Quality of life and persistent symptoms after hospitalization for COVID-19. A prospective observational study comparing ICU with non-ICU patients.

BACKGROUND: Hospitalized COVID-19 patients are prone to develop persistent symptoms and to show reduced quality of life following hospital admission. METHODS: Prospective cohort study of COVID-19 patients admitted to a hospital from March 1 to April 30, 2020. The primary outcome was to compare health related quality of life and persistent symptoms six months after hospital admission, of COVID-19 patients who required ICU admission with those who did not. RESULTS: Among the 242 patients hospitalized during the defined period of time, 44 (18.2%) needed ICU admission. Forty (16.5%) patients died during hospital admission. Two hundred and two (83.5%) patients were discharged alive from the hospital. At six months, 183 (75.6%) patients completed the questionnaires (32 ICU patients and 151 non ICU patients). Ninety-six (52.4%) reported decreased quality of life and 143 (78.1%) described persistent symptoms. More ICU patients showed worsening of their quality of life (71.9% vs 43.7%, P=0.004). There were no differences in the proportion of patients with persistent symptoms between ICU and non ICU patients (87.5% vs 76.2%, P=0.159). ICU patients showed more frequently dyspnea on exertion (78.1% vs 47.7%, P=0.02), dyspnea on light exertion (37.5% vs 4.6%, P<0.001), and asthenia (56.3 vs 29.1, P=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Survivors of COVID-19 needing hospitalization had persistent symptoms and a decline in the quality of life. ICU patients referred a large decrease of their quality of life compared with non ICU patients.

Calidad de vida y síntomas persistentes tras hospitalización por COVID-19. Estudio observacional prospectivo comparando pacientes con o sin ingreso en UCI / Quality of life and persistent symptoms after hospitalization for COVID-19. A prospective observational study comparing ICU with non-ICU patients

Antecedentes/contexto: Existe una tendencia en los pacientes hospitalizados por COVID-19 a desarrollar síntomas persistentes y a presentar una disminución en su calidad de vida tras el ingreso hospitalario. Métodos: Estudio de cohorte prospectivo de pacientes con COVID-19 con ingreso hospitalario entre el 1 de marzo al 30 de abril de 2020. El objetivo primario fue comparar la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud y la presencia de síntomas persistentes seis meses después del ingreso, comparando los pacientes que requirieron ingreso en UCI con los que no lo precisaron. Resultados: De los 242 pacientes hospitalizados durante el período de estudio, 44 (18,2%) necesitaron ingreso en UCI. Cuarenta (16,5%) pacientes fallecieron durante el ingreso hospitalario. Doscientos dos (83,5%) pacientes fueron dados de alta del hospital. A los seis meses, 183 (75,6%) pacientes completaron los cuestionarios (32 pacientes UCI y 151 pacientes no UCI). Noventa y seis (52,4%) refirieron disminución de la calidad de vida y 143 (78,1%) describieron síntomas persistentes. Un número mayor de pacientes de UCI mostraron un empeoramiento de su calidad de vida (71,9 vs. 43,7%, p = 0,004). No hubo diferencias en la proporción de pacientes con síntomas persistentes entre los pacientes con UCI y sin UCI (87,5 vs. 76,2%, p = 0,159). Los pacientes de UCI mostraron con mayor frecuencia disnea de esfuerzo (78,1 vs. 47,7%, p = 0,02), disnea de pequeños esfuerzos (37,5 vs. 4,6%, p < 0,001) y astenia (56,3 vs. 29,1%, p = 0,003). Conclusiones: Los supervivientes de COVID-19 que necesitaron hospitalización presentaron síntomas persistentes y un deterioro de su calidad de vida. Los pacientes de UCI refirieron una mayor disminución de su calidad de vida, en comparación con los pacientes que no precisaron UCI.(AU)

Background: Hospitalized COVID-19 patients are prone to develop persistent symptoms and to show reduced quality of life following hospital admission. Methods: Prospective cohort study of COVID-19 patients admitted to a hospital from March 1 to April 30, 2020. The primary outcome was to compare health related quality of life and persistent symptoms six months after hospital admission, of COVID-19 patients who required ICU admission with those who did not. Results: Among the 242 patients hospitalized during the defined period of time, 44 (18.2%) needed ICU admission. Forty (16.5%) patients died during hospital admission. Two hundred and two (83.5%) patients were discharged alive from the hospital. At six months, 183 (75.6%) patients completed the questionnaires (32 ICU patients and 151 non ICU patients). Ninety-six (52.4%) reported decreased quality of life and 143 (78.1%) described persistent symptoms. More ICU patients showed worsening of their quality of life (71.9 vs. 43.7%, P = 0.004). There were no differences in the proportion of patients with persistent symptoms between ICU and non ICU patients (87.5 vs. 76.2%, P = 0.159). ICU patients showed more frequently dyspnea on exertion (78.1 vs. 47.7%, P = 0.02), dyspnea on light exertion (37.5 vs. 4.6%, P < 0.001), and asthenia (56.3 vs. 29.1, P = 0.003). Conclusions: Survivors of COVID-19 needing hospitalization had persistent symptoms and a decline in the quality of life. ICU patients referred a large decrease of their quality of life compared with non ICU patients.(AU)

Recurrence of primary spontaneous pneumothorax: Associated factors.

INTRODUCTION: Determining the risk of recurrence of primary spontaneous pneumothorax is challenging. The objective of this study was to develop a risk assessment model to predict the probability of recurrence in patients with spontaneous pneumothorax. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed of all episodes of pneumothorax diagnosed in the last 12 years in a hospital, in patients not initially submitted to surgery. Logistic regression was used to estimate the probability of recurrence. Based on a set of variables, a predictive model was built with its corresponding ROC curve to determine its discrimination power and diagnostic precision. RESULTS: Of the 253 patients included, 128 (50.6%) experienced recurrence (37% within the first year). Recurrence was detected within 110 days in 25% of patients. The median of time to recurrence for the whole population was 1120 days. The presence of blebs/bullae was found to be a risk factor of recurrence (OR: 5.34; 95% CI: 2.81-10.23; p=0.000), whereas chest drainage exerted protective effect (OR: 0.19; 95% CI: 0.08-0.40; p=0.000). The variables included in the regression model constructed were hemoglobin and leukocyte count in blood, treatment received, and presence of blebs/bullae, with a fair discriminative power to predict recurrence [AUC=0.778 (95% CI: 0.721-0.835)]. CONCLUSION: The overall recurrence rate was high and was associated with the presence of blebs/bullae, failure to perform an active intervention (chest drainage) and low levels of hemoglobin and leukocytes in blood. Recurrence rarely occurs later than three years after the first episode. Once validated, this precision model could be useful to guide therapeutic decisions.

[Quality of life and persistent symptoms after hospitalization for COVID-19. A prospective observational study comparing ICU with non-ICU patients]. / Calidad de vida y síntomas persistentes tras hospitalización por COVID-19. Estudio observacional prospectivo comparando pacientes con o sin ingreso en UCI.

Background: Hospitalized COVID-19 patients are prone to develop persistent symptoms and to show reduced quality of life following hospital admission. Methods: Prospective cohort study of COVID-19 patients admitted to a hospital from March 1 to April 30, 2020. The primary outcome was to compare health related quality of life and persistent symptoms six months after hospital admission, of COVID-19 patients who required ICU admission with those who did not. Results: Among the 242 patients hospitalized during the defined period of time, 44 (18.2%) needed ICU admission. Forty (16.5%) patients died during hospital admission. Two hundred and two (83.5%) patients were discharged alive from the hospital. At six months, 183 (75.6%) patients completed the questionnaires (32 ICU patients and 151 non ICU patients). Ninety-six (52.4%) reported decreased quality of life and 143 (78.1%) described persistent symptoms. More ICU patients showed worsening of their quality of life (71.9 vs. 43.7%, P = 0.004). There were no differences in the proportion of patients with persistent symptoms between ICU and non ICU patients (87.5 vs. 76.2%, P = 0.159). ICU patients showed more frequently dyspnea on exertion (78.1 vs. 47.7%, P = 0.02), dyspnea on light exertion (37.5 vs. 4.6%, P < 0.001), and asthenia (56.3 vs. 29.1, P = 0.003). Conclusions: Survivors of COVID-19 needing hospitalization had persistent symptoms and a decline in the quality of life. ICU patients referred a large decrease of their quality of life compared with non ICU patients.

Magnet ingestion knows no borders: A threat for Latin American children.

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: The ingestion of foreign bodies, such as magnets, is a potentially lethal accident that affects children and is associated with bleeding and gastrointestinal perforation, as well as death. There are no Latin American reports in the literature on cases of magnet ingestion in children. Our aim was to establish whether said ingestion has been seen by pediatric endoscopists and gastroenterologists in Latin America, to determine the scope of that potential threat in their patient populations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We collected data regarding endoscopies performed on children in Latin America, within the time frame of 2017-2019, through questionnaires that were distributed to pediatric endoscopists at the 2nd World Congress of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ENDO 2020). The questionnaires provided information on foreign body location, the presence and number of ingested magnets, and the description of complications and surgical interventions. RESULTS: Our cohort from 12 Latin American countries reported 2,363 endoscopies due to foreign body ingestion, 25 (1.05%) of which were the result of having swallowed one or more magnets. Mean patient age was 5.14 years (SD 2.5) and 10 (40%) of the cases were girls. Three (12%) of the patients presented with severe complications and 2 (8%) cases required surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary study suggests that the ingestion of magnets is not common in Latin American countries, but said cases are frequently associated with complications. Constant monitoring of the incidence of such cases is extremely important, so that through education and awareness of those events, life-threatening complications in children can be prevented.

Vulnerabilidad al estrés en adolescentes de instituciones deportivas / Vulnerability to stress in teenagers in sports institutions

Fundamento:Los trastornos temporomandibulares tienen origen multifactorial y el factor psicológico ocupa un papel importante en su desencadenamiento.Objetivo:Determinar la vulnerabilidad al estrés en adolescentes de instituciones deportivas.Metodología:Se realizó un estudio observacional descriptivo de corte transversal, en la EIDE provincial de Sancti Spíritus “Lino Salabarría Pupo” entre octubre de 2020 y marzo de 2021. Se seleccionaron 70 escolares de décimo, onceno y duodécimo grados mediante muestreo aleatorio simple. Se midió la variable: rango de vulnerabilidad al estrés. Se utilizaron métodos del nivel teórico, empírico y estadístico.Resultados:El 51.4 porciento de los estudiantes fueron clasificados con vulnerabilidad al estrés, el 40 porciento no vulnerables, el 8.6 porciento seriamente vulnerables y ninguno extremadamente vulnerables.Conclusiones:Existe un predominio de adolescentes de instituciones deportivas con vulnerabilidad al estrés. [AU]

Nivel de información sobre protectores bucales y avulsión dentaria en entrenadores deportivos

Introducción:La práctica deportiva conlleva un alto riesgo de traumatismos dentoalveolares, por lo que es necesario que los entrenadores y deportistas conozcan sobre el uso adecuado de los protectores bucales y el procedimiento de urgencia ante la aparición de un trauma dental.Objetivo:Determinar el nivel de información sobre protectores bucales y avulsión dentaria en entrenadores deportivos.Métodos:Se realizó un estudio descriptivo de corte transversal, durante el mes de febrero de 2020, en la Escuela de Iniciación Deportiva Escolar Provincial Lino Salabarría Pupo de Sancti Spíritus. Para ello se seleccionó una muestra probabilística, representativa y aleatoria de 25 entrenadores de los deportes de combate y juego con pelotas, a los cuales se le aplicó una encuesta estructurada sobre protectores bucales y avulsión dentaria.Resultados:Entre los integrantes de la serie, 76 Pociento eran universitarios y 52 Pociento poseían más de 10 años de experiencia profesional. Asimismo, se obtuvo que 88 Pociento recomendaran el uso del protector bucal a sus deportistas, pero la mayoría desconocía sus características, funciones y tipos, así como la conducta a seguir ante la ocurrencia de una avulsión dentaria.Conclusiones:El nivel de información sobre protectores bucales y avulsión dentaria en los entrenadores deportivos fue deficiente, lo que demostró que es necesaria la educación en dicho tema. De hecho, los estomatólogos tienen la tarea de realizar campañas para incentivar y educar en el uso de los protectores bucales y en el procedimiento correcto de urgencia si ocurriera un trauma dentoalveolar.[AU]

Magnet ingestion knows no borders: A threat for Latin American children. / La ingestión de imanes no conoce fronteras: una amenaza para los niños latinoamericanos.

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: The ingestion of foreign bodies, such as magnets, is a potentially lethal accident that affects children and is associated with bleeding and gastrointestinal perforation, as well as death. There are no Latin American reports in the literature on cases of magnet ingestion in children. Our aim was to establish whether said ingestion has been seen by pediatric endoscopists and gastroenterologists in Latin America, to determine the scope of that potential threat in their patient populations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We collected data regarding endoscopies performed on children in Latin America, within the time frame of 2017-2019, through questionnaires that were distributed to pediatric endoscopists at the 2nd World Congress of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ENDO 2020). The questionnaires provided information on foreign body location, the presence and number of ingested magnets, and the description of complications and surgical interventions. RESULTS: Our cohort from 12 Latin American countries reported 2,363 endoscopies due to foreign body ingestion, 25 (1.05%) of which were the result of having swallowed one or more magnets. Mean patient age was 5.14years (SD2.5) and 10 (40%) of the cases were girls. Three (12%) of the patients presented with severe complications and 2 (8%) cases required surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary study suggests that the ingestion of magnets is not common in Latin American countries, but said cases are frequently associated with complications. Constant monitoring of the incidence of such cases is extremely important, so that through education and awareness of those events, life-threatening complications in children can be prevented.

Recent epidemiological trends in extrapulmonary TB in Galicia, Spain.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiological trends and characteristics of extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) in Galicia, Spain, from 2000 to 2019.METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study based on data from the Galician TB information system.RESULTS: Of the total number of TB cases (n = 15,871), 5,428 (34.2%) had EPTB. The absolute number of cases and incidence of EPTB decreased dramatically (from 480 cases and 17.8 cases/100,000 in 2000, to 172 and 6.4 cases/100,000 in 2019, respectively), with a mean annual decrease of respectively 64% and 4.7% for absolute cases and incidence rates. The risk for EPTB was higher in men than in women (RR 3.86, 95% CI 3.66-4.07). The most frequent age group was 15-44 years (2,234 patients, 41.2%); overall reductions per age group were 82% (0-14 years), 75% (15-44 years), 44% (45-64 years) and 63% (≥65 years), with statistically significant differences. The most frequently locations were the pleura (1,916 cases; 35.3%) and the lymph nodes (1,504; 27.7%).CONCLUSION: The incidence of EPTB in Galicia has decreased significantly in the last 20 years. The epidemiological characteristics have not changed, except for the number of patients with risk factors. This improvement of EPTB epidemiological trends coincides with the implementation of the programme for the prevention and control of TB, which suggests that it has been very effective in the control of the EPTB.

LA VIOLENCIA DE GÉNERO EN CUBA Y SU RELACIÓN CON EL SECTOR SALUD

Introducción: la violencia de género es un mal endémico de la cultura patriarcal a nivel global y constituye un grave problema de salud pública. Objetivo: describir las características y peculiaridades de la violencia de género en Cuba y el papel del sector salud en la atención a este tipo de violencia. Método: se realizó una búsqueda sistemática de artículos publicados durante los últimos 10 años. Se seleccionaron 20 artículos procedentes de bases de datos MEDLINE, LILACS y PUBMED, sitios webs, libros y revistas en Internet. Desarrollo: la forma más común de violencia en Cuba es la violencia intrafamiliar contra las mujeres y las niñas, en todas sus manifestaciones, con predominio de la violencia psicológica. La región más afectada es la oriental. Conclusiones: el sector salud constituye un elemento clave en la prevención, el tratamiento y la rehabilitación de la mujer tras haber sufrido una experiencia de maltrato.[AU]

Protectores bucales en la prevención de lesiones traumáticas dentomaxilofaciales en adolescentes durante prácticas deportivas

Fundamento: el uso de protectores bucales durante la práctica deportiva es fundamental como medida preventiva de las lesiones por traumatismos dentomaxilofaciales en la adolescencia.Objetivo: explicar la importancia del uso de los protectores bucales al tener en cuenta sus características, tipos y funciones.Métodos: se realizó una revisión de la literatura procedente de bases de datos como CUMED, LILACS, MEDLINE, SCOPUS y PUBMED, sitios web, libros y revistas en Internet, de artículos publicados durante los últimos 20 años, sobre los tipos de protectores bucales y su importancia para la prevención de las lesiones por traumatismos dentomaxilofaciales. Se encontraron un total de 60 trabajos, de los cuales se seleccionaron 30, se tuvo en cuenta su actualidad, relevancia y pertinencia sobre el tema.Resultados: el protector bucal es un elemento básico en la prevención de las lesiones dentomaxilofaciales en la adolescencia. En la actualidad existen tres tipos: prefabricados, adaptables e individualizados. Su propósito es distribuir la fuerza de los impactos recibidos en una situación de contacto, disminuyendo la posibilidad de sobrecargas puntuales.Conclusiones: los protectores bucales individualizados son los más efectivos para la prevención de las lesiones traumáticas dentomaxilofaciales y su función más importante es estabilizar la mandíbula y minimizar el riesgo de la contusión y las lesiones cerebrales. Los estomatólogos recomiendan su uso obligatorio en la práctica de cualquier deporte, sea aficionado o profesional.[AU]

Percepción estudiantil sobre el desempeño docente en el curso optativo Actividad Deportiva y Salud Bucodental

Fundamento:la opinión de los estudiantes es solo un elemento entre varios a considerar al evaluar el desempeño docente, pero contribuye a la rendición de cuentas y a la elevación de la calidad de la formación profesional en la educación médica.Objetivo:valorar la percepción de los estudiantes de cuarto año de la carrera Estomatología sobre el desempeño docente en el curso optativo Actividad Deportiva y Salud Bucodental en la Adolescencia.Métodos:se realizó un estudio observacional descriptivo de corte transversal, entre los meses de febrero a julio del curso 2018-2019, en la Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Sancti Spíritus. Se aplicaron métodos teóricos para la fundamentación de la investigación; empíricos: encuesta en forma de cuestionario y métodos estadísticos. Se aplicó una escala adictiva tipo Likert constituida por 11 ítems ante los cuales se solicitó al estudiante su opinión sobre el profesor en el desarrollo del proceso enseñanza aprendizaje.Resultados:el desempeño docente del profesor en el curso optativo Actividad Deportiva y Salud Bucodental en la Adolescencia fue valorado favorablemente según la percepción de los alumnos, con predominio de las categorías Muy de acuerdo y De acuerdo en cada uno de los ítems, solo la literatura científica suficiente y actualizada proporcionada por el profesor mostró algunas opiniones En desacuerdo.Conclusiones:esta experiencia constituyó una herramienta para el perfeccionamiento continuo del profesor y la formación con calidad de los estudiantes, lo que repercute en una mejor atención estomatológica a la población.[AU]

Toracocentesis en Atención Primaria / Thoracentesis in Primary Care

La toracocentesis es una prueba sencilla y con escasas complicaciones que aporta información relevante en el diagnóstico de un derrame pleural, a través de una correcta interpretación del análisis del líquido pleural. Una iniciativa interesante sería incorporar esta técnica a aquellos equipos de Atención Primaria que atienden a pacientes graves y complejos con dificultades para el desplazamiento a centros especializados distantes de sus domicilios. En este contexto, un buen conocimiento de las posibilidades diagnósticas que ofrece el análisis del líquido pleural podría ser de gran utilidad, en manos de personal bien entrenado, para establecer la etiología de un derrame pleural e iniciar, con la mayor celeridad posible, su tratamiento. Este artículo trata de contribuir a ello, trasmitiendo unas pautas de cómo una técnica sencilla puede aportar información relevante para conocer la etiología del derrame pleural y que podría implementarse en un determinado marco de Atención Primaria

Thoracentesis is a simple test with few complications that provides relevant information in the diagnosis of a pleural effusion, through a correct interpretation of the pleural fluid analysis. An interesting initiative would be to incorporate this technique by those Primary Care teams that treat serious and complex patients, with difficulties in moving to specialised centres far from their homes. In this context, a good knowledge of the diagnostic possibilities offered by the pleural fluid analysis could be very useful in the hands of well trained staff to establish the aetiology of a pleural effusion and be able to initiate, as quickly as possible, its treatment. This article aims to contribute to this, by suggesting guidelines on how a simple technique can provide relevant information in order to determine the aetiology of pleural effusion, and which could be implemented within a given Primary Care framework

[Thoracentesis in Primary Care]. / Toracocentesis en Atención Primaria.

Thoracentesis is a simple test with few complications that provides relevant information in the diagnosis of a pleural effusion, through a correct interpretation of the pleural fluid analysis. An interesting initiative would be to incorporate this technique by those Primary Care teams that treat serious and complex patients, with difficulties in moving to specialised centres far from their homes. In this context, a good knowledge of the diagnostic possibilities offered by the pleural fluid analysis could be very useful in the hands of well trained staff to establish the aetiology of a pleural effusion and be able to initiate, as quickly as possible, its treatment. This article aims to contribute to this, by suggesting guidelines on how a simple technique can provide relevant information in order to determine the aetiology of pleural effusion, and which could be implemented within a given Primary Care framework.

Diaphragmatic dysfunction.

The diaphragm is the main breathing muscle and contraction of the diaphragm is vital for ventilation so any disease that interferes with diaphragmatic innervation, contractile muscle function, or mechanical coupling to the chest wall can cause diaphragm dysfunction. Diaphragm dysfunction is associated with dyspnoea, intolerance to exercise, sleep disturbances, hypersomnia, with a potential impact on survival. Diagnosis of diaphragm dysfunction is based on static and dynamic imaging tests (especially ultrasound) and pulmonary function and phrenic nerve stimulation tests. Treatment will depend on the symptoms and causes of the disease. The management of diaphragm dysfunction may include observation in asymptomatic patients with unilateral dysfunction, surgery (i.e., plication of the diaphragm), placement of a diaphragmatic pacemaker or invasive and/or non-invasive mechanical ventilation in symptomatic patients with bilateral paralysis of the diaphragm. This type of patient should be treated in experienced centres. This review aims to provide an overview of the problem, with special emphasis on the diseases that cause diaphragmatic dysfunction and the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures most commonly employed in clinical practice. The ultimate goal is to establish a standard of care for diaphragmatic dysfunction.

Características de los pacientes con derrame pleural mielomatoso. Revisión sistemática / Characteristics of patients with myelomatous pleural effusion. A systematic review

Introducción. El derrame pleural mielomatoso (DPM) es raro en el mieloma múltiple, por lo que sus características no están bien definidas. Métodos. Revisión sistemática (cuatro bases de datos electrónicas) de los artículos que describen las características clínicas de estos pacientes, las características bioquímicas del derrame pleural y la eficacia de los tratamientos instaurados. Se analizaron casos aislados y pequeñas series retrospectivas. Resultados. Se incluyeron 98 artículos con un total de 153 pacientes con DPM. La mediana de edad fue de 62años y la razón hombre/mujer, de 1,7/1. La sintomatología más frecuente consistió en disnea (98,8%), dolor óseo (100%) y dolor torácico (95,3%); las alteraciones analíticas más relevantes fueron la anemia (90,1%) y la insuficiencia renal (53,8%). El DPM fue predominantemente unilateral (63,9%) y mayor de 2/3 del hemitórax (54,5%). El líquido pleural (LP) tuvo aspecto hemático/serohemático (87%) y cumplió criterios de exudado (94,7%) linfocitario (78,6%). Los procedimientos diagnósticos más rentables fueron la citología pleural (95,9%) y la observación en el LP de un pico monoclonal (94,7%). En una proporción significativa de pacientes (54,7%) el DPM no respondió al tratamiento y la mejor respuesta se obtuvo cuando la quimioterapia (con/sin corticoesteroides) se asoció a toracocentesis terapéuticas, drenaje torácico o pleurodesis. Conclusiones. El DPM predomina en varones de edad media/alta, es sintomático y suele ser unilateral. El LP es un exudado de aspecto hemorrágico y el procedimiento diagnóstico más rentable es la citología pleural. La respuesta al tratamiento no es favorable en más de la mitad de los pacientes (AU)

Background. Myelomatous pleural effusion (MPE) is rare in multiple myeloma, and therefore its characteristics are not well defined. Methods. A systematic review (4 online databases) was conducted of articles describing the clinical characteristics of patients with MPE, pleural effusion's biochemical characteristics and treatment efficacy. We analysed isolated cases and small retrospective series. Results. We included 98 articles with a total of 153 patients with MPE. The median age was 62years, and the ratio of males to females was 1.7:1. The most common symptoms were dyspnoea (98.8%), bone pain (100%) and chest pain (95.3%), and the most relevant abnormal laboratory test results were anaemia (90.1%) and renal failure (53.8%). MPE was predominantly unilateral (63.9%) and covered more than two-thirds of the hemithorax (54.5%). The pleural fluid (PF) had a haematologic/serohaematologic appearance (87%) and met the criteria for lymphocytic (78.6%) exudate (94.7%). The most cost-effective diagnostic procedures were pleural cytology (95.9%) and the observation of a monoclonal peak in the PF (94.7%). In a significant proportion of patients (54.7%), the MPE did not respond to treatment, and the best response was achieved when chemotherapy (with/without corticosteroids) was combined with therapeutic thoracentesis, chest drainage or pleurodesis. Conclusions. MPE predominates in middle to older age men, is symptomatic and is usually unilateral. PF is an exudate with a haemorrhagic appearance, and the most cost-effective diagnostic procedure is pleural cytology. Treatment response is unfavourable in more than half of patients (AU)

Crystallization tendencies of modelled Lennard-Jones liquids with different attractions.

Molecular dynamics simulations are performed on simple models composed of monoatomic Lennard-Jones atoms for which the repulsive interaction is the same but the attractive part is tuned. We investigate the precise role of the attractive part of the interaction potential on different structural, dynamical, and thermodynamical properties of these systems in the liquid and crystalline states. It includes crystallization trends for which the main physical ingredients involved have been computed: the diffusion coefficient, the Gibbs energy difference between the liquid and the crystalline state, and the crystal-liquid interfacial free energy. Results are compared with predictions from the classical nucleation theory including transient and steady-state regimes at moderate and deeper undercooling. The question of the energetic and entropic impact of the repulsive and attractive part of the interaction potential towards crystallization is also addressed.

Characteristics of patients with myelomatous pleural effusion. A systematic review. / Características de los pacientes con derrame pleural mielomatoso. Revisión sistemática.

BACKGROUND: Myelomatous pleural effusion (MPE) is rare in multiple myeloma, and therefore its characteristics are not well defined. METHODS: A systematic review (4 online databases) was conducted of articles describing the clinical characteristics of patients with MPE, pleural effusion's biochemical characteristics and treatment efficacy. We analysed isolated cases and small retrospective series. RESULTS: We included 98 articles with a total of 153 patients with MPE. The median age was 62years, and the ratio of males to females was 1.7:1. The most common symptoms were dyspnoea (98.8%), bone pain (100%) and chest pain (95.3%), and the most relevant abnormal laboratory test results were anaemia (90.1%) and renal failure (53.8%). MPE was predominantly unilateral (63.9%) and covered more than two-thirds of the hemithorax (54.5%). The pleural fluid (PF) had a haematologic/serohaematologic appearance (87%) and met the criteria for lymphocytic (78.6%) exudate (94.7%). The most cost-effective diagnostic procedures were pleural cytology (95.9%) and the observation of a monoclonal peak in the PF (94.7%). In a significant proportion of patients (54.7%), the MPE did not respond to treatment, and the best response was achieved when chemotherapy (with/without corticosteroids) was combined with therapeutic thoracentesis, chest drainage or pleurodesis. CONCLUSIONS: MPE predominates in middle to older age men, is symptomatic and is usually unilateral. PF is an exudate with a haemorrhagic appearance, and the most cost-effective diagnostic procedure is pleural cytology. Treatment response is unfavourable in more than half of patients.