The textbook outcome for cholecystectomy: Is it a good quality tool for a low-morbidity procedure?

INTRODUCTION: Cholelithiasis is the most common hospital diagnosis of the digestive system, and its treatment, if symptomatic, is laparoscopic cholecystectomy. There is a growing need for comprehensive determination of postoperative outcomes and the efficiency of healthcare facilities. The "textbook outcome"(TO) indicates the quality of care commonly used in oncological procedures, obtained by adding several postoperative parameters, which informs whether a perfect result has been obtained. The main objective of this study is to determine the TO for cholecystectomy and to see the factors that influence its achievement. METHODS: Retrospective observational unicentric cohort study on patients who underwent cholecystectomy between 2018-2020. We defined TO as those patients who met the following premises: Clavien-Dindo complications < III, postsurgical stay less than the 75th percentile (<3 days), and no readmissions or mortality in the first ninety days. Perioperative characteristics were analyzed, and the patients were divided into two groups according to whether or not they achieved TO. We defined criteria for difficult cholecystectomy according to the operative report. RESULTS: The percentage of TO was 72% (342/475) (82.6% in elective surgery and 60.5% in urgent surgery). The univariate analysis showed that the following factors are associated with achieving TO: female sex, age <63 years, ASA risk < III, elective surgery, laparoscopic approach, and not difficult cholecystectomy. After multivariate analysis ASA < III (OR 2.39 CI95% 1.37-4.16), elective surgery (OR 2.77 CI95% 1.64-4.67), laparoscopic approach (OR 5.71 CI95% 2.89-11.30) and not to be difficult cholecystectomy (OR 0.42 CI95% 0.259-0.71) remained statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The TO is a healthcare quality tool that is simple to perform, easily interpretable, and helpful for evaluating quality in healthcare and comparing centers. It applies not only to oncological procedures but also to cholecystectomy.

TEK gene-related primary congenital glaucoma: Phenotypic features and mutational spectrum in a Mexican cohort of 10 unrelated families.

Primary congenital glaucoma (PCG) is one of the leading causes of visual damage and blindness, severely affecting the quality of life of affected children. It is characterized by cupping of the optic disc and loss of ganglion cells due to elevated intraocular pressure. While most PCG patients exhibit epiphora, photophobia, and buphthalmos with corneal opacity, variability in phenotypic manifestations is not uncommon. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of PCG affected individuals becomes relevant to preserve visual function throughout their lives. Most PCG cases are sporadic or autosomal recessive; however, an incompletely dominant autosomal dominant form arising from mutations in the TEK gene has recently been demonstrated. Here, we describe the clinical and mutational features of a cohort of Mexican patients with TEK-related PCG. Our results support the involvement of the TEK gene as an important cause of the disease in our ethnic group and expand the mutational spectrum causing PCG by reporting 10 novel disease-causing variants.

[Health and well-being of healthcare workers: employment and working conditions beyond the pandemic]. / Salud y bienestar del personal sanitario: condiciones de empleo y de trabajo más allá de la pandemia. Informe SESPAS 2024.

Healthcare workers are people who work in health activities, whether or not they have direct contact with citizens. Currently, around 1.3 million people (70% women) work in healthcare activities in Spain. This represents around 10% of the active population, having increased by 33% since 2008, especially the number of women, which has doubled. Healthcare organizations, especially hospitals, are extremely complex workplaces, with precarious working and employment conditions, especially in more hierarchical occupations, exposing healthcare workers to numerous occupational hazards, mainly from ergonomic and psychosocial conditions. These causes frequent musculoskeletal and mental disorders, highlighting burnout, which is estimated at 40% in some services such as intensive care units. This high morbidity is reflected in a high frequency of absences due to illness, around 9% after the pandemic. The pandemic, and its consequences in the last three years, has put extreme pressure on the health system and has clearly shown its deficiencies in relation to working and employment conditions. The hundreds of occupational health professionals, technicians and healthcare workers, who are part of the structures of health organizations, constitute very valuable resources to increase the resilience of the NHS. We recommend the strengthening in resources and institutionally of the occupational health services of health centers and the creation of an Observatory of working, employment and health conditions in the National Health Service, as an instrument for monitoring changes and proposing solutions.

Combined Sodium-Glucose-Transporters Inhibitors and Glucagon-Like-Peptide Receptor Agonist Compared with Monotherapy Improves Long-Term Survival: A Real-World Registry.

BACKGROUND: The benefits of new glucose-lowering agents on cardiovascular disease have been demonstrated in randomized clinical trials. However, more evidence is required to assess the additive value of a combined therapy based on sodium-glucose transporter inhibitors (SGLT2i) and glucagon-like peptide receptor agonists (GLP1ra) in a real-world population. METHODS: A nonconcurrent prospective study was conducted using integrated electronic medical records from primary care and hospitals obtained through "big data" technologies in a healthy area in Galicia. The study involved patients who were given SGLT2i, GLP1ra, or both treatments between January 2018 and June 2022 and were categorized as either mono- or combined therapy (SGLT2i, GLP1ra, or both). The cumulative risk for different events: hospitalization or mortality, or both, for 1) coronary artery disease, 2) heart failure, 3) cerebrovascular accident, and all-cause mortality were represented by Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariate Cox regression analysis to obtain the hazard ratio (HR) and (95% confidence interval [CI]). Validation was performed in a subpopulation with propensity score matching. RESULTS: The patients (15,549) who were included were median (standard deviation) 68 (12) years old, with 41% of them being female and 46% experiencing obesity. The median (interquartile range) of follow-up was 19 (8-33) months. The Kaplan-Meier analysis determined that the cumulative risk for coronary artery disease and cerebrovascular accident events was similar among the 3 different therapy groups. However, the combined therapy vs SGLT2i reduced the risk of heart failure events (HR 0.69; 95% CI, 0.56-0.87) or all-cause mortality (HR 0.68; 95% CI, 0.54-0.86). Multivariate Cox regression analysis, after matching with a propensity score, confirmed the benefits of combined therapy regarding SGLT2i or GLP1ra monotherapy. CONCLUSION: Compared with SGLT2i or GLP1ra alone, combined therapy SGLT2i + GLP1ra reduces heart failure risk and all-cause mortality in a real-world population.

Antivirales de acción directa contra la hepatitis C: revisión narrativa / Direct acting antivirals against hepatitis C: Literature review

Desde los años ochenta se ha explorado el tratamiento para el virus de la hepatitis C, aunque en ese entonces los medicamentos disponibles eran poco toleradas y poco eficaces. En el 2011, la introducción de antivirales de acción directa transformó significativamente el curso de la enfermedad, logrando tasas de curación superiores al 90 % en los pacientes. Este avance ha permitido prevenir complicaciones futuras con efectos adversos mínimos. La presente revisión aborda la línea de tiempo del descubrimiento de los antivirales, su mecanismo de acción, sus indicaciones y potencial impacto en la salud pública.

Since the 1980s, the treatment of hepatitis C has been explored, although at that time, the available medications were poorly tolerated and ineffective. In 2011, the introduction of direct-acting antivirals significantly transformed the course of the disease, achieving cure rates of over 90% in patients. This advance has made it possible to prevent future complications with minimal adverse effects. This review addresses the timeline of the discovery of antivirals, their mechanism of action, and their impact on medicine.

Comparative single-cell transcriptomic profile of hybrid immunity induced by adenovirus vector-based COVID-19 vaccines.

In this study, antibody response and a single-cell RNA-seq analysis were conducted on peripheral blood mononuclear cells from five different groups: naïve subjects vaccinated with AZD1222 (AZ) or Ad5-nCoV (Cso), individuals previously infected and later vaccinated (hybrid) with AZD1222 (AZ-hb) or Ad5-nCoV (Cso-hb), and those who were infected and had recovered from COVID-19 (Inf). The results showed that AZ induced more robust neutralizing antibody responses than Cso. The single-cell RNA data revealed a high frequency of memory B cells in the Cso and Cso-hb. In contrast, AZ and AZ-hb groups exhibited the highest proportion of activated naïve B cells expressing CXCR4. Transcriptomic analysis of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells demonstrated a heterogeneous response following vaccination, hybrid immunity, or natural infection. However, a single dose of Ad5-nCoV was sufficient to strongly activate CD4+ T cells (naïve and memory) expressing ANX1 and FOS, similar to the hybrid response observed with AZ. An interesting finding was the robust activation of a subset of CD8+ T cells expressing GZMB, GZMH, and IFNG genes in the Cso-hb group. Our findings suggest that both vaccines effectively stimulated the cellular immune response; however, the Ad5-nCoV induced a more robust CD8+ T-cell response in previously infected individuals.

[The FECYT seal of quality, a recognition and a stimulus for Archivos]. / El sello de calidad FECYT, un reconocimiento y un estímulo para Archivos.

Un año más, mediante esta nota editorial, damos cuenta de las estadísticas y los principales avances de nuestra revista. En cuanto a las estadísticas editoriales, que se detallan en los apartados posteriores, podemos afirmar que son las de una revista consolidada: flujo nutrido y constante de trabajos recibidos/publicados, tasas de aceptación y rechazo proporcionadas, tiempos de gestión razonables y diversidad en las autorías. El logro más destacable del 2023 fue superar con éxito el proceso de evaluación de la Octava edición de Evaluación de la calidad editorial y científica de las revistas científicas españolas, comúnmente conocido como 'Sello FECYT'….

Enhancing patient outcomes: Integrating electronic cardiology consultation in primary care for cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of cancer patients with concomitant cardiovascular (CV) disease is on the rise due to improved cancer prognoses. The aim of this study is to evaluate the long-term outcomes of cancer patients referred to a cardiology department (CD) via primary care using e-consultation. METHODS: We analysed data from cancer patients with prior referrals to a CD between 2010 and 2021 (n = 6889) and compared two care models: traditional in-person consultations and e-consultations. In e-consultation model, cardiologists reviewed electronic health records (e-consultation) to determine whether the demand could be addressed remotely or necessitated an in-person consultation. We used an interrupted time series regression model to assess outcomes during the two periods: (1) time to cardiology consultation, (2) rates of all-cause and CV related hospital admissions and (3) rates of all-cause and CV-related mortality within the first year after the initial consultation or e-consultation at the CD. RESULTS: Introduction of e-consultation for cancer patients referred to cardiology care led to a 51.8% reduction (95%CI: 51.7%-51.9%) in waiting times. Furthermore, we observed decreased 1-year incidence rates, with incidence rate ratios (iRRs) [IC95%] of .75 [.73-.77] for CV-related hospitalizations, .43 [.42-.44] for all-cause hospitalizations, and .87 [.86-.88] for all-cause mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to traditional in-person consultations, an outpatient care program incorporating e-consultation for cancer patients significantly reduced waiting times for cardiology care and demonstrated safety, associated with lower rates of hospital admissions.

Assessment of muscle endocrine function and inflammatory signalling in male school children following a physical activity programme.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Regular and planned physical activity can diminish the risk of numerous illnesses. However, school children and teenagers often exercise intermittently and for brief periods, restricting potential benefits. Furthermore, previous studies mainly focused on body composition, without providing molecular mechanisms elucidating the role of physical activity in muscle tissue and inflammatory signalling. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of a vigorous physical activity intervention on endocrine muscle function and cytokine output in children. METHODS: 103 boys were divided into two groups: control (n = 51, did not perform additional physical activity) and exercise (n = 52, performed vigorous physical activity). Body composition measurements, endocrine muscle function and inflammatory signalling biomarkers were assessed at enrolment and after 6 months of intervention. RESULTS: No statistical significance was found for fractalkine, oncostatin, EGF, TNF-α and eotaxin. However, LIF, FBAP3, IL-6, FGF21 and IL-15 increased in the exercise group at the end of the protocol, though myostatin got decreased. In contrast, IFN-γ was increased in the exercise group at the beginning and end of the exercise protocol, IL-10 was also increased in this group, IL-1α decreased in the exercise group before and after the exercise protocol, and IP-10 and MCP-1 also decreased in the exercise group. CONCLUSION: It can be affirmed that a physical activity programme for boys was shown to produce changes in body composition (decreased fat mass, increased lean mass) and in markers of endocrine muscle function and cytokine release. It is possible that these changes, if sustained, could reduce the risk of chronic disease.

A step forward in fishway engineering: Validation and implementation of advanced algorithms for effective stepped fishway design, modeling, and retrofitting.

Stepped fishways are the main alternative to allow fish migration in river obstacles. Their design is a multidisciplinary process, where civil engineering meets biology. This can bias the fishway design towards one discipline, which may cause low efficiencies or inadequate solutions. Likewise, it is often challenging to incorporate new discoveries into well-established design principles. To solve these problems, we have developed a novel tool named "Escalas". Escalas is a multipurpose platform for the assisted design, 1D simulation, assessment, and correction of stepped fishways. Escalas architecture allows fishway assessment during different hydraulic scenarios in the river (i.e., different water levels and discharges in the river), automatic dimensioning considering fish's physical needs, the study of any type of stepped fishway, to test solutions for malfunctioning or to assess fishway retrofitting. This is achieved by a modular variable definition during fishway design or definition, which allows multiple combinations of connections within and/or between cross-walls and independent discharge equation definition. This work aims to introduce Escalas to the research and engineering community, describe its algorithms, and show and validate its performance by its use in real and practical cases. Among others, results demonstrate how the tool can reproduce uniform and non-uniform performances on stepped fishways and allows fishway retrofitting to make hydraulic conditions compatible with fish usage during different river scenarios. Therefore, this work represents a step forward in the fishway engineering discipline by applying methods of engineering informatics and providing a technical and scientific base to make engineering decision-making more reliable and accessible as well as to incorporate new advances in fishway research into the engineering design process.

Impact of a clinician-to-clinician electronic consultation in heart failure patients with previous hospital admissions.

Aims: To evaluate the impact of an outpatient care management programme that includes a clinician-to-clinician e-consultation on delay time in care, hospital admissions, and mortality in a high-risk group of patients with heart failure (HF) and previous episodes of HF hospitalization (HFH). Methods and results: We selected 6444 HF patients who visited the cardiology service at least once between 2010 and 2021. Of these, 4851 were attended in e-consult, and 2230 had previous HFH. Using an interrupted time series regression model, we analysed the impact of incorporating e-consult into the healthcare model in the group of patients with HFH and evaluated the elapsed time to cardiology care, HF, cardiovascular (CV), and all-cause hospital admissions and mortality, calculating the incidence relative risk (iRR). In the group of patients with HFH, the introduction of e-consult substantially decreased waiting times to cardiology care (8.6 [8.7] vs. 55.4 [79.9] days, P < 0.001). In that group of patients, after e-consult implantation, hospital admissions for HF were reduced (iRR [95%CI]: 0.837 [0.840-0.833]), 0.900 [0.862-0.949] for CV and 0.699 [0.678-0.726] for all-cause hospitalizations. There was also lower mortality (iRR [95%CI]: 0.715 [0.657-0.798] due to HF, 0.737 [0.764-0.706] for CV and 0.687 [0.652-0.718] for all-cause). The improved outcomes after e-consultation implementation were significantly higher in the group of patients with previous HFH. Conclusion: In patients with HFH, an outpatient care programme that includes an e-consult significantly reduced waiting times to cardiology care and was safe, with a lower rate of hospital admissions and mortality in the first year.

Semaglutide modulates prothrombotic and atherosclerotic mechanisms, associated with epicardial fat, neutrophils and endothelial cells network.

BACKGROUND: Obesity has increased in recent years with consequences on diabetes and other comorbidities. Thus, 1 out of 3 diabetic patients suffers cardiovascular disease (CVD). The network among glucose, immune system, endothelium and epicardial fat has an important role on pro-inflammatory and thrombotic mechanisms of atherogenesis. Since semaglutide, long-acting glucagon like peptide 1- receptor agonist (GLP-1-RA), a glucose-lowering drug, reduces body weight, we aimed to study its effects on human epicardial fat (EAT), aortic endothelial cells and neutrophils as atherogenesis involved-cardiovascular cells. METHODS: EAT and subcutaneous fat (SAT) were collected from patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Differential glucose consumption and protein cargo of fat-released exosomes, after semaglutide or/and insulin treatment were analyzed by enzymatic and TripleTOF, respectively. Human neutrophils phenotype and their adhesion to aortic endothelial cells (HAEC) or angiogenesis were analyzed by flow cytometry and functional fluorescence analysis. Immune cells and plasma protein markers were determined by flow cytometry and Luminex-multiplex on patients before and after 6 months treatment with semaglutide. RESULTS: GLP-1 receptor was expressed on fat and neutrophils. Differential exosomes-protein cargo was identified on EAT explants after semaglutide treatment. This drug increased secretion of gelsolin, antithrombotic protein, by EAT, modulated CD11b on neutrophils, its migration and endothelial adhesion, induced by adiposity protein, FABP4, or a chemoattractant. Monocytes and neutrophils phenotype and plasma adiposity, stretch, mesothelial, fibrotic, and inflammatory markers on patients underwent semaglutide treatment for 6 months showed a 20% reduction with statistical significance on FABP4 levels and an 80% increase of neutrophils-CD88. CONCLUSION: Semaglutide increases endocrine activity of epicardial fat with antithrombotic properties. Moreover, this drug modulates the pro-inflammatory and atherogenic profile induced by the adiposity marker, FABP4, which is also reduced in patients after semaglutide treatment.

El sello de calidad FECYT, un reconocimiento y un estímulo para Archivos / The FECYT seal of quality, a recognition and a stimulus for Archivos

Un año más, mediante esta nota editorial, damos cuenta de los principales avan-ces de nuestra revista y las estadísticas editoriales.En cuanto a las estadísticas editoriales, que se detallan en los apartados poste-riores, podemos afirmar que son las de una revista consolidada: flujo nutrido y constante de trabajos recibidos/publicados, tasas de aceptación y rechazo pro-porcionadas, tiempos de gestión razonables y diversidad en las autorías.El logro más destacable del 2023 fue superar con éxito el proceso de evaluación de la Octava edición de Evaluación de la calidad editorial y científica de las revistas científicas españolas, comúnmente conocido como ‘Sello FECYT’.El Sello de Calidad FECYT (Figura 1) identifica a aquellas publicaciones científicas que cumplen unos requisitos de profesionalización internacionalmente reconoci-dos. Gracias a este distintivo, muchas revistas científicas se han posicionado de manera importante en el ámbito nacional e internacional Este reconocimiento lo otorga la FECYT por un periodo de un año desde la resolu-ción definitiva, y la evaluación para su renovación se realizará de oficio por parte de la Fundación una vez finalizado dicho periodo (AU)

Impacto de la pandemia por COVID-19 sobre un programa de consulta electrónica universal (e-consulta) entre médicos de Atención Primaria y cardiólogos / Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic above a universal electronic consultation program (e-consultation) between general practitioners and cardiologists

Introducción y objetivos Los programas de telemedicina entre clínico y paciente se han desarrollado con fuerza durante la pandemia de enfermedad por COVID-19, pero no hay datos de experiencias entre clínicos. Nuestro objetivo es analizar el impacto de la pandemia por COVID-19 en la actividad y resultados en salud de un programa de consulta electrónica universal (e-consulta) para todas las derivaciones de pacientes entre médicos de atención primaria y el Servicio de Cardiología de nuestra área. Métodos Analizamos mediante regresión logística a 25.121 pacientes con al menos una e-consulta entre 2018 y 2021 realizada con el Servicio de Cardiología de nuestra área sanitaria. También se realizó el análisis de regresión logística del impacto de la pandemia por COVID-19 sobre la resolución de la e-consulta y tiempo de espera de la atención, hospitalizaciones y mortalidad, tomando como referencia las consultas realizadas durante 2018. Resultados Observamos que una menor demora en la atención y resolución de la e-consulta (sin necesidad de atención presencial) se asociaba a un mejor pronóstico. Los períodos de pandemia COVID-19 presentaron similares resultados a los del 2018. Conclusiones Los resultados de nuestro estudio muestran una significativa reducción de las derivaciones a través de e-consulta durante el primer año de la pandemia por COVID-19 con recuperación posterior de la demanda asistencial sin que los períodos de pandemia se asociasen con peores resultados en salud. La reducción del tiempo de demora de resolución de la e-consulta y el grupo sin necesidad de consulta presencial se asociaron a un mejor pronóstico (AU)

Blackground and objective Virtual healthcare models, usually between healthcare professionals and patients, have developed strongly during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, but there are not data of models between clinicians. Our objective is to analyse the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the activity and health outcomes of the universal e-consultation program for patient referrals between primary care physicians and the Cardiology Department in our area. Methods Patients with at least one e-consultation between 2018 and 2021 were selected. We analysed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on activity and waiting time for care, hospitalizations and mortality, taking as a reference the consultations carried out during 2018. Results We analysed 25,121 patients. Through logistic regression analysis, it was observed that a shorter delay in care and resolution of the e-consultation without the need for face-to-face care were associated with a better prognosis. The COVID-19 pandemic periods (2019-2020 and 2020-2021) were not associated with worse health outcomes compared to 2018. Conclusions The results of our study show a significant reduction in e-consult referrals during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic with a subsequent recovery in the demand for care without the pandemic periods being associated with worse outcomes. The reduction in the time elapsed for solving the e-consult and no need for in-person visit were associated with better outcomes (AU)

Limited granulomatosis with polyangiitis in children with idiopathic orbital inflammation: a case series and literature review.

Idiopathic orbital inflammation (IOI) is a diagnosis of exclusion, but the exclusion of other inflammatory diseases of the orbit is broad and relies on clinician experience, response to corticosteroid, or biopsy. This study aimed to investigate the presence of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) in patients initially diagnosed as IOI and describe its clinicopathological features, ANCA status, treatment, and outcome. We performed a retrospective case series study of children diagnosed with limited GPA (L-GPA) in patients with IOI. A systematic review of the literature was performed in children with GPA and orbital mass. Eleven of 13 (85%) patients with IOI had L-GPA. Two additional patients with orbital mass and L-GPA were included in this analysis. The median age was 10 years, and 75% were female. Twelve cases were ANCA positive and 77% were MPO-pANCA positive. Most patients had a poor response to treatment and had a high relapse rate. Based on literature review, 28 cases were found. Most (78.6%) were female with a median age of 9 years. Three patients were misdiagnosed as IOI. Patients with L-GPA more frequently had MPO-pANCA positivity (35%) than children with systemic GPA (18%) and were less often PR3-cANCA positive than patients with systemic GPA (18% vs. 46%). L-GPA accounts for a high prevalence of children diagnosed as IOI. The high prevalence of MPO-pANCA observed in our study may be related to L-GPA rather than with the orbital mass. Long-term follow-up, orbital biopsy, and serial ANCA testing are necessary to exclude GPA in patients with IOI.

[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic above a universal electronic consultation program (e-consultation) between general practitioners and cardiologists]. / Impacto de la pandemia por COVID-19 sobre un programa de consulta electrónica universal (e-consulta) entre médicos de Atención Primaria y cardiólogos.

Blackground and objective: Virtual healthcare models, usually between healthcare professionals and patients, have developed strongly during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, but there are not data of models between clinicians. Our objective is to analyse the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the activity and health outcomes of the universal e-consultation program for patient referrals between primary care physicians and the Cardiology Department in our area. Methods: Patients with at least one e-consultation between 2018 and 2021 were selected. We analysed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on activity and waiting time for care, hospitalizations and mortality, taking as a reference the consultations carried out during 2018. Results: We analysed 25,121 patients. Through logistic regression analysis, it was observed that a shorter delay in care and resolution of the e-consultation without the need for face-to-face care were associated with a better prognosis. The COVID-19 pandemic periods (2019-2020 and 2020-2021) were not associated with worse health outcomes compared to 2018. Conclusions: The results of our study show a significant reduction in e-consult referrals during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic with a subsequent recovery in the demand for care without the pandemic periods being associated with worse outcomes. The reduction in the time elapsed for solving the e-consult and no need for in-person visit were associated with better outcomes.

Tratamiento con HeberFERON( en el carcinoma basal palpebral

El carcinoma basal palpebral representa un 90 % de los tumores malignos oculares con una alta morbilidad. Su incidencia tiene un comportamiento diferente en las distintas partes del mundo y, por lo general, aumenta con la edad. El diagnóstico positivo se realiza por la evaluación histológica de la muestra mediante biopsia escisional. El tratamiento ideal es el quirúrgico, aunque existen otras opciones de tratamiento. El no quirúrgico tiene como objetivo la eliminación del tumor, así como evitar las complicaciones o las secuelas funcionales y estéticas por la cirugía. Se reconocen numerosas opciones dentro de la modalidad terapéutica no quirúrgica; imiquimod, 5-fluorouracilo, inhibidores de la vía de Hedgehog y los interferones. Diversos estudios han demostrado la utilidad de los interferones en monoterapia o como terapia combinada, en pacientes no susceptibles de actuaciones quirúrgicas. Por esta razón, se decidió revisar la literatura científica actual sobre la eficacia y seguridad del HeberFERON® en el tratamiento del carcinoma basal palpebral. Se realizó una búsqueda actualizada teniendo en cuenta los descriptores correspondientes a las palabras clave relacionadas con la temática a investigar, en las bases de datos bibliográficas Medline (buscador PubMed), SciELO, Ebsco, Clinical Key y en Google Académico. Se recuperaron 35 artículos que su contenido respondía al tema de estudio.

Palpebral basal carcinoma represents 90% of ocular malignant tumors with high morbidity. Its incidence has a different behavior in different parts of the world and generally increases with age. Positive diagnosis is made by histological evaluation of the specimen by excisional biopsy. The ideal treatment is surgical, although other treatment options are available. Non-surgical treatment is aimed at eliminating the tumor, as well as avoiding the complications or functional and esthetic sequelae of surgery. Numerous options are recognized within the non-surgical therapeutic modality; imiquimod, 5-fluorouracil, Hedgehog pathway inhibitors and interferons. Several studies have demonstrated the usefulness of interferons in monotherapy or as combination therapy in patients not amenable to surgery. For this reason, it was decided to review the current scientific literature on the efficacy and safety of HeberFERON® in the treatment of palpebral basal cell carcinoma. An updated search was carried out taking into account the descriptors corresponding to the key words related to the subject under investigation, in the bibliographic databases Medline (PubMed search engine), SciELO, Ebsco, Clinical Key and Google Scholar. Thirty-five articles were retrieved whose content corresponded to the subject of the study.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic upon a universal electronic consultation program (e-consultation) between general practitioners and cardiologists.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Virtual healthcare models, usually between healthcare professionals and patients, have developed strongly during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, but there are no data corresponding to models between clinicians. An analysis was made of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic upon the activity and health outcomes of the universal e-consultation program for patient referrals between primary care physicians and the Cardiology Department in our healthcare area. METHODS: Patients with at least one e-consultation between 2018 and 2021 were selected. We analyzed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic upon activity and waiting time for care, hospitalizations and mortality, taking as reference the consultations carried out during 2018. RESULTS: A total of 25,121 patients were analyzed. Logistic regression analysis showed a shorter delay in care and resolution of the e-consultation without the need for face-to-face care to be associated to a better prognosis. The COVID-19 pandemic periods (2019-2020 and 2020-2021) were not associated to poorer health outcomes compared to 2018. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study show a significant reduction in e-consultation referrals during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a subsequent recovery in the demand for care, and without the pandemic periods being associated to poorer outcomes. The reduction in time elapsed for resolving the e-consultations and no need for face-to-face visits were associated to improved outcomes.