Use of telemedicine consultations in head and neck cancer: patient perceptions, acceptability and accessibility.

BACKGROUNDS: Telemedicine has been effective in the management of various medical conditions, however, there is limited knowledge of its use in head and neck oncosurveillance. This is of importance currently while trying to mitigate the risk of transmission during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to evaluate acceptability, satisfaction and perceptions of telemedicine technology among outpatients for head and neck oncologic surveillance. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted for head and neck surgical oncology patients who attended telemedicine consultations between March and October 2020 at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. Data on demographic, socioeconomic and acceptability variables was collected, utilizing Likert scale questions. The primary outcome measures were patient satisfaction and perceptions, while the secondary outcome was access to technology. RESULTS: One hundred and fifteen patients were invited to participate, and 100 were included in the final analysis; 95% of patient's had a positive experience with telemedicine appointments and were willing to have future telemedicine appointments. Regional and rural patients were more accepting of telemedicine consultations, citing savings in travel time and the minimal disruption to normal day-to-day activities. All participants had access to telecommunication devices, with 63% having three or more devices. Issues identified include a lack of physical examination by clinician for 65% of participants and the inability to self-examine for 88% of participants. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrates patients' acceptance of telemedicine appointments as a component of outpatient surveillance for head and neck surgical oncology. This has benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic in addition to increasing accessibility for rural patients.

Remarkable Diagnostic Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings in Sellar Xanthogranuloma: Report of Three First Cases in Latin America.

The sellar xanthogranuloma is a rare lesion of the sellar-parasellar region difficult to differentiate from other tumors such as craniopharyngiomas or Rathke's cleft cyst in the preoperative evaluation. As they are recently recognized as a separate entity and the few number of reports in the literature, its etiology is unknown and its impact remains uncertain. This article will describe the first three cases reported in Latin America, identified in one of them an imaging feature that may be helpful to elucidate an imaging growth pattern. Current evidence will be described regarding to the clinicopathological features, imaging diagnosis, and etiology origin theories.

Performance in nondairy drinks of probiotic L. casei strains usually employed in dairy products.

The increase in vegetarianism as dietary habit and the increased allergy episodes against dairy proteins fuel the demand for probiotics in nondairy products. Lactose intolerance and the cholesterol content of dairy products can also be considered two additional reasons why some consumers are looking for probiotics in other foods. We aimed at determining cell viability in nondairy drinks and resistance to simulated gastric digestion of commercial probiotic lactobacilli commonly used in dairy products. Lactobacillus casei LC-01 and L. casei BGP 93 were added to different commercial nondairy drinks and viability and resistance to simulated gastric digestion (pH 2.5, 90 min, 37 °C) were monitored along storage (5 and 20 °C). For both strains, at least one nondairy drink was found to offer cell counts around 7 log orders until the end of the storage period. Changes in resistance to simulated gastric digestion were observed as well. Commercial probiotic cultures of L. casei can be added to commercial fruit juices after a carefull selection of the product that warrants cell viability. The resistance to simulated gastric digestion is an easy-to-apply in vitro tool that may contribute to product characterization and may help in the choice of the food matrix when no changes in cell viability are observed along storage. Sensorial evaluation is mandatory before marketing since the product type and storage conditions might influence the sensorial properties of the product due to the possibility of growth and lactic acid production by probiotic bacteria.

Anestesia para timectomia en el paciente con diagnóstico de miastenia gravis

Se realizó un estudio de tipo retrospectivo para analizar las variables que se relacionan con el manejo anestesiológico de la Miastenia Gravis. La investigación incluyó 43 pacientes que fueron intervenidos quirúrgicamente en el Hospital San Juan de Dios de Bogotá, durante un período de cuatro años. Se estudiaron las variables que surgieron desde la visita preanestésica hasta la recuperación postoperatoria, realizando correlaciones de significancia estadística entre ellas. Se utilizó el paquete estadístico EPI Info Vesrión 5.0 para el análisis. Los resultados mostraron, como en otros estudios, un predominio del sexo femenino en los pacientes intervenidos, con edad promedio de 31 años para las demas y 20 años para los caballeros, sin que esta diferencia sea estadísticamente significativa. Hubo correlación significativa (p<0.05) entre: a) tiempo quirúrgico y tiempo de anestesia (r= 0.87); b) presencia de espirometría y medicación con prostigmine; c) tensión arterial promedio (sistólica, diastólica y media), con uso de diversos halogenados; e) tipo de halogenado y tiempo quirúrgico; f) complicaciones consignadas y calificación anotada del mantenimiento anestésico; y finalmente, entre la fecha (año) de la cirugía y la extubación en sala de cirugía