Optical imaging spectroscopy for rapid, primary screening of SARS-CoV-2: a proof of concept.

Effective testing is essential to control the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission. Here we report a-proof-of-concept study on hyperspectral image analysis in the visible and near-infrared range for primary screening at the point-of-care of SARS-CoV-2. We apply spectral feature descriptors, partial least square-discriminant analysis, and artificial intelligence to extract information from optical diffuse reflectance measurements from 5 µL fluid samples at pixel, droplet, and patient levels. We discern preparations of engineered lentiviral particles pseudotyped with the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 from those with the G protein of the vesicular stomatitis virus in saline solution and artificial saliva. We report a quantitative analysis of 72 samples of nasopharyngeal exudate in a range of SARS-CoV-2 viral loads, and a descriptive study of another 32 fresh human saliva samples. Sensitivity for classification of exudates was 100% with peak specificity of 87.5% for discernment from PCR-negative but symptomatic cases. Proposed technology is reagent-free, fast, and scalable, and could substantially reduce the number of molecular tests currently required for COVID-19 mass screening strategies even in resource-limited settings.

Factors Related to Weight Gain in Subjects with Sleeve Gastrectomy During Lockdown by the COVID-19 Pandemic.

PURPOSE: The COVID-19 pandemic could exacerbate the risk factors for weight gain in patients with previous bariatric surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate factors related to weight gain during lockdown in patients with a sleeve gastrectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A group of 48 obese subjects with previous bariatric surgery was enrolled. After a 7-week confinement, a telephone interview was conducted. In this phone call, self-reported body weight gain and different factors were recorded. In order to obtain the basal and pre-surgical data, biochemical and anthropometric parameters were recorded from electronic medical record. RESULTS: The mean age was 45.3±8.0 years (range: 23-61) and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 32.5±7.5 kg/m2 (range: 28.6-34.2). Gender distribution was 38 females (79.2%) and 10 males (20.8%). The increase in self-reported body weight was 3.8±2.1 kg during the 7 weeks of confinement. And the self-reported body weight gain was lower in subjects with regular exercise (4.6±0.9 vs 1.1±0.3 kg; p=0.02). The number of face-to-face visits to the nutrition office that did not attend was 0.61±0.81 (range: 0-4) per patient. In the multiple regression analysis with self-reported body weight gain as a dependent variable, the physical activity (minutes/week) remained as a protective factor with a beta coefficient of -0.09 (95% CI: -0.001 to 0.016; p=0.03) and number of face-to-face appointments in the nutrition consultation missed as a risk factor with a beta coefficient of 9.65 (95% CI: 1.17-18.12; p=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: The increase in self-reported body weight is associated with a decrease in physical activity and the loss of face-to-face visits to the Nutrition Unit.

High dose rate brachytherapy for prostate cancer: A prospective toxicity evaluation of a one day schedule including two 13.5 Gy fractions.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: High dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy (BT) provides a highly conformal method of dose delivery to the prostate. The purpose of this study is to prospectively determine the toxicity of the treatment protocol of 13.5 Gy × 2 fractions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 2010 through 2017, 119 patients with low (71%) or intermediate-risk prostate cancer were prospectively treated in a single institute with HDR-BT at 13.5 Gy × 2 fractions within one day. Median follow-up time was 4.4 years. RESULTS: Actuarial rates of no biochemical evidence of disease, overall survival and metastasis-free survival for all patients were 96%,98% and 98%, respectively. The cumulative incidence of acute grade 2 and 3 genitourinary (GU) toxicity was 9% and 2%, respectively. The corresponding incidences of late GU toxicity were 18% and 1%. No grade ≥4 of either type of toxicity was detected. Multivariate analysis showed that having higher international prostate symptom score (IPSS; P = 0.041) or higher V200 (P = 0.013) was associated with a higher risk of experiencing any grade of acute GU toxicity. In addition, patients having a higher IPSS (P = 0.019) or a higher V150 (P = 0.033) were associated with a higher grade >1 acute GU toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study show that HDR-BT 13.5 Gy × 2 as monotherapy was safe and effective for prostate cancer patients with low-intermediate risk.

Biochemical, Anthropometric and Lifestyle Factors Related with Weight Maintenance after Weight Loss Secondary to a Hypocaloric Mediterranean Diet.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of our study was to evaluate the influence of lifestyle factors and molecular biomarkers on the maintenance of the weight lost after a hypocaloric Mediterranean diet. DESIGN: After 3 months on a diet, patients (n = 335) remained with no controlled diet during 3 years and they were revaluated. RESULTS: Using linear regression, in the group of responders, we detected that a positive weight loss at 3 months, serum levels of leptin at 3 months, and each 30 min per week of physical activity were associated with weight loss maintenance. In the model with reduced weight (RW) as dependent variable, a positive weight loss at 3 months was associated with 2.4% RW (95% CI 1.31-8.11; p = 0.015), each unit of serum leptin levels at 3 months with -0.44% RW (95% CI -0.59 to -0.020; p = 0.007), each basal unit homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) level with -2.32% (95% CI -13.01 to -0.17; p = 0.040), and each 30 min per week of physical activity with 1.58% RW (95% CI 1.08-2.94; p = 0.020). CONCLUSION: Obese subjects who are on maintenance weight loss after a dietary intervention appear to have a better initial response during the 3 months intervention, more physical activity at 3 years, and lower basal HOMA-IR and leptin after weight loss than those who regain weight.

The SI! Program for Cardiovascular Health Promotion in Early Childhood: A Cluster-Randomized Trial.

BACKGROUND: The preschool years offer a unique window of opportunity to instill healthy life-style behaviors and promote cardiovascular health. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to evaluate the effect of a 3-year multidimensional school-based intervention to improve life-style-related behaviors. METHODS: We performed a cluster-randomized controlled intervention trial involving 24 public schools in Madrid, Spain, that were assigned to either the SI! Program intervention or the usual curriculum and followed for 3 years. The SI! Program aimed to instill and develop healthy behaviors in relation to diet, physical activity, and understanding how the human body and heart work. The primary outcome was change in the overall knowledge, attitudes, and habits (KAH) score (range 0 to 80). The intervention's effect on adiposity markers was also evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 2,062 children from 3 to 5 years of age were randomized. After 3 years of follow-up, the overall KAH score was 4.9% higher in children in the intervention group compared with the control group (21.7 vs. 16.4; p < 0.001). A peak effect was observed at the second year (improvement 7.1% higher than in the control group; p < 0.001). Physical activity was the main driver of the change in KAH at all evaluation times. Children in the intervention group for 2 years and 1 year showed greater improvement than control subjects (5.9%; p < 0.001 and 2.9%; p = 0.002, respectively). After 3 years, the intervention group showed a higher probability than the control group of reducing the triceps skinfold z-score by at least 0.1 (hazard ratio: 1.40, 95% confidence interval: 1.04 to 1.89; p = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: The SI! Program is an effective strategy for instilling healthy habits among preschoolers, translating into a beneficial effect on adiposity, with maximal effect when started at the earliest age and maintained over 3 years. Wider adoption may have a meaningful effect on cardiovascular health promotion. (Evaluation of the Program SI! for Preschool Education: A School-Based Randomized Controlled Trial [Preschool_PSI!]; NCT01579708).

La prueba proyectiva gráfica "persona bajo la lluvia" como indicador de psicopatología / The graphic projective test \"person under the raín\" as indicator of psychopathology

El objeto de este estudio fue investigar si la prueba "Persona Bajo la Lluvia" -una variación de la prueba de "La Figura Humana" de Machover - puede ser útil como auxiliar en el diagnóstico. Se buscó para esto, una relación con la prueba de "La Figura Humana" y con los grados de psicopatología del MMPI. Se utilizó un diseño de dos muestras independientes, un grupo experimental formado por 30 estudiantes universitarios que eran pacientes de un departamento de psiquiatría, y un grupo control constituido por 30 estudiantes universitarios que no eran pacientes. Las edades fluctuaron entre los 19 y 29 años. La selección fue por cuota. El procedimiento consistió en aplicar a los 60 individuos de la muestra, las pruebas anteriormente mencionadas. Para calificar las pruebas Figura Humana" y persona Bajo la Lluvia", se diseñaron dos guías que contienen índices de rasgos gráficos corporales adecuados e inadecuados, los cuales sugieren un buen funcionamiento e integración de la personalidad; otras dos guías fueron diseñadas exclusivamente para calificar la prueba "Persona Bajo la Lluvia", en cuyos índices se incluye la aparición de los mecanismos de defensa. Los resultados de estas pruebas se compararon entre sí y, como diagnóstico comparativo, se buscó una correlación con los grados de psicopatología del MMPI. El tratamiento estadístico utilizado fue la prueba de rangos señalados y pares igualados de Wilcoxon, la diferencia de dos medias y la prueba de correlación de rango de Spearman. Los resultados indicaron que hubo relación entre las pruebas "Persona Bajo la Lluvia" y "Figura Humana", presentándose mayor índice de síntomas en la primera que en la segunda. No se encontró correlación significativa entre los grados de psicopatología del MMPI y los índices de patología de la prueba "Persona Bajo la Lluvia", pero sí entre la prueba "Figura Humana" y los grados de psicopatología del MMPI