Nomenclature in Palliative and Kidney Supportive Care: Not Just at the End-of-Life.

The multidimensional view of disease is fundamental in the care of complex diseases such as chronic kidney disease (CKD). It is appropriate to define and unify concepts that allow the different professionals involved in care to provide a multidisciplinary approach tailored to the needs of each individual. Given the increasing incidence of CKD worldwide and the fact that the disease may progress at different rates, there is a need to establish personalized, comprehensive approaches for each patient and their families at an earlier stage. This approach goes beyond the simple control of uremic symptoms or congestion and consists of addressing not only symptomatic but also functional, social and coping problems at an early stage, facilitating decision making both in the CKD and in acute situations, potentially irreversible or interventions that do not improve life expectancy. To ensure excellence in care, it is important to assess indicators of palliative care and kidney support, such as the presence of advance and shared care planning, the inclusion of psychosocial, ethical, spiritual and bereavement care. This enables the provision of comprehensive, humanized, and high-quality care for patients and their families. Palliative and kidney care is not just about patients in the last days of life. Defining, unifying, and evaluating the concepts will allow them to be applied in a timely manner at each specific moment of the CKD trajectory.

In vitro evaluation of the antitumoral and antiangiogenic effects of extracts from Spondias mombin L. leaves.

The traditional ethnobotanic and pharmacologic use of Spondias mombin L. samples includes a wide range of applications. In the present study, new antiangiogenic and antitumor effects of two types of extracts from Spondias mombin L. leaves have been demonstrated by using a number of in vitro assays in both endothelial and human cancer and non cancer cells.

Evaluación de lss métodos predictores de vía aéea dificultosa en pacientes cooordinados para procedimientos endoscópicos de vía aérea superior

OBJETIVO: el objetivo de este estudio fue comparar la capacidad de la evaluación clínica y de la laringoscopía indirecta (LI) para predecir dificultades en la intubación orotraqueal en pacientes coordinados para procedimientos endoscópicos de vía aérea superior. METODOLOGÍA: se realizó un estudio prospectivo de 76 pacientes coordinados para procedimientos endoscópicos de vía aérea superior, con anestesia general y que requerían intubación orotraqueal. La vía aérea se evaluó clínicamente mediante el test de Mallampati, medidas de las distancias mentohioidea, tiromentoneana y rama horizontal del maxilar inferior, características del cuello, dientes, lengua, apertura bucal, y por laringoscopía indirecta. Esta evaluación determinó un diagnóstico de sospecha de intubación dificultosa que se correlacionó con los hallazgos durante las maniobras de laringoscopía e intubación orotraqueal. Se determinó la sensibilidad, especificidad, valor predictivo positivo (VPP) y negativo (VPN) de los diferentes métodos de evaluación. RESULTADOS: la evaluación clínica tuvo una sensibilidad del 50% y una especificidad del 81%, con un VPP de 24% y VPN de 93%. La LI tuvo una sensibilidad del 38% y una especificidad de 79%, con un VPP de 18% y VPN de 92%. CONCLUSIONES: la evaluación clínica fue superior que la LI para predecir dificultades en la intubación orotraqueal, pero el valor predictivo de ambos métodos fue bajo.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare the predictive value of clinical evaluation and indirect laryngoscopy (LI) to detect difficult tracheal intubation, in patients coordinated for endoscopic procedures of upper airway. METHODS: We studied 76 patients coordinated for endoscopic procedures of upper airway under general anesthesia with tracheal intubation. The airway was clinically evaluated with Mallampati test, hyomental and thyromental distances, horizontal branch of lower jaw distance, neck characteristics, teeth, tongue, mouth opening, and with indirect laryngoscopy. This evaluation was used as a predictor of difficult airway, and was correlated to the findings during direct laryngoscopy and intubation. From this data sensitivity, specificity, positive (PPV) and negative predictive (NPV) value were calculated. RESULTS: clinical evaluation had 50% sensitivity and 81% specificity, with a PPV of 24% and a NPV of 93%. Indirect laryngoscopy had 38% sensitivity and 79% specificity, with a PPV of 18% and a NPV of 92%. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical evaluation was best predictor of difficult airway than indirect laryngoscopy, but predictive value of both methods was low.