Factors Associated with Depression and Anxiety Symptoms among Migrant Population in Spain during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Migrants are likely to experience mental health conditions, being one of the most vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study aims to: (1) estimate the prevalence of depressive and anxious symptoms and (2) examine the impact of risk and protective factors on this symptomatology. A sample of 129 migrants living in Spain during the COVID-19 pandemic completed an anonymous online survey, including information on sociodemographic and individual characteristics, migration, basic needs, social environment and perceived health domains. Multiple Poisson regression models analysed the effects of risk and protective factors on depression and anxiety symptoms. The prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms was 22.3% and 21.4%, respectively. Risk factors such as living in a rented house and previous mental health conditions were associated with higher depression symptoms, whereas unemployment was related to anxiety symptoms. Conversely, older age, better self-esteem, and higher levels of social support were associated with fewer depression symptoms. Older age and better quality of life were related to fewer anxiety symptoms. These findings addressing risk and protective factors (e.g., social support, self-esteem) help to design culturally effective programs, particularly in migrants with pre-existing mental health conditions, adjusting the organisation of mental healthcare services in difficult times in Spain.

[A time series analysis of the cost of the most common drug treatment groups in an intensive care unit]. / Análisis de series temporales del coste de los grupos terapéuticos más utilizados en un servicio de medicina intensiva.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the evolution of the most common drug treatment groups in an intensive care unit over a period of seven years, characterise the time-cost relationship and establish an ARIMA prediction model using Box-Jenkins methodology. METHOD: A retrospective analysis of the costs of thirteen drug treatment groups was carried out in an intensive care unit with 19 beds between the period of 1998 to 2004. The monthly cost of these treatment groups constituted the time series. The descriptive analysis was carried out by means of descriptive statistics and graphs. The trend was analysed by means of smoothing by weighted local regression, and seasonality was analysed by multiple linear regression. Stochastic models for time series were developed using Box-Jenkins methodology for descriptive and forecasting purposes. RESULTS: 70% of drug costs are generated by thirteen groups. Three of these groups display a downward trend, four have an upward trend and the remaining groups do not display any significant trend. Seasonality is only relevant in series with upward trends. The ARIMA model allows models to be obtained for seven series. CONCLUSIONS: The descriptive cost analysis, the determination of trends and the analysis of seasonality provide information about the dynamics in drug use in an intensive care unit. However, the use of ARIMA models to optimise the planning of treatment resources in these types of hospital units is still extremely limited.

Anticonvulsant and neurotoxic effects of intracerebroventricular injection of phenytoin, phenobarbital and carbamazepine in an amygdala-kindling model of epilepsy in the rat.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the feasibility of the intracerebroventricular injection of phenytoin (PHT), phenobarbital (PB) and carbamazepine (CBZ) to control seizures in the amygdala kindling model in the rat, and also to determine the associated neurotoxic effects. METHODS: Different doses of PHT (500 and 1250 microl), PB (200, 500 and 1000 microl) and CBZ (200 and 500 microl) were injected intracerebroventricularly into amygdala kindled male Wistar rats. Seizures were induced with a fixed suprathreshold stimulus of 500 microA at times between 15 and 60 min after the injection. Seizure intensity (Racine's scale), latency, seizure duration and afterdischarge duration were measured. Neurotoxicity was tested using ataxia and sedation scales and also using a rotorod. RESULTS: PB was found to be the most powerful anticonvulsant, and both PB and CBZ caused significant reductions in seizure intensity to less than stage 3 with the doses tested. PHT only reduced seizures for the first 15-30 min after application. PB was also the most toxic drug, followed by CBZ and by PHT. Neurotoxicity was acceptable except in the cases of the highest doses during the earliest periods tested. There was no mortality due to the injection of any of the drugs at the doses employed. CONCLUSIONS: The intracerebroventricular route is a feasible way to administer anticonvulsant drugs for seizure control in the kindling model.

[Intradialysis hemolysis secondary to hypophosphatemia]. / Hemólisis intradiálisis secundaria a hipofosforemia.

We report a 76-year-old man, stable on a thrice-weekly hemodialysis program over a period of 3 years, who developed acute intradialysis hemolysis secondary to hypophosphatemia, an unusual cause of hemolysis. During the dialysis session we monitored the starting point, the severity and duration of intradialysis hemolysis. Severe hyphosphatemia is a rare cause of intradialysis hemolysis. It is important to think of his possibility to make an adequate diagnosis and treatment. The patient was treated with a phosphorus-enriched acid concentrate, bicarbonate-buffered dialysate, with biochemical and clinical improvement.

[Prognosis value of p53 gene and cellular proliferation factors in malignant supratentorial gliomas]. / Significación pronóstica de los factores de proliferación celular y del gen p53 en gliomas malignos supratentoriales del adulto.

OBJECT: The aim of this study was to investigate prognosis value of p53 oncosuppresor gene and labeling index by MIB-1 and PCNA monoclonal antibodies in malignant gliomas. METHODS AND RESULTS: We operated 60 patient with malignant glioma between July 1994 and August 1998. Forty-five cases had the histopathological diagnosis of Glioblastoma Multiforme and fifteen cases of anaplastic astrocytoma or olygoastrocytoma. Initially we compare MIB-1/PCNA labeling index in eighteen cases. Patients < 40 years old, short period of symptoms preoperatively, only one cerebral lobe localization, total surgical exeresis, Karnofsky index > 70 postoperatively, low labeling index (MIB < 8.6%), forward radiotherapy treatment and surgical re-operation, were identified like favourable outcome factors in the uninvariable analysis. However to the multivariable analysis, only had outcome significance: patients < 40 years old, low labeling index, Karnofsky index > 70 postoperatively and surgical reoperation. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of the results of current analysis, moreover classical factors associated with better outcome, low labeling index to Glioblastoma Multiforme have been noted in patients with longer survival, and must be included to conventional histopathological studies.

[Methods for analyzing uncertainty]. / Métodos de análisis de la incertidumbre.

Current budgetary restrictions in health systems have increased the influence of economic evaluation studies on decision making. Nevertheless, uncertainty about the parameters used in pharmacoeconomic models is inevitable and may affect the conclusions drawn. The present article aims to review the main methods proposed to quantify the uncertainty inherent in pharmacoeconomic evaluations applied to health technologies. The most accurate pharmacoeconomic estimations are obtained by probabilistic methods of uncertainty analysis such as Monte Carlo simulation, repetitive sampling and the Fieller method. Alternatives to these methods are calculation of the cost-effectiveness acceptability curve or net health benefit. Equally, the economic impact of uncertainty in the pharmacoeconomic models used in the decision-making process can be estimated by obtaining what is known as the value of perfect information.

Nortriptyline for smoking cessation: release and human skin diffusion from patches.

The objective of this work was to develop a simple and inexpensive transdermal formulation containing Nortriptyline Hydrochloride (NTH) for smoking cessation support therapy. Hydroxypropyl-methyl-cellulose was chosen as polymer and a mixture of transdermal enhancers (selected from previous research) was incorporated. The formulations were characterised in terms of appearance, thickness, uniformity of NTH content, release and skin permeation. Release studies demonstrated controlled release for four formulations. Diffusion studies were performed through human heat separated epidermis (HHSE) using Franz Diffusion Cells (FDC). Patches provided different fluxes varying from 20.39+/-7.09 microg/(cm(2) h) to 256.19+/-94.62 microg/(cm(2) h). The penetration profiles of NTH within the stratum corneum (SC) and deeper skin layers (DSL) were established after three administration periods (3 h, 6 h, and 24 h). Skin changes induced by the application of the patches were observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The highest flux obtained would provide the recommended doses for smoke cessation support therapy (25-75 mg per day) with a 2 cm x 2 cm patch or a 3.5 cm x 3.5 cm patch, respectively, without skin damage evidence.