Room temperature two terminal tunnel magnetoresistance in a lateral graphene transistor.

We investigate the behavior of both pure spin and spin-polarized currents measured with four-probe non-local and two probe local configurations up to room temperature and under an external gate voltage in a lateral graphene transistor, produced using a standard large-scale microfabrication process. The high spin diffusion length of pristine graphene in the channel, measured both directly and by the Hanle effect, and the tuning of the relationship between the electrode resistance areas present in the device architecture allowed us to observe local tunnel magnetoresistance at room temperature, a new finding for this type of device. The results also indicate that while pure spin currents are less sensitive to temperature variations, spin-polarized current switching by an external voltage is more efficient, due to a combination of the Rashba effect and a change in carrier mobility by a Fermi level shift.

COMPOSE: Using temporal patterns for interpreting wearable sensor data with computer interpretable guidelines.

This paper describes a novel temporal logic-based framework for reasoning with continuous data collected from wearable sensors. The work is motivated by the Metabolic Syndrome, a cluster of conditions which are linked to obesity and unhealthy lifestyle. We assume that, by interpreting the physiological parameters of continuous monitoring, we can identify which patients have a higher risk of Metabolic Syndrome. We define temporal patterns for reasoning with continuous data and specify the coordination mechanisms for combining different sets of clinical guidelines that relate to this condition. The proposed solution is tested with data provided by twenty subjects, which used sensors for four days of continuous monitoring. The results are compared to the gold standard. The novelty of the framework stands in extending a temporal logic formalism, namely the Event Calculus, with temporal patterns. These patterns are helpful to specify the rules for reasoning with continuous data and in combining new knowledge into one consistent outcome that is tailored to the patient's profile. The overall approach opens new possibilities for delivering patient-tailored interventions and educational material before the patients present the symptoms of the disease.

LITERATURE REVIEW ON THE VEHICLE ROUTING PROBLEM IN THE GREEN TRANSPORTATION CONTEXT / REVISIÓN DE LA LITERATURA DEL PROBLEMA DE RUTEO DE VEHÍCULOS EN UN CONTEXTO DE TRANSPORTE VERDE

In the efficient management of the supply chain the optimal management of transport of consumables and finished products appears. The costs associated with transport have direct impact on the final value consumers must pay, which in addition to requiring competitive products also demand that they are generated in environmentally friendly organizations. Aware of this reality, this document is intended to be a starting point for Master's and Doctoral degree students who want to work in a line of research recently proposed: green routing. The state of the art of the vehicle routing problem is presented in this paper, listing its variants, models and methodologies for solution. Furthermore, the proposed interaction between variants of classical routing problems and environmental effects of its operations, known in the literature as Green-VRP is presented. The goal is to generate a discussion in which mathematical models and solution strategies that can be applied within organizations that consider within their objectives an efficient and sustainable operation are posed.

En el gerenciamiento eficiente de la cadena de suministro aparece la gestión óptima del transporte de insumos y productos terminados. Los costos asociados al transporte tienen impacto directo sobre el valor final que deben pagar los consumidores, que además de requerir productos competitivos también exigen que los mismos sean generados en organizaciones amigables con el medioambiente. Consientes de esa realidad este documento pretende ser un punto de partida para estudiantes de maestría y doctorado que quieran trabajar en una línea de investigación propuesta recientemente: el ruteo verde. En este trabajo se muestra un estado del arte del problema de ruteo de vehículos, enumerando sus variantes, modelos y metodologías de solución. Además, se presenta la interacción que se ha propuesto entre variantes clásicas de los problemas de ruteo y los efectos ambientales de su operación, denominados en la literatura como Green-VRP. El objetivo es generar una discusión donde se planteen modelos matemáticos y estrategias de solución que puedan ser aplicadas en organizaciones que consideren dentro de sus objetivos una operación eficiente y sustentable.

Mortalidad por desnutrición en menores de cinco años: cinco años antes y después de la implementación del Programa MANA, Antioquia, 1998-2007 / Mortality due to malnutrition among children aged five and younger: five years before and after the implementation of the MANA program. Antioquia, 1998-2007

OBJETIVOS: analizar el comportamiento de la mortalidad por y asociada a la desnutrición, en menores de cinco años; cinco años antes y cinco años después de la implementación del programa MANA en las regiones del departamento de Antioquia entre 1998 a 2007. METODOLOGIA: estudio ecológico para el análisis del comportamiento de la mortalidad en menores de cinco años ocurridas en las regiones de Antioquia, antes y después de la creación del programa MANA. Se calculó chi cuadrado de asociación y tendencia; así como el análisis de tendencia con la regresión de Jointpoint y se realizó análisis factorial a través de la extracción de componentes principales. RESULTADOS se observó tendencia a la disminución de la mortalidad a través de los años de estudio. En el análisis general de Antioquia, se identificó un punto de inflexión en el año 2000, el cual fue estadísticamente significativo con una variación de -8,30 con tendencia al descenso. En las regiones se identificó que Valle de Aburrá, Nordeste, Occidente, Oriente, Suroeste el punto de inflexión fue en 2000, Bajo Cauca 2001, Urabá 2002, Norte 2003 y Magdalena Medio, 2004. CONCLUSION : se observó tendencia en disminución de la mortalidad por desnutrición en las regiones de Antioquia en el período analizado, descenso que se presenta desde años anteriores a la implementación de MANA.

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the mortality trends among children aged five and younger in the department of Antioquia (Colombia), where deaths are due to or associated with malnutrition. The time period studied was before and after the implementation of the MANA program, from 1998 to 2007. METHODOLOGY an ecological study was conducted to analyze the mortality trends in children under five in the regions of Antioquia before and after the implementation of the MANA program. Data was analyzed using the Chi Square association and trend test. The Jointpoint regression was applied to analyze the mortality trend, and a factorial analysis was conducted by extracting the principal components. RESULTS : a decreasing trend in mortality was observed during the time frame of the study. A statistically significant inflexion was observed in the general analysis of the Antioquia department in the year 2000, with an annual variation of -8.30% and a decreasing trend. Analysis revealed the inflexion points for the different regions of Antioquia: the year 2000 for the regions called Valle de Aburrá, Nordeste, Occidente, Oriente, and Suroeste, 2001 for Bajo Cauca, 2005 for Urabá, 2003 for Norte and 2004 for Magdalena Medio. CONCLUSION: A decreasing trend in mortality due to and associated with malnutrition was observed in each of the Antioquia regions during the time frame studied. This trend started before the implementation of the MANA program.

[Second transplant into the same iliac fossae: The importance of first transplant location]. / Retrasplantar en la misma fosa ilíaca: una necesidad cada vez más presente. Importancia de la ubicación del primero transplante.

OBJECTIVES: To report our personal experience in the reusability of the iliac fossa for renal transplantation (RT) when there are not more favorable options. METHODS: Of a total of 645 kidney transplantations, which include 52 living-donor transplantations, and three combined kidney-pancreas ones, we have selected seven, in six patients, in whom the same iliac fossa of a previous RT was reused. RESULTS: The cases reported were preceded by renal grafts placed on lumbariliac position, as Gil Vernet described at 1964, varying the classic situation. Transplantectomies were always performed using the extra capsular technique. We do think that those two circumstances have facilitated the second location of the graft.

[Results and complications of TVT procedure in the surgical treatment of female stress incontinence]. / Resultados y complicaciones de la técnica TVT en el tratamiento de la incontinencia de esfuerzo femenina.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) for treatment of female stress urinary incontinence (SUI). To determine the mid-term outcome of TVT performed during other pelvic floor reconstructive procedures. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 100 women with SUI undergoing TVT procedure under spinal anesthesia from January 2000 to November 2002 were studied. 76 women were treated with TVT alone. 24 patients were treated with TVT and pelvic floor reconstruction: we repaired 24 cystoceles grade II-III, 3 rectoceles and 4 concomitant vaginal histerectomies. RESULTS: Mean age was 49.3 years (range 35-78). Mean parity: 2 (range 0-6) and mean operative time was 38 minutes (range 20 to 50). The postoperative hospital stay was 24 hours for women treated with TVT alone. Only 1 patient (1%) need bladder catheterization during 7 days due to urinary retention. Mean followup was 18 months (range 12-48). Objective cure rate was 95%. In our study the rate of de novo post-operative urge symptoms (16%) was the most frequent complication. Bladder injury was the most grave problem and it happened in 1 patient (1%). CONCLUSION: The results confirm the feasibility and safety of TVT for treatment of SUI. Moreover, TVT procedure is economical and efectiveness. Pelvic floor defects, benign uterine disorders and SUI can be safely treated with TVT and vaginal procedures during the same surgical time.

[Doxazosin in the gastrointestinal therapeutic system (GITS) formulation and trial without catheter after acute urinary retention due to BPH. Dose increase action on recovery effect]. / Doxazosina en formulación de liberación retardada en la retención aguda de orina por hiperplasia benigna de próstata. Acción del incremento de dosis sobre el efecto rescate.

OBJECTIVE: Prospective and randomised study to assess the effectiveness of doxazosin in sustained release formulation in Acute Urinary Retention (AUR) treatment due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The trial was carried out with a cohort of 40 males who had all suffered their first attack of AUR caused by BPH. Twenty were randomly selected and treated for 7 days with 4 mg of sustained release doxazosin before removing the catheter. The patients not treated that could not spontaneously urinate were also administered 4 mg of doxazosin. Finally, all the patients that still had a catheter due to unsuccessful removal were treated with 8 mg of doxazosin and the percentage of patients responding to treatment was assessed. The predictive value of the response to treatment for age, IPSS, QoL, retained urine volume, prostate volume and the evolution time of the prostratism was determined by means of logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: 82.5% of the patients (33/40) could urinate after removal of the catheter. 84.8% (28/33) were treated with doxazosin (21 with 4 mg and 7 with 8 mg). In the first attempt at removal, 60% of the patients (12/20) treated with 4 mg of doxazosin could spontaneously urinate, while only 25% (5/20) of those not treated, p=0.02. Similarly, 60% of the patients (9/15) treated with 4 mg of doxazosin in the second attempt could spontaneously urinate. Fifty per cent (7/14) of the patients still with a catheter, after the treatment with 4 mg of doxazosin, could urinate with 8 mg. In the logistic regression analysis, none of the variables analyzed allowed us to predict the response to the treatment. CONCLUSION: The treatment for 7 days with 4 mg of sustained release doxazosin shows greater success when removing the catheter after suffering AUR due to BPH. With this treatment, 60% of the patients could spontaneously urinate again. By increasing the dose to 8 mg, the catheter can be removed in half the patients that did not initially respond. Before removing the catheter it is not possible to predict which patients would be able to spontaneously urinate.

[Management of penile and scrotal incarceration by a metal object]. / Manejo de la incarceración del pene y escroto por objeto metálico.

Penile incarceration requires urgent management to prevent chief wound. In this article we present two penile and scrotum incarceration cases happened in our center. We contribute to a literature revision where lots of objects are reported. We try to simplify the different resolution techniques.

[Diagnostic and therapeutic approach to bilateral germinal tumor. Presentation of a case and review of the literature]. / Actitud diagnóstica y terapéutica en el tumor germinal bilateral. Presentación de un caso y revisión de la literatura.

The germinal bilateral tumor represents from 1 to 4% of the testicle tumors, and it usually turns to be one of the most difficult ones when talking about diagnosis and treatment. We are attaching a 30 years old patient case, with a diagnosis consisting in a seminoma with yolk sac tumor area from the left testicle, that was treated with orquiectomy. Eleven months later, the patient presented a second neoplasm in the contralateral testicle, whose histology was a classical seminoma with carcinoma "in situ" peritumoral, being also treated with orquiectomy. Medical literature is revised with emphasis in the involved risk factors and the techniques used to treat these testis tumor groups: carcinoma "in situ" detection appears to be the strongest predicting factor. Testicular contralateral biopsy is proposed in some select cases. Even though radical orquiectomy is still the treatment to choose, local radiotherapy and conservative surgery are also an option in patients with bilateral tumor.

[Cystoscopic impression versus histologic diagnosis in bladder tumors. Do they coincide?]. / La impresión cistoscópica frente al diagnóstico histológico en los tumores vesicales. Coinciden?

OBJECTIVE: How quality control in a university hospital and immediatly after to resents publications; we planed to evaluation of the correlation of cystoscopy impression with the histologic diagnosis after of transurethral resection (TUR). MATERIAL AND METHODS: To give more truthfulness to the study, we requested to all department member's, that to base in your experience to describe the endoscopic characteristic of the next bladder tumors groups: superficial and low-grade GI-II Ta, superficial and high-grade GIII Ta and high grade and/or T1-< T2. In a total of 172 patients, we evaluated the initial cystoscopy impression and we to compared it with histologic diagnosis after to TUR. RESULTS: In 172 tumors the cystoscopy classifed in 69 cases how superficial and low grade GI-II Ta-T1, 40 how superficial and high grade and 55 how high grade and/or invasive tumors GIII T1-< T2. When, we compared it with the histologic diagnosis, the cystoscopy to coincided in 46 de 69 cases (66.6%) (PNS) with the group of low-grade GI-II Ta-T1 in 13 of 40 (32.5%) (P < 0.005) with the group of superficial high grade GIII Ta and 45 of 51 (88.2%) (PNS) with the group of GIII T1 and/or invasive tumors. In 15 of 172 the endoscopic description its not conclusive. And finally in 12 cases the histologic diagnosis were normal. CONCLUSIONS: In order of this results, we to consider that in a university hospital is essential the histologic diagnosis before any therapeutic decision, because the initial cystoscopy impression have a low correlation with the histologic diagnosis. We are disagreement with recent publication that propose the outpatient cystoscopy with fulguration to base only to the cystoscopy impression.

[Vesico-sphincter dysfunction in 108 cases of multiple sclerosis]. / Disfunción vésico-esfinteriana en 108 casos de esclerosis múltiple.

OBJECTIVE: To study vesicosphincteric dysfunction in 108 patients with multiple sclerosis. METHODS: We reviewed the clinical records of 108 patients with multiple sclerosis and analyzed those with voiding symptoms ascribable to multiple sclerosis. These patients underwent complete urodynamic assessment and complementary tests according to their symptoms. The Blaivas classification was used for the clinical classification of multiple sclerosis. RESULTS: 64 of the 108 patients presented voiding symptoms ascribable to multiple sclerosis (59.2%). The clinical features presented as episodes in 75% and were progressive in 25% of the cases. In 6% of the patients, the voiding symptoms were the first symptoms of multiple sclerosis. Urodynamic assessment showed detrusor hyperreflexia in 73% of the patients, hyporeflexia in 14%, and 13% showed normal urodynamics. All complications were infective; no patient showed upper urinary tract complications. CONCLUSIONS: Vesicosphincteric dysfunction in multiple sclerosis is frequent. Most of the patients present bladder hyperreflexia. The urological complications are usually infective. Involvement of the upper urinary tract is rare.

A one-year follow-up study in anorexia nervosa. Dietary pattern and anthropometrical evolution.

OBJECTIVE: To find out the modifications and the interrelationships between the energy and macronutrient intakes and anthropometric measurements of a group of anorexia nervosa patients (ANP), with homogenous diagnosis, age and treatment, during a 1 y follow-up. DESIGN: Longitudinal study design. SUBJECTS: Fourteen restricting-type ANP in the adolescent age (11-21 y) were recruited for the study and evaluated at four time intervals during 1 y of multidisciplinary treatment: (a) on admission (AN0); (b) after 1 month (AN1); (c) after 6 months (AN6); (d) after 1 y (AN12). MEASURES: Energy and macronutrient composition of the diet (48 h recall) and anthropometric measurements including skinfold thickness. RESULTS: Mean weight and BMI were under the 3rd percentile in AN0. All anthropometrical parameters increased significantly in AN1 compared to AN0 and did not change in AN6 and AN12. Energy and macronutrient intakes increased significantly in AN1. The dietary changes were not maintained in the subsequent time intervals and there was an overall tendency to turn back to AN0 results. Energy intake adequacy to Spanish Recommended Intakes (RI) showed only an acceptable ratio in AN1 (94% RI); however, a preserved protein intake was found throughout the study (mean intakes between 128.5% and 230.0% RI). Negative correlations were found at AN12 between size of arm's subcutaneous fat stores and energy and macronutrient intakes. CONCLUSION: In this 1 y follow-up study the decrease in the intake of energy and macronutrients after discharge seems to be related to anthropometric evolution, so that a return to restrictive eating behaviour had occurred in those subjects who had reached the highest values in their subcutaneous fat stores, probably related to dissatisfaction with self-body image.

[Anemia and neoadjuvant hormone therapy in radical surgery of localized cancer of the prostate]. / Anemia y hormonoterapia neoadyuvante en la cirugía radical del cáncer de próstata localizado.

RATIONALE: Erythropoiesis is stimulated by androgens either through a direct action on bone marrow cells or through increased erythropoietin production. Androgen deprivation is a known cause for anaemia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of neoadjuvant hormone therapy prior to radical surgery on haemoglobin (Hb) and haematocrit (Ht) levels in localised prostate cancer. MATERIAL AND METHOD: 47 patients with clinical localised prostate cancer were given LH-RH analogs plus flutamide for complete androgenic blockade (CAB) for at least 3 months prior to radical prostatectomy. A blood profile was obtained prior to start CAB and 3 months after therapy, and peri-operative transfusional requirements were evaluated. To assess any significant changes. Student's t test was used in the statistical analysis of paired data. RESULTS: In our study all patients (100%) showed decreased Hb and Ht levels after 3 months on CAB. Mean decline for Hb was 1.9 g/dL (range 1.6-2.2) p:0.0001, and for Ht 5.8% (range 4.8-6.8) p:0.0001. Hb was lower than 12 g/dL in 10.6% patients after hormone therapy and anaemia results were normocytic-normochromic. 60% patients needed peri-operative blood transfusion, 2 units of packed cells on average. CONCLUSIONS: Neoadjuvant CAB prior to radical prostatectomy results in a significant decline of Hb and Ht levels after 3 months treatment. Such decline may contribute to increase peri-operative transfusional requirements in a group of patients undergoing aggressive surgery which in itself involves a significant blood loss.

[Effect of antibiotic treatment on PSA and percentage of free PSA in patients with biochemical criteria of prostatic biopsy]. / Efecto del tratamiento antibiótico sobre el PSA y porcentaje de PSA libre en pacientes con criterios bioquímicos de biopsia prostática.

INTRODUCTION: PSA serum level measurement in the most important tool in the early diagnosis of prostate cancer patients. However, it is recognised it low specificity is due mainly to prostatic benign diseases. Although it is known that inflammation can contribute on this lack of specificity, there is disagreement in the effect of no symptomatic prostatic inflammatory focus on total PSA and percent free PSA serum levels. AIM: To analyse the biological variability in total PSA and percent free PSA serum levels in patients with biochemical criteria of prostatic biopsy and to compare them with the antibiotic induced variability in a previous urinary infections cohort patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analysed 60 patients with previous urinary infections, normal digital rectal examination and PSA between 4 and 20 ng/ml. We measured total PSA and percent free PSA serum levels. Thirty were treated with 3 weeks of ofloxacin and following a new marker determination. Sextant ultrasound guided prostatic biopsy was performed in all cases. RESULTS: 45 patients demonstrated BPH (29 with prostatitis) and 15 prostate cancer (T1c). Significant variations were found on total PSA serum levels (6.97 ng/ml vs 5.82 ng/ml, p = 0.001) and percent free PSA (14.73% vs 17.77%, p = 0.01) only in treated patients. These differences were significant in BPH and BPH with prostatitis patients but not in prostate cancer patients. Treated patients trend was to decrease PSA (13 treated patients shown PSA < 4 ng/ml vs 2 control patients) and to increase percent free PSA. The median variation of percent free PSA was higher than total PSA and was not influenced by PSA level or prostatic volume. Taking 25 as cut-off of percent free PSA, 18.3% of prostatic biopsies could be avoided in the first determination and 20% in the second. Adding the total PSA reduction, 56% of prostates biopsies in the treated patients could be avoided. CONCLUSIONS: Biochemical criteria of prostatic biopsy could be modified in patients with previous urinary infections due to higher variations on serum markers than those explained by biological variations. These variations could be induced by the antibiotic treatment. These results suggested that the inflammatory focus could influence on total PSA and percent free PSA serum levels.

[Uretero-colonic fistula in non-functioning ureter]. / Fístula uretero-colónica en uréter desfuncionalizado.

OBJECTIVE: To present a case of ureterocolonic fistula secondary to acute sigmoid diverticulitis in a nonfunctioning ureter due to a previous nephrectomy. METHODS/RESULTS: A 68-year-old patient that had undergone nephrectomy due to xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis two years earlier, consulted for long-standing non-specific abdominal pain. Radiological evaluation showed a pneumogram pattern in the ureteral stump associated to a pelvic mass. The patient underwent surgery for a suspected uretero-intestinal fistula. The intraoperative findings and anatomopathological study demonstrated a uretero-sigmoid fistula due to diverticular disease of colon. CONCLUSIONS: Uretero-intestinal fistulas present unimportant clinical features. Radiological assessment and a clinical suspicion are important to diagnosis.