High-accuracy machine learning techniques for functional connectome fingerprinting and cognitive state decoding.

The human brain is a complex network comprised of functionally and anatomically interconnected brain regions. A growing number of studies have suggested that empirical estimates of brain networks may be useful for discovery of biomarkers of disease and cognitive state. A prerequisite for realizing this aim, however, is that brain networks also serve as reliable markers of an individual. Here, using Human Connectome Project data, we build upon recent studies examining brain-based fingerprints of individual subjects and cognitive states based on cognitively demanding tasks that assess, for example, working memory, theory of mind, and motor function. Our approach achieves accuracy of up to 99% for both identification of the subject of an fMRI scan, and for classification of the cognitive state of a previously unseen subject in a scan. More broadly, we explore the accuracy and reliability of five different machine learning techniques on subject fingerprinting and cognitive state decoding objectives, using functional connectivity data from fMRI scans of a high number of subjects (865) across a number of cognitive states (8). These results represent an advance on existing techniques for functional connectivity-based brain fingerprinting and state decoding. Additionally, 16 different functional connectome (FC) matrix construction pipelines are compared in order to characterize the effects of different aspects of the production of FCs on the accuracy of subject and task classification, and to identify possible confounds.

BRAF 1799T>A Mutation Frequency in Mexican Mestizo Patients with Papillary Thyroid Cancer.

Thyroid cancer is the most frequent endocrine malignancy, and its incidence and prevalence are increasing worldwide. Despite its generally good prognosis, the observed mortality rates are higher in the less-developed regions. This indicates that timely diagnosis and appropriate initial management of this disease are important to achieve a positive outcome. We performed an observational study in order to describe the frequency of the BRAF 1799T>A mutation in Mexican mestizo patients with thyroid nodules, a scarcely studied ethnic group with large populations. Competitive allele-specific Taqman PCR was performed in 147 samples of thyroid tissue DNA obtained from patients histologically diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), colloid goiters, and follicular adenomas. The BRAF 1799T>A mutation frequency was 61.1% in PTC samples (p = 4.99 × 10-11). Potential diagnostic values were as follows: sensitivity, 61.1%; specificity, 96%; PPV, 94.2%; NPV, 69.5%; accuracy, 77.9%. Taking into account the fact that this mutation is not frequently found in cytologically indeterminate nodules, we suggest that the BRAF mutational analysis should be implemented in the clinical setting along with other diagnostic criteria such as USG, in order to contribute to diagnosis and to surgical decision-making during the initial management of thyroid nodules in Mexican public hospitals.

[Biology and behavior of the seed borer wasp Bephratelloides cubensis ashmead (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae)]. / Biología y hábitos del barrenador de la semilla Bephratelloides cubensis ashmead (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae).

The soursop Annona muricata is an important fruit for national market, and for exportation, but the crop is affected by pests and diseases. The seed borer wasp Bephratelloides cubensis Ashmead is the pest that produces the highest damage to the crop in Mexico. Sixty percent of damaged fruits and 5-50 seeds per fruit have been registered, with 25% reduction in yield. In Nayarit, Mexico, 100% of damaged fruits were recorded. In this State, an experiment with soursop was conducted to study the life cycle under field conditions and to determine diurnal behavior of the female of B. cubensis. The highest activity of the wasp was observed between 12:00h and 13:00h (35ºC, 54% RH and 409.34 luxes). Females oviposited in fruits with a diameter of 3.1-7.6 cm. Larvae of B. cubensis developed five instars, adults survived no longer than 22 days, and female survived longer than males; they lived 22 and 15 days, respectively. Life cycle of B. cubensis varied from 69 to 122 days.

Biología y hábitos del barrenador de la semilla Bephratelloides cubensis ashmead (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae) / Biology and behavior of the seed borer wasp Bephratelloides cubensis ashmead (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae)

The soursop Annona muricata is an important fruit for national market, and for exportation, but the crop is affected by pests and diseases. The seed borer wasp Bephratelloides cubensis Ashmead is the pest that produces the highest damage to the crop in Mexico. Sixty percent of damaged fruits and 5-50 seeds per fruit have been registered, with 25 percent reduction in yield. In Nayarit, Mexico, 100 percent of damaged fruits were recorded. In this State, an experiment with soursop was conducted to study the life cycle under field conditions and to determine diurnal behavior of the female of B. cubensis. The highest activity of the wasp was observed between 12:00h and 13:00h (35ºC, 54 percent RH and 409.34 luxes). Females oviposited in fruits with a diameter of 3.1-7.6 cm. Larvae of B. cubensis developed five instars, adults survived no longer than 22 days, and female survived longer than males; they lived 22 and 15 days, respectively. Life cycle of B. cubensis varied from 69 to 122 days.

La ultrasonografía en el estudio de síndrome de hombro doloroso / Musculoskeletal ultrasound in the evaluation of the painful shoulder

El síndrome de hombro doloroso es una causa frecuente de consulta en la práctica clínica diaria. Su origen puede ser traumático, inflamatorio, degenerativo, infeccioso o tumoral. El abordaje diagnóstico implica un amplio conocimiento de la anatomía regional y la aplicación de maniobras clínicas y técnicas de imagen que conduzcan a un diagnóstico certero para la aplicación de un tratamiento óptimo en cada paciente. En los años recientes, el ultrasonido musculoesquelético ha demostrado ser una herramienta complementaria de altísima utilidad en el examen complementario de los pacientes con hombro doloroso, especialmente en el contexto de la práctica reumatológica. Revisaremos los principales hallazgos patológicos evaluados por esta técnica.

Painful shoulder syndrome is a frequent cause of daily clinical consultation. Its origin can be traumatic, inflammatory, degenerative, infectious or tumor like. The boarding diagnosis implies an ample knowledge of the regional anatomy and the application of clinical and technical maneuvers of image that leads to an accurate diagnosis for the application of an optimal treatment in each patient. In the recent years, the musculoskeletal ultrasound has demonstrated to be a complementary tool of highest utility in the complementary examination of the patients with painful shoulder, especially in the context of the rheumatological practice. We will review the main pathological findings evaluated by this technique.

Síndrome antifosfolipídico y trombocitopenia refractaria con respuesta a micofenolato mofetilo y esplenectomía: presentación de un caso / No disponible

No disponible

Stage I-III Hodgkin's disease: outcome and pattern of failure following treatment with radiation therapy and chemotherapy in a modern era.

PURPOSE: To analyse the long term outcome, pattern of failure and treatment related complications after radiation therapy (RT) with or without chemotherapy for stage I-III Hodgkin's disease (HD). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Detailed records from 86 patients with stage I-III HD treated between 1989 and 1998, were retrospectively reviewed. Seventeen patients with favourable stage I-IIA were treated with RT alone, and the remaining 69 patients with combined modality treatment (CMT). Patients treated with RT received extended-field or subtotal nodal irradiation (STNI) to a total dose of 36-54 Gy, and patients with CMT, received involved-field irradiation to a lower doses, 26-40 Gy. The median follow-up time was 50 months (range 16-180). RESULTS: The 10-year overall survival (OS) for the whole group was 96% (SE 2%), 100% for stage I, 95% for stage II and 100% for stage III patients. Of potential prognostic factors analysed for statistical significance, only the response to chemotherapy (p=0.0393) was found to influence significantly OS rates. Twelve patients (13.9%) relapsed. Salvage treatment was effective in 10 of the 12 relapsed patients. The 10-year freedom from treatment failure (FFTF) was 79% (SE 6%). Although 8 (9.6%) of the 83 surviving patients developed late effects that could represent toxicity from the treatment, no patient died of late complications. CONCLUSIONS: RT alone for favourable early stage HD attains good survival rates with a modest treatment related morbidity. For patients with unfavourable stage II and stage III HD, CMT with limited RT provides a good to excellent prognosis.

Amiloidosis: revisión / Amyloidosis: review

La amiloidosis sistémica es una enfermedad infiltrante causada por el depósito extracelular de uno o varios péptidos derivados de proteínas séricas. La amiloidosis se clasifica entre las enfermedades del tejido conjuntivo. Es un padecimiento poco común cuya incidencia es de 1 en 75,000 (13 casos por millón de personas por año); además, su diagnóstico no es fácil por la sintomatología inespecífica con la que se presenta inicialmente. Se asocia con algunas enfermedades del tejido conjuntivo y se ha descrito diversos patrones de síndromes amiloideos dependiendo de la cantidad de amiloide que se deposite en los órganos afectados. Los depósitos de amiloide en el aparato musculoesquelético pueden causar sintomatología reumática como síndrome del túnel del carpo, artropatía amiloidea, tumefacciones amiloideas y artritis amiloidea relacionada con diálisis. El propósito de este artículo fue realizar una revisión de antecedentes históricos, patogenia, clasificación, síndromes amiloideos, pronóstico y tratamiento de la miloidosis

Longitud esofágica: correlación con talla y sexo / Esophageal length: a correlation study

Utilizando la endoscopia digestiva alta (EVDA), se realizaron 120 mediciones de longitud esofágica : 60 mujeres y 60 hombres. Se obtuvo un promedio de longitud del esófago de 22 cms para la población general; 21 cms para mujeres y 23 cms para hombres. El presente artículo no logró establecer una correlación estadística entre la longitud esofágica, la talla y el sexo.