Augmented reality in anesthesia, pain medicine and critical care: a narrative review.

Augmented reality (AR) is the integration of computer-generated information with the user's environment in real time. AR is used in many industries, including healthcare, where it has gained significant popularity. Recent strides in hardware and software engineering have reduced the cost of AR, while significantly improving the experience for users and developers. One of the first applications of AR technology in perioperative medicine has been in the identification of anatomical structures for regional blocks and peripheral or central vascular access. AR has also been implemented in pediatric care to reduce periprocedural anxiety. In this narrative review, we summarize the current role of AR in anesthesiology, pain medicine, and critical care.

User expectations and perceptions towards new public transport infrastructure: evaluating a cable car in Bogotá.

Cable cars are a viable alternative to improve citizens' accessibility in zones with limitations on urban public transport supply due to the topography. In Latin America, such systems have recently been implemented in zones with high levels of poverty and vulnerability. Although the social implications of their implementation are relevant, individual expectations of these systems and how current changes in travel conditions and quality of life are perceived have not been widely reported in the literature. This paper aims to evaluate users' expectations and perceptions of a new cable car in the southern periphery of Bogotá (Colombia). We conducted a panel survey before (n = 341) and after (n = 301) the cable car started operations to evaluate the ranking of preferences toward a set of possible benefits of the project. We estimated discrete choice models to analyze the statistical differences between the expectations and perceptions before and after changes. Results suggest that travel time reductions, comfort improvements, and in-vehicle security are the benefits most valued by the users. Even though the project meets expectations of these aspects, it seems to fall short in expectations of reductions of pollution. Individuals' experience with the cable car shapes their perceptions of the system. We found that perceptions differ between those who have used the service at least once and those who never did. Policy implications derived from this study might be of interest to decision-makers seeking to guarantee the public acceptability of urban projects.

[Lifestyles and health status of migrants in a settlement of Barranquilla, Colombia, 2018]. / Modos de vida y estado de salud de migrantes en un asentamiento de Barranquilla, 2018.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the lifestyles and health status of returning Venezuelan and Colombian migrants in Villa Caracas, Barranquilla, in 2018. METHODS: Descriptive, cross-sectional study with systematic sampling of dwellings. 229 people over 15 years of age from 90 homes were included. RESULTS: Differences were found in the routes to arrive, commuting times and stay in the settlement between Venezuelan and returning Colombian migrants. Housing conditions and access to public services are limited: less than half of the dwellings have access to aqueduct, sewerage and bathrooms. In general, self-reported health status of migrants is very good or good and the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases was relatively low, with the exception of high blood pressure. Most of the people who consulted the emergency department reported effective access. Clinically significant depressive symptoms were found in 20% of the surveyed population. CONCLUSIONS: The migrants of Villa Caracas are under high social vulnerability conditions given their economic and environmental conditions. Despite their lack of enrollment in the Colombian health system, they reported access to emergency care.

OBJETIVO: Describir los modos de vida y el estado de salud de salud de migrantes venezolanos y colombianos de retorno asentados en Villa Caracas, Barranquilla, en el año 2018. MÉTODO: Estudio descriptivo de corte transversal con muestreo sistemático de viviendas. Fueron incluidas 229 personas mayores de 15 años procedentes de 90 viviendas. RESULTADOS: Se encontraron diferencias en las rutas para llegar, tiempos de traslado y estancia en el asentamiento entre migrantes venezolanos y colombianos en retorno. Las condiciones de la vivienda y el acceso a los servicios públicos son limitadas, menos de la mitad de las viviendas tienen acceso a acueducto, alcantarillado y baño. En general el estado de salud auto-reportado por los migrantes es muy bueno o bueno, las prevalencias de enfermedades crónicas fueron relativamente bajas, con excepción de hipertensión arterial. De los que consultaron al servicio de urgencias, la mayoría reportó acceso efectivo. Se encontraron síntomas depresivos clínicamente significativos para el 20% de la población encuestada. CONCLUSIONES: Los migrantes de Villa Caracas se encuentran en condiciones de alta vulnerabilidad social dadas sus condiciones económicas y ambientales. A pesar de la falta de aseguramiento al sistema de salud colombiano, reportaron acceso a la atención por urgencias.

An artificial niche preserves the quiescence of muscle stem cells and enhances their therapeutic efficacy.

A promising therapeutic strategy for diverse genetic disorders involves transplantation of autologous stem cells that have been genetically corrected ex vivo. A major challenge in such approaches is a loss of stem cell potency during culture. Here we describe an artificial niche for maintaining muscle stem cells (MuSCs) in vitro in a potent, quiescent state. Using a machine learning method, we identified a molecular signature of quiescence and used it to screen for factors that could maintain mouse MuSC quiescence, thus defining a quiescence medium (QM). We also engineered muscle fibers that mimic the native myofiber of the MuSC niche. Mouse MuSCs maintained in QM on engineered fibers showed enhanced potential for engraftment, tissue regeneration and self-renewal after transplantation in mice. An artificial niche adapted to human cells similarly extended the quiescence of human MuSCs in vitro and enhanced their potency in vivo. Our approach for maintaining quiescence may be applicable to stem cells isolated from other tissues.

Modos de vida y estado de salud de migrantes en un asentamiento de Barranquilla, 2018 / Lifestyles and health status of migrants in a settlement of Barranquilla, Colombia, 2018

RESUMEN Objetivo Describir los modos de vida y el estado de salud de salud de migrantes venezolanos y colombianos de retorno asentados en Villa Caracas, Barranquilla, en el año 2018. Método Estudio descriptivo de corte transversal con muestreo sistemático de viviendas. Fueron incluidas 229 personas mayores de 15 años procedentes de 90 viviendas. Resultados Se encontraron diferencias en las rutas para llegar, tiempos de traslado y estancia en el asentamiento entre migrantes venezolanos y colombianos en retorno. Las condiciones de la vivienda y el acceso a los servicios públicos son limitadas, menos de la mitad de las viviendas tienen acceso a acueducto, alcantarillado y baño. En general el estado de salud auto-reportado por los migrantes es muy bueno o bueno, las prevalencias de enfermedades crónicas fueron relativamente bajas, con excepción de hipertensión arterial. De los que consultaron al servicio de urgencias, la mayoría reportó acceso efectivo. Se encontraron síntomas depresivos clínicamente significativos para el 20% de la población encuestada. Conclusiones Los migrantes de Villa Caracas se encuentran en condiciones de alta vulnerabilidad social dadas sus condiciones económicas y ambientales. A pesar de la falta de aseguramiento al sistema de salud colombiano, reportaron acceso a la atención por urgencias.(AU)

ABSTRACT Objective To describe the lifestyles and health status of returning Venezuelan and Colombian migrants in Villa Caracas, Barranquilla, in 2018. Methods Descriptive, cross-sectional study with systematic sampling of dwellings. 229 people over 15 years of age from 90 homes were included. Results Differences were found in the routes to arrive, commuting times and stay in the settlement between Venezuelan and returning Colombian migrants. Housing conditions and access to public services are limited: less than half of the dwellings have access to aqueduct, sewerage and bathrooms. In general, self-reported health status of migrants is very good or good and the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases was relatively low, with the exception of high blood pressure. Most of the people who consulted the emergency department reported effective access. Clinically significant depressive symptoms were found in 20% of the surveyed population. Conclusions The migrants of Villa Caracas are under high social vulnerability conditions given their economic and environmental conditions. Despite their lack of enrollment in the Colombian health system, they reported access to emergency care.(AU)

Asymptomatic advanced hepatocellular carcinoma presenting with spinal cord compression.

HCC is the most frequent primary malignancy of the liver and one of the most common cancers in the world. HCC is substantially a complication of liver cirrhosis, and because HBV and HCV are the predominant causes of chronic liver disease and cirrhosis worldwide, they have a propensity to lead to HCC. Common sites of HCC metastases include the lung, lymph nodes, and portal vein. Bony metastases are rare, and when they do occur the disease is usually far advanced and is associated with clinical manifestations of abdominal pain, weight loss, jaundice, hepato-splenomegaly, ascities, deranged LFTs, and elevated AFP. We report here a patient with asymptomatic advanced HCC, normal LFTs, and normal AFP values presenting with spinal cord compression.