INTRODUCTION: Palliative WBRT is the main treatment for multiple BMs. Recent studies report no benefit in survival after WBRT compared to palliative supportive care in patients (pts) with poor prognosis. A new era of systemic treatment strategies based on targeted therapies are improving the prognosis of patients with BMs. The purpose of this study is to develop a prognostic score in palliative pts with BMs who undergo WBRT in this new setting. METHODS: 239 pts with BMs who received palliative WBRT between 2013-2022 in our center were analyzed retrospectively. The score was designed according to the value of the ß coefficient of each variable with statistical significance in the multivariate model using Cox regression. Once the score was established, a comparison was performed according to Kaplan-Meier and was analyzed by log-rank test. RESULTS: 149 pts (62.3%) were male and median (m) age was 60 years. 139 (58,2%) were lung cancer and 35 (14,6%) breast cancer. All patients received 30Gys in 10 sessions. m overall survival (OS) was 3,74 months (ms). 37 pts (15,5%) had a specific target mutation. We found that 62 pts were in group < 4 points with mOS 6,89 ms (CI 95% 3,18-10,62), 84 in group 4-7 points with mOS 4,01 ms (CI 95% 3,40-4,62) and 92 pts in group > 7 points with mOS 2,72 ms (CI 95% 1,93-3,52) (p < 0,001). CONCLUSIONS: METASNCore items are associated with OS and they could be useful to select palliative pts to receive WBRT. More studies are necessary to corroborate our findings.
Brain Neoplasms , Cranial Irradiation , Palliative Care , Humans , Female , Male , Palliative Care/methods , Brain Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Brain Neoplasms/secondary , Brain Neoplasms/mortality , Middle Aged , Prognosis , Retrospective Studies , Aged , Cranial Irradiation/methods , Precision Medicine , Adult , Aged, 80 and over , Survival Rate
OBJECTIVE: There is a lack of studies on the natural history of the initial stages of schizophrenia in Colombia. This study aims to assess functionality in the first five years after the diagnosis of schizophrenia. METHODS: Naturalistic longitudinal study of 50 patients with early schizophrenia evaluated between 2011 and 2014. Data about demographic background, symptoms, introspection, treatment and adverse reactions were collected in all patients every 3 months for at least 3-5 years. Functionality was measured with the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) and Personal and Social Performance (PSP) scales. RESULTS: Patients were followed up for a mean of 174±62.5 weeks and showed moderate difficulties in overall functioning. This functioning was modified by polypharmacy, degree of introspection, changes in antipsychotic regimens, and the number of episodes, relapses and hospitalisations. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that functional outcomes seem to be related to the use of polypharmacy, degree of insight, changes in antipsychotic regimens, and number of episodes, relapses and hospitalisations during the first years of schizophrenia.
Antipsychotic Agents , Schizophrenia , Antipsychotic Agents/adverse effects , Cohort Studies , Colombia , Humans , Longitudinal Studies , Recurrence , Schizophrenia/diagnosis
ABSTRACT Objective: There is a lack of studies on the natural history of the initial stages of schizophrenia in Colombia. This study aims to assess functionality in the first five years after the diagnosis of schizophrenia. Methods: Naturalistic longitudinal study of 50 patients with early schizophrenia evaluated between 2011 and 2014. Data about demographic background, symptoms, introspection, treatment and adverse reactions were collected in all patients every 3 months for at least 3-5 years. Functionality was measured with the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) and Personal and Social Performance (PSP) scales. Results: Patients were followed up for a mean of 174 ± 62.5 weeks and showed moderate difficulties in overall functioning. This functioning was modified by polypharmacy, degree of introspection, changes in antipsychotic regimens, and the number of episodes, relapses and hospitalisations. Conclusions: The results suggest that functional outcomes seem to be related to the use of polypharmacy, degree of insight, changes in antipsychotic regimens, and number of episodes, relapses and hospitalisations during the first years of schizophrenia.
RESUMEN Objetivo: Existe una falta de estudios en la historia natural de los estadios iniciales de la esquizofrenia en Colombia. Este estudio apunta a evaluar la funcionalidad en los primeros cinco años después del diagnóstico de esquizofrenia. Método: Estudio longitudinal naturalístico de 50 pacientes con esquizofrenia temprana evaluados entre los anos 2011 y 2014. Loa datos demográficos, síntomas, introspección, tratamiento, y reacciones adversas fueron recolectados en todos los pacientes cada 3 meses por lo menos3a5anos. La funcionalidad se midió mediante la escala global de funcionamiento (GAF), y la escala de funcionamiento personal y social (PSP). Resultados: Los pacientes fueron seguidos por una media de 174 semanas (SD: 62.5) y mostraron dificultades moderadas en su funcionamiento global. Este funcionamiento fue modificado por la presencia de polifarmacia, grado de introspección, cambios en los esquemas antipsicóticos, y el número de episodios, recaídas, y hospitalizaciones. Conclusiones: Los resultados sugieren que los desenlaces en funcionalidad parecen estar relacionados con uso de polifarmacia, grado de introspección, cambios en esquemas antipsicóticos, y numero de episodios, recaídas, y hospitalizaciones durante los primeros años de esquizofrenia.
OBJECTIVE: There is a lack of studies on the natural history of the initial stages of schizophrenia in Colombia. This study aims to assess functionality in the first five years after the diagnosis of schizophrenia. METHODS: Naturalistic longitudinal study of 50 patients with early schizophrenia evaluated between 2011 and 2014. Data about demographic background, symptoms, introspection, treatment and adverse reactions were collected in all patients every 3 months for at least 3-5 years. Functionality was measured with the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) and Personal and Social Performance (PSP) scales. RESULTS: Patients were followed up for a mean of 174±62.5 weeks and showed moderate difficulties in overall functioning. This functioning was modified by polypharmacy, degree of introspection, changes in antipsychotic regimens, and the number of episodes, relapses and hospitalisations. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that functional outcomes seem to be related to the use of polypharmacy, degree of insight, changes in antipsychotic regimens, and number of episodes, relapses and hospitalisations during the first years of schizophrenia.
Interoperability is a major challenge in current healthcare systems. It brings big hope for data exchange, but also raises some concern about patient safety. We study the wireless updating of modern infusion pumps and demonstrate the possible flaws in this process. Through analyzing data on drug limit libraries (DLL) versions in one hospital we could identify the delays in distributing DLL updates and the impact these delays might have on patient safety. We found that 31% of all started infusions had used outdated DLL versions, and 22.6% of all alerts were triggered by outdated DLLs. These findings suggest that clinical and operational stakeholders in healthcare systems must address the unreliable interoperability of medical technologies such as seen on infusion pumps. The impact of information inconsistency across healthcare systems might result in use error which would impair patient safety.
Infusion Pumps , Equipment Safety , Humans , Medical Order Entry Systems , Medication Errors/prevention & control , Systems Integration , Wireless Technology
El primer episodio psicótico, en muchas ocasiones, es la forma en que comienza la esquizofrenia. Identificar potenciales indicadores de su desenlace es uno de los temas de investigación más novedosos en la psiquiatría actual. Objetivo: Establecer los factores que predicen la gravedad de la presentación clínica en los pacientes que presentan un primer episodio psicótico. Métodos y materiales: Se incluyeron todos los pacientes que fueron atendidos en tres centros de atención psiquiátrica en Bogotá, entre el 1° de febrero de 2004 y el 1º de agosto de 2006. Previa toma de consentimiento informado con los familiares, se hizo una descripción de las características demográficas, el cuadro clínico, el nivel de calidad de vida y el funcionamiento social y laboral de los pacientes en la primera visita. También se caracterizaron los antecedentes personales y familiares, el consumo de sustancias psicoactivas, el tiempo de evolución del pródromos y la duración de los síntomas psicóticos antes del inicio del tratamiento. Los datos se analizaron con el software SPSS haciendo uso de la estadística descriptiva; la exploración de factores asociados con la severidad del cuadro se hizo por medio de estadística inferencial. Resultados: Se incluyeron 82 pacientes en el periodo descrito; la edad media fue de 21,6 años; 57,3% de los pacientes eran afiliados al régimen subsidiado y 57,3% habían cursado secundaria. Más del 75% de los pacientes fueron clasificados de acuerdo con la experiencia del clínico como marcada o gravemente enfermos. Ninguna de las variables exploradas se encontró significativamente asociada con la gravedad del cuadro...
Introduction: First Episode Psychosis (FEP) many times is the beginning of schizophrenia. Identifying potential indicators of its outcome are one of the most novel themes in psychiatry. Objective: To establish predictive factors within the clinical presentation of patients with First Episode Psychosis. Methods: Patients attending three different psychiatric facilities in Bogotá were included between February 1, 2004 and August 1, 2006. Prior written informed consent was obtained from relatives. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were described, as were quality of life and occupational functioning. Some other relevant conditions were also described, such as personal and family history, psychoactive substance use, duration of prodromal symptoms and duration of untreated psychosis (DUP). Data were analyzed using SPSS by means of descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: 82 patients were included in the described period. Mean age was 21,6 years and 57,3% had an intermediate educational level. Over 75% of the patients were classified by the treating doctor according to his/her experience as markedly or extremely ill. None of the explored variables were associated with the severity of the first psychotic episode...
Adolescent , Psychotic Disorders , Schizophrenia
