Prognostic Factors in De Novo Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Report From the Latin American Renal Cancer Group.

PURPOSE: To assess the effect of clinical and pathological variables on cancer-specific and overall survival (OS) in de novo metastatic patients from a collaborative of primarily Latin American countries. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Of 4,060 patients with renal cell carcinoma diagnosed between 1990 and 2015, a total of 530 (14.5%) had metastasis at clinical presentation. Relationships between clinical and pathological parameters and treatment-related outcomes were analyzed by Cox regression and the log-rank method. RESULTS: Of 530 patients, 184 (90.6%) had died of renal cell carcinoma. The median OS of the entire cohort was 24 months. American Society of Anesthesiology classification 3-4 (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.64), perirenal fat invasion (HR: 2.02), and ≥ 2 metastatic organ sites (HR: 2.19) were independent prognostic factors for 5-year OS in multivariable analyses. We created a risk group stratification with these variables: no adverse risk factors (favorable group), median OS not reached; one adverse factor (intermediate group), median OS 33 months (HR: 2.04); and two or three adverse factors (poor risk group), median OS 14 months (HR: 3.58). CONCLUSION: Our study defines novel prognostic factors that are relevant to a Latin American cohort. With external validation, these easily discerned clinical variables can be used to offer prognostic information across low- and middle-income countries.

Análisis de costos en la cirugía de catarata por facoemulsificación bilateral simultánea versus facoemulsificación bilateral secuencial / Cost analysis of simultaneous bilateral phacoemulsification cataract surgery versus sequential bilateral phacoemulsification

RESUMEN Objetivo: Evaluar el costo en la cirugía de catarata por facoemulsificación bilateral simultánea vs. facoemulsificación bilateral secuencial, con implante de lente intraocular. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio analítico de evaluación económica en 762 pacientes mayores de 50 años, intervenidos de catarata con la cirugía de facoemulsificación bilateral simultánea (grupo I), y 762 pacientes operados de catarata con la cirugía de facoemulsificación bilateral secuencial (grupo II), en el Instituto Cubano de Oftalmología Ramón Pando Ferrer, del año 2014 al 2019. Se evaluaron los costos en recursos humanos, materiales e indirectos, así como los costos totales de ambos grupos después de la intervención quirúrgica, partiendo de la demostración científica de que ambos procedimientos son igualmente eficaces. Resultados: Predominó la edad de 61 a 80 años y el sexo femenino (75 por ciento) en ambos grupos. Los costos unitarios relacionados con los recursos humanos disminuyeron en 1,69 pesos para el grupo I, mientras que los costos totales y unitarios en relación con los recursos materiales fueron similares en ambos grupos. Los costos unitarios indirectos disminuyeron en 3,63 pesos en el grupo I. Finalmente, el costo unitario total para el grupo de cirugía bilateral simultánea resultó 6,19 pesos menor que el de cirugía bilateral secuencial. Conclusiones: La cirugía de catarata por facoemulsificación bilateral simultánea tiene menores costos que la facoemulsificación bilateral secuencial(AU)

ABSTRACT Objective: Evaluate the cost of simultaneous bilateral phacoemulsification cataract surgery vs. sequential bilateral phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation. Methods: An analytic economic evaluation was conducted of 762 patients aged over 50 years undergoing simultaneous bilateral phacoemulsification cataract surgery and 762 patients undergoing sequential bilateral phacoemulsification cataract surgery at Ramón Pando Ferrer Cuban Institute of Ophthalmology in the period 2014-2019. Evaluation was performed of costs incurred on human resources and materials, indirect costs, and total costs for the two groups after surgery, starting from the scientific certainty that both procedures are equally effective. Results: The 61-80 years age group and female sex (75 percent) prevailed in both groups. Human resources unit costs decreased 1.69 CUP in group I, whereas material resources total and unit costs were similar in both groups. Indirect unit costs decreased 3.63 CUP in group I. Total unit cost was 6.19 CUP lower in the simultaneous bilateral surgery group than in the sequential bilateral surgery group. Conclusions: Simultaneous bilateral phacoemulsification cataract surgery is more cost-effective than sequential bilateral phacoemulsification(AU)

Evaluación de la efectividad en la cirugía de catarata por facoemulsificación bilateral simultánea versus facoemulsificación bilateral secuencial / Evaluation of the effectiveness in the simultaneous bilateral phacoemulsification cataract surgery versus sequential bilateral phacoemulsification

RESUMEN: Objetivo: Comparar la efectividad y la seguridad de la cirugía de cataratas en pacientes operados por facoemulsificación bilateral simultánea vs. facoemulsificación bilateral secuencial con implante de lente intraocular. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio longitudinal en 762 pacientes mayores de 50 años, divididos en dos grupos. Se evaluó la variación de la función visual y la calidad de vida mediante la aplicación del cuestionario para analizar la función visual antes de la intervención quirúrgica y luego de 3 meses. Para evaluar la seguridad se midió la incidencia de complicaciones trans y posquirúrgicas asociadas a la intervención. Como medida de efectividad clínica se utilizó la mejor agudeza visual corregida y sin corregir. La efectividad autopercibida por los pacientes se evaluó mediante el cuestionario específico VF-14 de calidad de vida relacionada con la salud. Resultados: Predominó la edad de 61 a 80 años y el sexo femenino (75 por ciento) en ambos grupos. Las comparaciones de las variables refractivas y la calidad de vida según el índice de función visual mostraron diferencias significativas entre el preoperatorio y el posoperatorio, tanto para el grupo I como para el grupo II (p< 0,001), con evidentes resultados favorables posoperatorios en ambos. Conclusión: La cirugía de catarata por facoemulsificación bilateral simultánea es efectiva, por las evidencias de mejoría en la agudeza visual, la funcionabilidad y la calidad de vida de los pacientes, lo que les permite reincorporarse tempranamente a sus actividades sociales y laborales(AU)

ABSTRACT Objective: To compare the effectiveness and safety of cataract surgery in patients operated on by simultaneous bilateral phacoemulsification cataract surgery versus sequential bilateral phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation. Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted of 762 patients aged over 50 years, divided into two groups. We evaluated the variation of visual function and quality of life through the application of the questionnaire to analyze visual function before surgery and after 3 months. To evaluate the safety, the incidence of postsurgical complications trans and associated with the intervention was measured. As a measure of clinical effectiveness we used the best corrected and uncorrected visual acuity. The perceived effectiveness by patients was assessed by the specific questionnaire VF-14 of health-related quality of life. Results: The 61-80 years age group and female sex (75 percent) prevailed in both groups. Comparisons of refractive variables and quality of life, according to the VF-14 visual function index, showed significant differences between preoperative and postoperative process, both for group I and group II (p< 0,001), with evident favorable postoperative results in both groups. Conclusion: Cataract surgery for simultaneous bilateral phacoemulsification is effective, due to the evidence of improvement in visual acuity, functionality and quality of life of patients, which Allows them to return early to their social activities and labor(AU)

Tooth movement and root resorption; the effect of ovariectomy on orthodontic force application in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify the amount of tooth movement and orthodontically induced root resorption (OIRR) in ovariectomized rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five 10-week-old female Wistar rats undergoing ovariectomy (OVX) were investigated as the experimental group, and the other five without ovariectomy served as the control group. Four weeks after ovariectomy, 25-g nickel-titanium closed-coil springs were applied mesially to the maxillary left first molars. Micro-computed tomography was taken at day 0, 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28. At day 28, the molars were extracted. The surface area of root resorption craters, depth, and volume were measured using electron and laser scanning microscopes. RESULTS: Tooth movement gradually increased with time throughout 28 days. There was a significant difference in the amount of tooth movement between the control group and the OVX group. For OIRR, the OVX group showed wide and shallow root resorption craters scattered on the mesial root. The deep resorption craters were observed on the distal roots distributed in the cervical, middle, and apical thirds of the roots. Statistically significant differences were found between the control and the OVX groups in the depth and the volume of root resorption craters in the distal roots and the total volume of root resorption craters in all three roots. CONCLUSION: Ovariectomy affected not only tooth movement but also OIRR. Tooth movement in the OVX group was more rapid than the control group. Furthermore, the amount of OIRR in the OVX group was more severe than the control group.

Molecular analysis of RANKL-independent cell fusion of osteoclast-like cells induced by TNF-alpha, lipopolysaccharide, or peptidoglycan.

Focusing on the final step of osteoclastogenesis, we studied cell fusion from tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive mononuclear cells into multinuclear cells. TRAP-positive mononuclear cells before generation of multinuclear cells by cell fusion were differentiated from RAW264.7 cells by treatment with receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL), and then the cells were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), followed by culturing for further 12 h. LPS-induced cell fusion even in the absence of RANKL. Similarly, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and peptidoglycan (PGN) induced cell fusion, but M-CSF did not. The cell fusion induced by RANKL, TNF-alpha, and LPS was specifically blocked by osteoprotegerin (OPG), anti-TNF-alpha antibody, and polymyxin B, respectively. LPS- and PGN-induced cell fusion was partly inhibited by anti-TNF-alpha antibody but not by OPG. When TRAP-positive mononuclear cells fused to yield multinuclear cells, phosphorylation of Akt, Src, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p38MAPK (p38), and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) was observed. The specific chemical inhibitors LY294002 (PI3K), PP2 (Src), U0126 (MAPK-ERK kinase (MEK)/ERK), and SP600125 (JNK) effectively suppressed cell fusion, although SB203580 (p38) did not. mRNA of nuclear factor of activated T-cells c1 (NFATc1) and dendritic cell-specific transmembrane protein (DC-STAMP) during the cell fusion was quantified, however, there was no obvious difference among the TRAP-positive mononuclear cells treated with or without M-CSF, RANKL, TNF-alpha, LPS, or PGN. Collectively, RANKL, TNF-alpha, LPS, and PGN induced cell fusion of osteoclasts through their own receptors. Subsequent activation of signaling pathways involving PI3K, Src, ERK, and JNK molecules was required for the cell fusion. Although DC-STAMP is considered to be a requisite for cell fusion of osteoclasts, cell fusion-inducing factors other than DC-STAMP might be necessary for the cell fusion.

Hepatitis neonatal durante los años 1987 a 1991 / Neonatal hepatitis during the years 1987 to 1991

Con la finalidad de conocer la morbi-morbilidad de la Hepatitis Neonatal se realizó un estudio retrospectivo en el Hospital de Niños "J.M. de los Ríos" de Caracas, Venezuela, entre los años 1987-1991. Seleccionándose 47 pacientes de 0 a 3 meses con diagnóstico de Hepatitis Neonatal. Los signos y síntomas que predominaron fueron ictericia, coluria, hipocolia, y hepatomegalia. Se confirmó la etiología de la Hepatitis Neonatal en 7 casos. La edad promedio en que se efectuó la primera biopsia fue de 64,9 días; con un dignóstico de Hepatitis Neonatal en 97,9 por ciento de los casos. Sólo a 8 pacientes se les realizó una segunda biopsia, confirmándose el primer diagnóstico en 4 de ellos. Evolucionando satisfactoriamente el 70,2 por ciento de los casos

Estimacion de parametros de radiacion y calificacion de la evapotranspiracion real en el Valle Alto de Cochabamba / sss

El Valle Alto de Cochabamba permite la aplicacion de la metodologia en el aspecto que cumple con las caracteristicas de ser un area plana y donde las caracteristicas climaticas pueden ser extrapoladas sin introducir errores considerables por efectos de cambios de altitud, sin embargo deben desarrollarse trabajos que validen la suposicion de homogeneidad espacial de dichas variables. A pesar de las limitaciones que se tuvieron en la aplicacion del metodo por falta de informacion de campo actualizada se pudo obtener resultados satisfactorios en cuanto a parametros radioactivos que actuan como calificadores de la evapotranspiracion. Ellos han permitido establecer las diferencias espaciales entre los diferentes rasgos superficiales y la disponibilidad de humedad en los mismos. La aplicacion de esta metodologia para mejorar la distribucion de agua para riego en el Valle Alto, no es posible ser utilizada con precision dada la falta de informacion climatica terrestre suficiente. El esquema de organizacion social para el abastecimiento de riego complica la efectividad del metodo, si se considera como herramienta indicadora de la dotacion de agua para consumo del cultivo...