Spain in a bid to control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. The aim of our study is to analyze the impact on emergency medicine attendance after the national lockdown, as well as the clinical presentation and the management of patients with suspected COVID-19 in the Paediatric Emergency Department. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective observational study included children and adolescents under the age of 18, attended in our Paediatric Emergency Department during the period March 14 to April 17, 2020. RESULTS: A total of 1666 patients were attended during the study period, 65.4% less than in the same period of 2019. Just over half (51.2%) were males, and mean age was 5.4 years. In triage, 39.9% were high priority levels, 6.5% more than 2019. Most frequent reasons for consultation at the Paediatric Emergency Department were fever (26.5%), respiratory symptoms (16.1%), and trauma (15.2%). A total of 218 patients (13%) received a diagnosis of possible COVID-19, with SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed in 18.4%, and 23.8% (52/218) were hospitalised. At discharge, 44% (96/218) were diagnosed with lower, and 33.9% (74/218) with upper respiratory infection. CONCLUSIONS: During the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak, the demand for urgent paediatric care decreased, with the proportion of cases with high priority triage levels increasing. Most of the patients with suspected or microbiological confirmation of COVID-19 had mild respiratory symptoms.

INTRODUCCIÓN: SARS-CoV-2, responsable de la enfermedad por coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), fue detectado por primera vez en España el 31 de enero de 2020. El 14 de marzo fue declarado el estado de alarma con el objetivo de controlar la pandemia. El objetivo de este estudio es analizar las consecuencias de esta crisis sanitaria sobre el patrón de demanda asistencial, así como el manejo y las características de los pacientes con sospecha de COVID-19 en el Servicio de Urgencias Pediátricas. PACIENTES Y MÉTODOS: Estudio retrospectivo observacional en niños y adolescentes menores de 18 años, atendidos en nuestro Servicio de Urgencias Pediátricas durante el periodo comprendido desde el 14 de marzo hasta el 17 de abril de 2020. RESULTADOS: Durante el periodo de estudio se atendieron 1.666 pacientes, un 65,4% menos que en el mismo periodo de 2019. La edad media fue de 5,4 años y el 51,2% eran varones. El 39,9% fueron clasificados con niveles de alta prioridad, un 6,5% más que en 2019. Los principales motivos de consulta fueron fiebre (26,5%), síntomas respiratorios (16,1%) y traumatismos (15,2%). Un total de 218 pacientes (13%) fueron diagnosticados de posible COVID-19, confirmándose la infección en el 18,4%. El 44% (96/218) fueron diagnosticados de infección respiratoria inferior y el 33,9% (74/218), superior. El 23,8% (52/218) fueron hospitalizados. CONCLUSIONES: Durante el brote epidémico SARS-CoV-2 disminuyó la demanda de asistencia pediátrica urgente, aumentando la proporción de casos con niveles de triaje de alta prioridad. La mayoría de los pacientes con sospecha o confirmación microbiológica de COVID-19 cursaron con clínica respiratoria leve.

[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on emergency department: Early findings from a hospital in Madrid]. / Impacto de la pandemia COVID-19 en urgencias: primeros hallazgos en un hospital de Madrid.

INTRODUCTION: SARS-CoV-2, coronavirus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), was first detected in Spain on 31 January 2020. On 14 March 2020, a state of emergency was declared in Spain in a bid to control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. The aim of our study is to analyse the impact on emergency medicine attendance after the national lockdown, as well as the clinical presentation and the management of patients with suspected COVID-19 in the Paediatric Emergency Department. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective observational study included children and adolescents under the age of 18, attended in our Paediatric Emergency Department during the period March 14 to April 17, 2020. RESULTS: A total of 1,666 patients were attended during the study period, 65.4% less than in the same period of 2019. Just over half (51.2%) were males, and mean age was 5.4 years. In triage, 39.9% were high priority levels, 6.5% more than 2019. Most frequent reasons for consultation at the Paediatric Emergency Department were fever (26.5%), respiratory symptoms (16.1%), and trauma (15.2%). A total of 218 patients (13%) received a diagnosis of possible COVID-19, with SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed in 18.4%, and 23.8% (52/218) were hospitalised. At discharge, 44% (96/218) were diagnosed with lower, and 33.9% (74/218) with upper respiratory infection. CONCLUSIONS: During the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak, the demand for urgent paediatric care decreased, with the proportion of cases with high priority triage levels increasing. Most of the patients with suspected or microbiological confirmation of COVID-19 had mild respiratory symptoms.

[Gender inequalities in authorship of the main Spanish medical journals in 2017]. / Desigualdades de género en la autoría de las principales revistas médicas españolas durante el año 2017.

INTRODUCTION: Some studies have shown a lower female participation in scientific publications. The objective of this study is to analyse the gender inequalities in the main Spanish journals of medical publications. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Cross-sectional study of the main Spanish medical journals classified by SCImago Journal & Country Ranking (n=24) and their publications (n=3.375), during the year 2017. Women/men ratio in authorship was calculated for all journals and types of papers. Bivariate analyses were developed with the type of article as the dependent variable, and gender, institution, and country of the first and last authors as the independent variables. Logistic regression models were performed to calculate adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) of the types of papers according to authorship gender, institution, and country. The statistical program used was R. RESULTS: The total number of authors was 16,252 (44.2% women, 53.9% men, and 1.9% non-identified gender). Women represented 46% of the first authors and 33.5% of the last ones. Women were the first authors of Editorials less often than men (aOR 0.39; 95% CI 0.30-0.51), but more often in Originals (aOR 1.55; 95% CI 1.33-1.80). Women were the last authors with less frequency in all types of papers, especially in Editorials (aOR 0.50; 95% CI 0.35-0.70). The women/men ratio in authorship was less than 0.80 in 10 of 26 journals analysed (41.7%). CONCLUSIONS: These results show the gender inequalities in the authorship of the main Spanish medical journals in 2017, especially as first authors and Editorials.