Physical units to report intensity of electromagnetic wave.

The aim of this work is to propose a consensus to scientific community that handles personal exposimeters, which measure intensity of an electromagnetic wave (W/m2). To express the intensity of an electromagnetic wave there is a duality in the way of expressing it. Some scientists prefer to use W/m2 while others use V/m, which is a unit of the electric field. There is also a duality in the name, sometimes it is called it power flux density and some other times, wave intensity. We believe that this second name is more appropriate from the point of view of physics. We suggest expressing intensity of an electromagnetic wave in W/m2 instead of giving the value of their electric field which is measured in V/m. There is a quadratic relation between electric field and intensity of the wave, and it is necessary to do a mathematical operation, so in our opinion, it is preferable to use W/m2 which directly gives us the value of the measured intensity. Furthermore, if the intensity is very low, it may be expressed in µW/m2 and with only three significant figures, due to sensitivity of the current exposimeters used.

Comment on: What is the radiation before 5G? A correlation study between measurements in situ and in real time and epidemiological indicators in Vallecas, Madrid, by I. López, N. Félix, M. Rivera, A. Alonso, and C. Maestú.

We have read the article recently published by Lopez et al., 2020 (Lopez et al., 2021). This study aimed to find a possible relationship, if any, between exposure to RF-EMF with some health indicators such as sleep, headache, and fatigue collected through surveys, using maximum electromagnetic radiation peak-to-peak measurements. And after a detailed analysis of the study, we want to make some comments on said publication to clarify some aspects.

Direct oral anticoagulants for the treatment and prevention of venous thromboembolism in patients with cancer: current evidence

Venous thromboembolic disease (VTED) is a common and clinically important complication in patients with cancer, contributing to its mortality and morbidity. Direct oral anticoagulant agents (DOACs), including direct thrombin inhibitors and direct factor Xa inhibitors, are as effective as vitamin K antagonists for the treatment of VTED and are associated with less frequent and severe bleeding. They have advantages over low-molecular-weight heparin, but comparative long-term efficacy and safety data are lacking for these compounds. Recent randomized clinical trials suggest a role for DOACs in the treatment of VTED in patients with cancer. This review will discuss the existing evidence and future perspectives on the role of DOACs in the treatment of VTE based on the current evidence about their overall efficacy and safety and the limited information in patients with cancer; in addition, we will briefly review their pharmacokinetic properties with special reference to potential interactions (AU)

Pronación: Tecnología de enfermería que produce bienestar en el cuidado de los pacientes COVID-19, en el Hospital General Dr. Manuel Gea González en la Ciudad de México / Pronation: A nursing technology that promotes wellbeing among COVID-19 patients at General Hospital Dr. Manuel Gea Gonzalez in México City

Introduction: pronation is a procedure used at the Intensive Care Unit with patients presenting Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) with severe hypoxemia. Bibliographical references clearly support the application of this procedure due to the improvement it produces in oxygenation and the increased survival rate in patients. The main foundation behind this technology is that Ventral Decubitus (VD) promotes an improved redistribution of ventilation toward the dorsal regions of the lung, which are mainly collapsed during Dorsal Decubitus. Nursing staff have used this procedure because VD has proven to be a strategy with a useful and accessible impact over respiratory physiology. Objective: to analyze Pronation as a nursing technology and its promotion of COVID-19 patients' wellbeing at the General Hospital Dr. Manuel Gea González, in Mexico City. Material and methods: a nonexperimental, quantitative, cross-sectional, prolective, descriptive study to analyze pronation, as a nursing technology that promotes wellbeing in the care of COVID-19 patients at General Hospital Dr. Manuel Gea González, in Mexico City. Pronation as a nursing technology was the variable being measured. The universe was 530 nursing professionals working at the Hospital. The population and sample were 52 nursing specialists working with COVID-19 patients, representing 9.81% of the Universe. Results: as for training and experience with Pronation, 50% of the staff consider they have received sufficient training in regards to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, but they are still under training. Additionally, 84.62 % consider that Pronation promotes a remarkable recovery in the patients, with oxygen saturations between 80 to 100 %; 71.16 % believe that patients do show hemodynamic instability due to the position shift, but not in every case; and 80.77 % consider they make sure their patients do not develop pressure ulcers, given that 65.39 % practice patient hygiene and movement to prevent such ulcers. Discussion: from the interviewed staff, 50.01 % consider they have received sufficient training regarding COVID and the pronation of patients. This is consistent with Hernandez et al., who describe the need of a team trained specifically on the procedure, preferably comprised of Nurses specialized in Intensive Care. Likewise, 84.62% of staff members believe Pronation improves oxygen saturation in patients from 80% to 100%, this is contrasted with Barrantes and Vargas, who indicate that if Pronation does not result in 5% improvement in oxygen saturation, the patient must be returned to dorsal decubitus. Conclusion: ventilation in prone position is a pulmonary protective action used for over 30 years that produces an evident and continuous improvement in blood oxygenation and the respiratory physiology. Therefore, nursing specialists caring for COVID-19 patients recommend its use.

Introducción: la pronación es una maniobra utilizada en las unidades de cuidados intensivos, en pacientes que presentan síndrome de distrés respiratorio agudo (SDRA), cuando la hipoxemia es severa. Apoyada por una sólida evidencia científica, tiene impacto en la forma en que se ventila a los pacientes como parámetro de seguridad, esto aumenta la supervivencia. Objetivo: analizar la pronación, como tecnología de enfermería, que produce bienestar en el cuidado de los pacientes COVID-19, en el Hospital General Dr. Manuel Gea González, en la Ciudad de México. Material y métodos: estudio de carácter cuantitativo, no experimental, transversal, prospectivo, descriptivo. Variable medida: la pronación, como tecnología de enfermería. El universo 530 profesionales de enfermería que trabajan en el hospital, muestra: 52 especialistas de enfermería que trabajan con pacientes COVID-19. Resultados: en relación a la capacitación y experiencia en pronación, el 50% del personal manifiestan que sí recibieron suficiente capacitación sobre el virus SARS-CoV-2, aunque siguen capacitándose en ésta área; el 84.62 % consideran que en la pronación, los pacientes mejoran bastante, saturando entre el 80 y 100 % de oxígeno y el 80.77 % siempre cuidan que los pacientes no tengan úlceras por presión.Discusión: el 50.01 % del personal entrevistado manifiesta que sí recibió suficiente capacitación sobre la COVID-19 para pronar a los pacientes, lo que es semejante a la investigación de Hernández GD., et al.¹ Conclusión: la ventilación en posición prono es una medida de protección pulmonar utilizada hace más de 30 años que produce una mejoría evidente y sostenida de la oxigenación de la sangre y en la fisiología respiratoria, por lo que los especialistas de enfermería que atiende pacientes COVID-19 recomiendan su aplicación, pues está asociada al aumento de probabilidad de supervivencia.

Limosilactobacillus reuteri ATCC PTA 5289 and DSM 17938 as adjuvants to improve evolution of pharyngitis/tonsillitis in children: randomised controlled trial.

Pharyngitis and tonsillitis are the most common acute respiratory infections (ARIs) in children aged ≤5 years. The analysis of published data showed that some probiotics could decrease the frequency and number of days with ARIs. This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of Limosilactobacillus reuteri ATCC PTA 5289 and DSM 17938 to reduce the duration and severity of ARI symptoms. This randomised controlled trial included children aged from 6 months to 5 years, with pharyngitis or tonsillitis, who were randomised to receive a probiotic product containing L. reuteri ATCC PTA 5289 and L. reuteri DSM 17938 or placebo, as drops, ingested orally for 10 days as adjuvants to the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The main outcomes were the duration and severity of ARI symptoms. The secondary outcomes were changes in salivary immunoglobulin A and inflammatory biomarkers. There was no fever on day 2 and subsequent days in the L. reuteri group (37.3 ±0.5 °C vs 38.6±0.3 °C, P<0.05). Beginning on day 3, the severity of sore throat (5±0.9 vs 8±1.2, P<0.05) was lower in the L. reuteri group. Significant differences in the days with runny nose, nasal congestion, days of non-programmed visits to the medical office or emergency department, levels in tumoral necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and related costs of treatment were observed in the L. reuteri group. The frequency of adverse events was similar between the groups. Therefore, L. reuteri ATCC PTA 5289 combined with L. reuteri DSM 17938 is a safe and effective adjunct to reduce the symptoms of pharyngitis or tonsillitis in children.

SEOM clinical guidelines for anaemia treatment in cancer patients (2020).

Anaemia is defined by the presence of haemoglobin (Hb) levels < 13 g/dL in men and 12 g/dL in women. Up to 39% of cancer patients present it at the time of diagnosis and up to 40% have iron deficiency. Anaemia causes fatigue, functional deterioration and a reduction in the quality of life; it has also been associated with a poorer response to anti-tumour treatment and lower survival. Basic diagnostic tests for anaemia are simple and should be a routine part of clinical practice. These guidelines review the available evidence on the use of different therapies for treating anaemia: erythropoiesis-stimulating agents, iron supplements, and transfusion of blood products.

Direct oral anticoagulants for the treatment and prevention of venous thromboembolism in patients with cancer: current evidence.

Venous thromboembolic disease (VTED) is a common and clinically important complication in patients with cancer, contributing to its mortality and morbidity. Direct oral anticoagulant agents (DOACs), including direct thrombin inhibitors and direct factor Xa inhibitors, are as effective as vitamin K antagonists for the treatment of VTED and are associated with less frequent and severe bleeding. They have advantages over low-molecular-weight heparin, but comparative long-term efficacy and safety data are lacking for these compounds. Recent randomized clinical trials suggest a role for DOACs in the treatment of VTED in patients with cancer. This review will discuss the existing evidence and future perspectives on the role of DOACs in the treatment of VTE based on the current evidence about their overall efficacy and safety and the limited information in patients with cancer; in addition, we will briefly review their pharmacokinetic properties with special reference to potential interactions.

SEOM clinical guideline of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and cancer (2019).

In 2011, the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM) first published a clinical guideline of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and cancer. This guideline was updated in 2014, and since then, multiple studies and clinical trials have changed the landscape of the treatment and prophylaxis of VTE in cancer patients. To incorporate the most recent evidence, including data from direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) randomized clinical trials, SEOM presents a new update of the guideline.

Calidad de vida relacionada con la salud en pacientes oncológicos con enfermedad tromboembólica venosa aguda sintomática. Diseño del estudio qca (quality of life in cancer). Estudio de casos y controles / Health-related quality of life in cancer patients with acute symptomatic venous thromboembolic disease. Design of the QCa (quality of life in cancer) study. Case-control study

La asociación entre cáncer y enfermedad tromboembólica (ETV) se encuentra bien establecida. La ETV presenta una elevada morbimortalidad, objetivándose un incremento del riesgo de ETV hasta 4 veces mayor en aquellos pacientes con cáncer respecto a la población general. Sin embargo, existe poca evidencia científica sobre la CVRS (calidad de vida relacionada con la salud) en pacientes oncológicos con ETV, cuando es presumible que esta patología suponga un agravante sobre la percepción del estado de salud de los pacientes oncológicos. Nuestro objetivo es presentar el estudio "QCa Study", el cual pretende evaluar la CVRS de los pacientes oncológicos con ETV aguda sintomática en comparación con pacientes oncológicos sin ETV. "QCa study" es un estudio nacional de cohortes, prospectivo, de casos y controles en pacientes con cáncer activo. Definimos "caso" como aquel paciente oncológico con ETV aguda sintomática, y "control" aquel paciente oncológico sin ETV aguda sintomática. Los criterios de inclusión son: para los casos: presentar cáncer activo al momento de la inclusión. Tener más de 18 años, pacientes diagnosticados de trombosis venosa profunda (TVP) en miembros inferiores aguda sintomática o de embolia de pulmón (EP) confirmado de forma objetiva mediante pruebas de imagen y firma del consentimiento informado. Para los controles; presentar cáncer activo. Tener más de 18 años. Firma del consentimiento informado. Dado los escasos datos publicados respecto a la CVRS en pacientes con ETV, hemos diseñado el estudio Qca, para poder determinar el impacto que genera la ETV en la calidad de vida de los pacientes con cáncer

The association between cancer and venous thromboembolic disease (VTD) is well established. VTD presents a high rate of morbidity and mortality, with patients with cancer showing an increased risk of VTD that is up to 4 times greater than the general population. However, there is little scientific evidence on HRQoL (health-related quality of life) in cancer patients with VTD when this disease is likely to be an aggravating factor in perceived state of health among cancer patients. Our objective is to present the QCa study, which aims to evaluate the HRQoL of cancer patients with acute symptomatic VTD in comparison with cancer patients without VTD. The QCa study is a prospective, case-control national cohort study in patients with active cancer. We define "case" as a cancer patient with acute symptomatic VTD and "control" as a cancer patient without acute symptomatic VTD. Inclusion criteria for cases were: having active cancer at the time of inclusion, being over the age of 18, patients diagnosed with acute symptomatic deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the lower extremities or pulmonary embolism (EP) that was objectively confirmed through imaging tests, and having signed the informed consent. For the controls: having active cancer, being over the age of 18, and having signed the informed consent. Given the scarce data published with regard to HRQoL in patients with VTD, we designed the QCa study to determine the impact VTD has on the quality of life of patients with cancer

Neovascularización coroidea asociada a drusas del nervio óptico: caso clínico y revisión de la literatura / Choroidal neovascularisation associated with optic nerve head drusen: Case report and review of literatura

Varón de 21 años en seguimiento en el servicio de oftalmología por drusas del nervio óptico (DNO). En una revisión rutinaria se evidenció la presencia de neovascularización coroidea (NVC) bajo el haz papilomacular en el ojo derecho (OD). El paciente fue tratado con 2 inyecciones intravítreas de anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF, por sus siglas en inglés) con buena respuesta. La aparición de NVC en el haz papilomacular es una complicación infrecuente en los pacientes con DNO. Estas NVC presentan una buena respuesta al tratamiento con inyecciones intravítreas de anti-VEGF

A 21-year-old man was seen for follow-up of optic nerve head drusen (ONHD) in the ophthalmology department. Funduscopy revealed the presence of choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) in the papillomacular bundle of his right eye (RE). The patient was successfully treated with two intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF). Peri-papillary choroidal neovascularisation in papillomacular bundle is a rare complication in patients with ONHD. These forms of CNV show a good response to anti-VEGF treatment

Choroidal neovascularisation associated with optic nerve head drusen: Case report and review of literature. / Neovascularización coroidea asociada a drusas del nervio óptico: caso clínico y revisión de la literatura.

A 21-year-old man was seen for follow-up of optic nerve head drusen (ONHD) in the ophthalmology department. Funduscopy revealed the presence of choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) in the papillomacular bundle of his right eye (RE). The patient was successfully treated with two intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF). Peri-papillary choroidal neovascularisation in papillomacular bundle is a rare complication in patients with ONHD. These forms of CNV show a good response to anti-VEGF treatment.

Escala APACHE II para pacientes críticos con cáncer sólido. Estudio de reclasificación / APACHE II score for critically ill patients with a solid tumor: A reclassification study

Objetivo: Mejorar el rendimiento de la escala Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II para la predicción de muerte hospitalaria en pacientes críticos con cáncer. Materiales y métodos: Estudio prospectivo de 522 pacientes con cáncer sólido admitidos en UCI. Se creó la «escala APACHE II para pacientes con cáncer sólido» (escala APACHE IIPCC); se adicionaron variables típicas del paciente oncológico crítico a la escala APACHE II general. Se evaluó la calibración (prueba de Hosmer-Lemeshow [H-L]) y discriminación (área bajo la curva de las características operativas del receptor [ACOR]). Se utilizó la mejora en la discriminación integrada (IDI), mejora neta en la reclasificación (NRI; 20% como valor de corte en el riesgo de muerte) y NRI cuantitativo (cNRI) para evaluar la mejora en la predicción de muerte hospitalaria con el nuevo modelo. Resultados: La mortalidad hospitalaria fue del 13%. La discriminación fue superior con la escala APACHE IICCP (ACOR = 0,91 [IC del 95% 0,87-0,94; p < 0,0001]) comparado con la escala APACHE II general (ACOR = 0,62 [IC del 95% 0,54-0,70; p = 0,002]). La calibración fue mejor con la escala APACHE IICCP (H-L p = 0,267 vs. p = 0,001). En el análisis de reclasificación se observó una mejora en la predicción de muerte con la escala APACHE IICCP (IDI = 0,2994 [p < 0,0001]; cNRI = 134,3% [IC del 95% 108,8-159,8%; p < 0,0001]; NRI = 41,5% [IC del 95% 23,7-59,3%; p < 0,0001]). Conclusiones: La escala APACHE IICCP fue superior a la escala APACHE II general en la predicción de muerte en pacientes críticos con cáncer sólido. Se requieren otros estudios que validen este nuevo modelo predictivo

Objective: To improve the accuracy of the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II model for predicting hospital mortality in critically ill cancer patients. Materials and methods: This was a prospective cohort study of 522 patients admitted to ICU with a solid tumor. We developed the "APACHE II score for critically ill patients with a solid tumor" (APACHE IICCP score), in which typical variables of critically ill cancer patients were added to general APACHE II score. Calibration and discrimination were evaluated by Hosmer-Lemeshow test (H-L) and area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AROC), respectively. The improvement in predicting hospital mortality with the new model was assessed using a reclassification analysis by integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), net reclassification improvement (NRI; cut-off point of 20% in risk of death) and quantitative NRI (qNRI). Results: The hospital mortality rate was 13%. Discrimination was superior for APACHE IICCP score (AROC=0.91 [95% CI 0.87-0.94; P<.0001]) compared to general APACHE II score (AROC=0.62 [95% CI 0.54-0.70; P=.002]). Calibration was better using APACHE IICCP score (H-L; P=.267 vs. P=.001). In reclassification analysis, an improved mortality prediction was observed with APACHE IICCP score (IDI=0.2994 [P<.0001]; total qNRI=134.3% [95% CI 108.8-159.8%; P<.0001]; total NRI=41.5% [95% CI 23.7-59.3%; P<.0001]). Conclusions: The performance of APACHE IICCP score was superior to that observed for general APACHE II score in predicting mortality in critically ill patients with a solid tumor. Other studies validating this new predictive model are required

Pleiotropic effects of heparins: does anticoagulant treatment increase survival in cancer patients?

The association between venous thromboembolism (VTE) and cancer has been recognized for more than 100 years. Numerous studies have been performed to investigate strategies to decrease VTE incidence and to establish whether treating VTE impacts cancer progression and overall survival. Accordingly, it is important to understand the role of the hemostatic system in tumorigenesis and progression, as there is abundant evidence associating it with cell survival and proliferation, tumor angiogenesis, invasion, and dissemination, and metastasis formation. In attempts to further the scientific evidence, several studies examine survival benefits in cancer patients treated with anticoagulant therapy, specifically treatment with vitamin K antagonists, unfractionated heparin, and low-molecular-weight heparin. Several studies and meta-analyses have been conducted with a special focus on brain tumors. However, no definitive conclusions have been obtained, and more well-designed clinical trials are needed

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Ojo rojo en tatuaje: Un curioso ojo rojo de etiología tuberculosa / Red-eyed-tatoo: An unusual red eye of tuberculous etiology

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APACHE II score for critically ill patients with a solid tumor: A reclassification study. / Escala APACHE II para pacientes críticos con cáncer sólido. Estudio de reclasificación.

OBJECTIVE: To improve the accuracy of the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II model for predicting hospital mortality in critically ill cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study of 522 patients admitted to ICU with a solid tumor. We developed the "APACHE II score for critically ill patients with a solid tumor" (APACHE IICCP score), in which typical variables of critically ill cancer patients were added to general APACHE II score. Calibration and discrimination were evaluated by Hosmer-Lemeshow test (H-L) and area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AROC), respectively. The improvement in predicting hospital mortality with the new model was assessed using a reclassification analysis by integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), net reclassification improvement (NRI; cut-off point of 20% in risk of death) and quantitative NRI (qNRI). RESULTS: The hospital mortality rate was 13%. Discrimination was superior for APACHE IICCP score (AROC=0.91 [95% CI 0.87-0.94; P<.0001]) compared to general APACHE II score (AROC=0.62 [95% CI 0.54-0.70; P=.002]). Calibration was better using APACHE IICCP score (H-L; P=.267 vs. P=.001). In reclassification analysis, an improved mortality prediction was observed with APACHE IICCP score (IDI=0.2994 [P<.0001]; total qNRI=134.3% [95% CI 108.8-159.8%; P<.0001]; total NRI=41.5% [95% CI 23.7-59.3%; P<.0001]). CONCLUSIONS: The performance of APACHE IICCP score was superior to that observed for general APACHE II score in predicting mortality in critically ill patients with a solid tumor. Other studies validating this new predictive model are required.

Anti-fibrotic effects of pirfenidone and rapamycin in primary IPF fibroblasts and human alveolar epithelial cells.

BACKGROUND: Pirfenidone, a pleiotropic anti-fibrotic treatment, has been shown to slow down disease progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a fatal and devastating lung disease. Rapamycin, an inhibitor of fibroblast proliferation could be a potential anti-fibrotic drug to improve the effects of pirfenidone. METHODS: Primary lung fibroblasts from IPF patients and human alveolar epithelial cells (A549) were treated in vitro with pirfenidone and rapamycin in the presence or absence of transforming growth factor ß1 (TGF-ß). Extracellular matrix protein and gene expression of markers involved in lung fibrosis (tenascin-c, fibronectin, collagen I [COL1A1], collagen III [COL3A1] and α-smooth muscle actin [α-SMA]) were analyzed. A cell migration assay in pirfenidone, rapamycin and TGF-ß-containing media was performed. RESULTS: Gene and protein expression of tenascin-c and fibronectin of fibrotic fibroblasts were reduced by pirfenidone or rapamycin treatment. Pirfenidone-rapamycin treatment did not revert the epithelial to mesenchymal transition pathway activated by TGF-ß. However, the drug combination significantly abrogated fibroblast to myofibroblast transition. The inhibitory effect of pirfenidone on fibroblast migration in the scratch-wound assay was potentiated by rapamycin combination. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that the combination of pirfenidone and rapamycin widen the inhibition range of fibrogenic markers and prevents fibroblast migration. These results would open a new line of research for an anti-fibrotic combination therapeutic approach.