Thigh ultrasound monitoring identifies muscle atrophy in mechanically ventilated pediatric patients.

Over the last decade, ultrasonography has taken on an increasingly important role in the daily management of critically patients and has recently been proposed as a means of measuring muscle volume and architecture. This study had two main aims: to monitor for the onset of muscle atrophy in mechanically ventilated pediatric patients during stays in a pediatric intensive care unit based on quadriceps femoris muscle thickness measurements and to study whether demographic and clinical variables have an impact on muscle loss in critically children. The study followed a prospective, observational, single-center design. The sample included all children admitted to our pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) who required mechanical ventilation for more than 48 h. Two trained clinicians measured the thickness of the quadriceps using a 12-MHz linear ultrasound transducer within 24 h of initiating invasive mechanical ventilation and again at 72 h, 1 week, and weekly thereafter until extubation. For the entire cohort, quadriceps femoris muscle thickness decreased by 4.67% on average (IQR = -13.4 to -0.59) between the first two assessments and 13% by the time of the final measurement (IQR = -24 to -0.5%) or 1.57%/day (p < 0.001). Approximately half of all the children (23/41; 56%) experienced muscle atrophy (defined a priori as a decrease in thickness of 10% or more). Bivariate analyses revealed that increasing age, being a child (vs. infant), cumulative energy and protein deficit, highest C-reactive protein value, exposure to neuromuscular blockers, and a longer stay in the PICU were all predictive of a greater decrease in thickness. In a multivariate model, exposure to neuromuscular blockers was linked with greater muscle loss.       Conclusion: In mechanically ventilated children, point-of-care ultrasonography can identify skeletal muscle atrophy. Muscle atrophy of limbs is strongly associated with the use of neuromuscular blockers. Ultrasound-based monitoring of the quadriceps femoris is a clinically useful tool for assessing muscle mass that can provide information on nutritional status and guide rehabilitation. What is Known: • ICU-acquired muscle atrophy is common and has a deleterious effect on adult outcomes. The prevalence and severity of muscular atrophy in critically ill children, however, are poorly understood. • Point-of-care ultrasonography has been put forward as an accurate, reliable method for monitoring variations in muscle mass.. What is New: • The quadriceps femoris muscle tends to suffer an intense loss of thickness early on in most critically ill children. • Quadriceps femoris ultrasound monitoring is a helpful tool for measuring muscle thickness and could lead to the development of novel therapies for critically ill children.

Influence of Humoral Response Against GnRH, Generated by Immunization with a Therapeutic Vaccine Candidate on the Evolution of Patients with Castration-Sensitive Prostate Adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: A gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-based therapeutic vaccine candidate against hormone-sensitive prostate cancer has demonstrated its safety and signs of efficacy in phase I/II trials. In this study, we characterized the isotype/subclass profiles of the anti-GnRH humoral response generated by the vaccination and analyzed its association with patients' clinical outcomes. METHODS: The immunoglobulin isotypes and IgG subclasses of the antibody responses of 34 patients included in a randomized, open, prospective phase I/II clinical trial were characterized. Every patient included in the study had a diagnosis of locally advanced prostate adenocarcinoma at stages 3 and 4 and received immunization with the vaccine candidate. Additionally, serum testosterone and prostate specific antigen (PSA) concentrations, serving as indicators of tumor response, were determined. The type of anti-GnRH antibody response was correlated to the time elapsed until the first biochemical recurrence in patients and the outcome of the disease. RESULTS: All patients developed strong and prolonged anti-GnRH antibody responses, resulting in a short- to mid-term decrease in serum testosterone and PSA levels. Following immunizations, anti-GnRH antibodies of the IgM/IgG and IgG1/IgG3 subclasses were observed. Following radiotherapy, the humoral response switched to IgG (IgG1/IgG4). Patients who experienced a short-term biochemical relapse were characterized by significantly higher levels of anti-GnRH IgG titers, particularly IgG1 and IgG4 subclasses. These characteristics, along with a high response of specific IgM antibodies at the end of immunizations and the development of anti-GnRH IgA antibody responses following radiotherapy, were observed in patients whose disease progressed, compared to those with controlled disease. CONCLUSION: The nature of the humoral response against anti-GnRH, induced by vaccination may play a key role in activating additional immunological mechanisms. Collectively, these mechanisms could contribute significantly to the regulation of tumor growth.

Sensibilidad de Escherichia coli frente a fosfomicina, en infecciones urinarias provenientes de personas con discapacidad que acudieron a la Secretaría Nacional por los Derechos Humanos de las Personas con Discapacidad-SENADIS / Susceptibility of Escherichia coli against fosfomycin in urinary tract infections from people with disabilities who attended SENADIS

INTRODUCCIÓN: Fosfomicina es un antimicrobiano de amplio espectro utilizado para el tratamiento de las infecciones urinarias bajas; tiene actividad sobre bacilos gramnegativos y cocos grampositivos, así también sobre microorganismos multirresistentes, además de ofrecer una alternativa terapéutica de administración vía oral en dosis única, alcanzando una efectividad de 90%. OBJETIVO: Conocer la sensibilidad in vitro de Escherichia coli frente a fosfomicina, en infecciones urinarias provenientes de personas con discapacidad. MATERIAL Y MÉTODO: Estudio observacional, descriptivo, prospectivo, en el que se incluyó un total de 273 muestras de urocultivo, de pacientes de ambos sexos que acudieron a SENADIS, y que en el momento de la consulta presentaban síntomas de infección del tracto urinario, por lo que se les solicitó el análisis de orina simple y cultivo. De las muestras procesadas en el laboratorio de microbiología, que fueron positivas con crecimiento bacteriano significativo, se procedió a la identificación bacteriana y a la realización del antibiograma según las recomendaciones de CLSI. RESULTADOS: De estas 273 muestras, 91 fueron positivas para diferentes uropatógenos, 62/91 (68%) resultaron ser E. coli. De estas cepas de E. coli, 59/62 (95%) mostraron sensibilidad in vitro a fosfomicina. Comentario: Aunque el número de muestra obtenido es pequeño y no extrapolable ampliamente, pretendemos extender el trabajo por un tiempo más para compararlo más adelante. CONCLUSIONES: Se observa que fosfomicina presenta buena actividad in vitro frente a cepas de E. coli aisladas de urocultivo, pudiendo representar una buena alternativa terapéutica a ser utilizada en la población en estudio.

BACKGROUND: Fosfomycin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic used for the treatment of lower urinary tract infections, it is active against gramnegative bacilli and grampositive cocci, as well as against multi-resistant microorganism, in addition to offering a therapeutic alternative for oral administration in a single dose, reaching an effectiveness of 90%. AIM: To study the susceptibility of Escherichia coli to fosfomycin in urinary tract infections, of isolated strains obtained from patients with disabilities. METHODS: It is an observational, descriptive, prospective study in which a total of 273 urine culture samples of patients of both sexes who attended the SENADIS were included, and who at the time of the consultation presented symptoms of urinary tract infection. The urine positive cultures with significant bacterial growth were performed to determine its bacterial identification and the antibiogram according to CLSI recommendations. RESULTS: Of these 273 samples, 91 samples were positive for different uropathogens, with 62/91 (68%) being positive for E. coli. Of these E. coli strains, 59/62 (95%) showed in vitro susceptibility to fosfomycin. Comment: Although the number of samples obtained is small and it cannot be extrapolated, we pretend to extend the work for a while longer to be able to compare it later. CONCLUSION: Fosfomycin has good activity in vitro against E. coli isolated from urine culture in our institution, representing a good alternative to be used in our study population

Feasibility of Using Rideshare Transportation to Reduce Barriers to Participating in a Clinic-based Food Insecurity Intervention.

BACKGROUND: Few clinic-based food insecurity interventions address transportation barriers to utilizing food resources. OBJECTIVES: We assessed the feasibility of using free rideshare-based transportation to reduce barriers to participating in an ongoing clinic-based food insecurity intervention. METHODS: Our multi-methods pilot study used patient surveys (n = 155), focus groups with clinic and program staff (n = 10), and rideshare usage data. RESULTS: Of the 95 (61.2%) survey respondents who reported transportation barriers, only 34 (21.9%) used rideshare. More than 80% of rideshare users rated their experience as good or excellent. Clinic and program staff reported that the service allowed patients a greater sense of control over their time and health and emphasized the need for staffing and program-level infrastructure. CONCLUSIONS: Free rideshare may address transportation barriers for some patients but multiple options for support and adjustments to how we offer transportation solutions are needed to successfully meet the needs of all program participants experiencing transportation barriers.

Understanding pediatric palliative care within interdisciplinary palliative programs: a qualitative study.

PURPOSE: To describe the process of delivery of pediatric palliative care from the perspective of a pediatric interdisciplinary team and the children's parents. METHODS: A qualitative descriptive case study was conducted. Purposeful sampling took place within a specialized pediatric palliative care Unit in Madrid (Spain), located at the Niño Jesus Hospital. The study participants included a specialized pediatric palliative care team from Madrid's pediatric palliative care program, other professional teams involved in interdisciplinary care and parents of children under pediatric palliative care. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews, focus groups and researchers' field notes. A thematic analysis was performed. RESULTS: This study included 28 participants (20 women, 8 men), of whom 18 were professionals who belonged to the pediatric palliative care interdisciplinary team, 4 professionals were from other units that collaborated with the pediatric palliative care, and 6 were parents (5 women, 1 man). The mean age of the pediatric palliative care members was 38.2 years (SD ± 7.9), that of the collaborating professionals was 40.5 (SD ± 6.8), and that of the parents was 44.2 (SD ± 5.4). Two main themes emerged: a) Pediatric palliative care has a distinct identity, associated with life. It represents the provision of special care in highly complex children, in the context of the home, far from the hospital environment; b) The team is key: its interdisciplinary organization provides a more comprehensive view of the child and their family, fosters communication among professionals, and improves coordination with other services involved in the care of children. The mindset shift experienced by ID-PPC professionals towards a palliative approach makes them more sensitive to the needs of their patients and leads them to develop specific skills in areas such as communication, decision-making, and adaptability that were identified as differentiating aspects of pediatric palliative care. CONCLUSIONS: Describing pediatric palliative care from the professional and parental perspective helps to establish realistic and comprehensive goals for the care of children and their parents. The findings of this study may help with the establishment of a pediatric palliative care team, as a necessary organizational change in a health care system that cares for children with complex and life-threatening conditions. Promoting training in pediatric palliative care, prioritizing more horizontal organizations, providing tools and spaces for coordination and communication between professionals from different services, together with the creation of a position of case coordinator in the care process of children could enhance the understanding of pediatric palliative care services.

Estandarización de la batería neuropsicológica de funciones ejecutivas y lóbulos frontales BaNFE-2 en muestra paraguaya con esclerosis múltiple tipo recaída remisión

Introducción: la esclerosis múltiple (EM), enfermedad crónica del sistema nervioso (SNC), compromete significativamente la cognición. Su prevalencia en Paraguay es 9,2/100.000 habitantes, 72% con recaída remisión (EMRR) e incidencia de 2-3mujeres/hombre, afecta más a personas en edad productiva, con altos costos económicos y afectivos. Objetivos: caracterizar al paciente con EMRR, evaluar sus funciones ejecutivas (FEs) con BaNFE-2; establecer valores de corte ajustados al país. Metodología: con fundamento en teoría de la neurociencia cognitiva, diseño no experimental, cuantitativo, descriptivo, empírico, retrospectivo y transversal; técnica psicométrica y entrevista neuropsicológica en una muestra por conveniencia de 40 pacientes, 82,5% mujeres y edad 25-55 años (37,78±7,89). Resultados: se reportaron datos demográficos y clínicos, se caracterizaron las escalas de BaNFE-2 cuya consistencia interna resultó significativa. Se obtuvo 52,5% de alteración en la escala prefrontal y 42,5% en FEs; relaciones significativas con escolaridad, discapacidad física (DF), cantidad de brotes y deterioro cognitivo (DC); diferencias significativas por sexo, escolaridad, DF y DC. Se calcularon puntuaciones tipificadas por escolaridad, z<-1 establece el corte entre normalidad y alteración. Conclusión: las pruebas de BaNFE-2 perfilan la afectación del tiempo de ejecución, atención, memoria de trabajo y FEs. Este estudio aporta baremos ajustados al país y abre una novedosa línea de investigación aplicando BaNFE-2 en EM.

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, neurodegenerative, inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that significantly compromises cognitive functions. In Paraguay, it occurs with a prevalence of 9.2/100,000 inhabitants, 72% in the clinical form of relapsing remission (RRMS) and an incidence of 2 to 3 women/men, affecting more people of productive age with high economic and emotional costs. Objectives: To characterize the Paraguayan patient with RRMS, to assess the state of their executive functions (EFs) with the BaNFE-2 battery, and to establish cut-off values adjusted to the country. Methods: Research based on the theory of cognitive neuroscience of non-experimental, quantitative and descriptive design for analytical purposes. It is empirical, retrospective and cross-sectional. The psychometric technique and neuropsychological interview were used in a convenience sample of 40 patients aged 25 to 55 (37.78 ± 7.89) and 82.5% women. Results: Demographic and clinical data of the participants were reported. The BaNFE-2 coded and normalized scales were statistically characterized, the internal consistency of which was significant. 52.5% of the alteration was obtained in the anterior prefrontal scale and 42.5% in FEs; there are significant relationships with schooling, physical disability (PD), number of outbreaks and cognitive impairment (CI); there were also significant differences by sex, education, PD and CI. Standardized scores adjusted for schooling were calculated such that z<-1 establishes the cutoff between normality and abnormality. Conclusion: BaNFE-2 battery tests profile the affectation of execution time, attention, working memory, and FEs. This study provides the adjusted scales for the country and opens a new line of research applying the BaNFE-2 battery in people with MS.

Pediatric Palliative Care at Home: A Prospective Study on Subcutaneous Drug Administration.

CONTEXT: The subcutaneous route is a useful alternative for drug administration in palliative care. Although there is scientific evidence on its use in adult patients, the literature in pediatric palliative care is almost nonexistent. OBJECTIVES: To describe the experience of a pediatric palliative care unit (PPCU) with in-home subcutaneous drug administration symptom control. METHODS: Prospective observational study of patients receiving home-based subcutaneous treatment administered as part of a PPCU treatment regimen over 16 months. Analysis includes demographic and clinical variables and treatment received. RESULTS: Fifty-four different subcutaneous lines were inserted in the 15 patients included, mainly in the thigh (85.2%). The median time of needle in situ was 5.5 days (range: 1-36 days). A single drug was administered in 55.7% of treatments. The most frequently used drugs were morphine chloride (82%) and midazolam (55.7%). Continuous subcutaneous infusion was the predominant administration route (96.7%), with infusion rates oscillating between 0.1 mL/h and 1.5 mL/h. A statistically significant relationship was found between the maximum infusion rate and induration onset. Of the 54 lines placed, 29 (53.7%) had an associated complication requiring line removal. The primary cause for removal was insertion-site induration (46.3%). Subcutaneous lines were mainly used to manage pain, dyspnea, and epileptic seizures. CONCLUSION: In the pediatric palliative care patients studied, the subcutaneous route is most frequently used for administering morphine and midazolam in continuous infusion. The main complication was induration, especially with longer dwell times or higher infusion rates. However, further studies are required to optimize management and prevent complications.

Altered Arylamine N-acetyltransferase 1 and miR-1290 Levels in Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Arylamine N-acetyltransferase 1 and 2 (NAT1 and NAT2) are drug-metabolizing enzymes that play a key role in the development of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study evaluated NAT1 and NAT2 mRNA and protein expression and their enzymatic activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with ALL (n=20) and healthy children (n=19) and explored the mechanisms that regulate these enzymes in ALL such as microRNAs (miR-1290, miR-26b) and SNPs. RESULTS: PBMC from patients with ALL showed a decrease in NAT1 mRNA and protein expression. In addition, NAT1 enzymatic activity was decreased in patients with ALL. There was no influence of SNP 559 C>T or 560 G>A on low NAT1 activity. The lower expression of NAT1 might be related to the loss of acetylated histone H3K14 in the NAT1 gene promoter in patients with ALL and the higher relative expression of miR-1290 in the plasma of patients with relapsed ALL compared with healthy controls. There were significantly fewer CD3+/NAT1+ double-positive cells in patients who relapsed compared with control subjects. Based on a t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding algorithm, CD19+ cells that reappeared in patients with relapse showed low NAT1 expression. In contrast, for NAT2, there were no significant results. CONCLUSION: The expression and function of NAT1 and miR-1290 levels could be involved in modulating immune cells altered in ALL.

Fibroelastosis pleuroparenquimatosa e hipertension pulmonar: un fenotipo diferente?

La fibroelastosis pleuroparenquimatosa es una enfermedad pulmonar inusual con características clínicas, radiológicas y patológicas únicas, que se ha incluido recientemente en el consenso actualizado sobre neumonías intersticiales idiopáticas. Su nombre hace referencia a una combinación de fibrosis que involucra la pleura visceral y cambios fibroelastóticos que predominan en el parénquima pulmonar subpleural. Aunque se han descrito varias asociaciones de enfermedades, no se ha identificado de manera inequívoca ninguna causa única. El diagnóstico se sustenta en criterios clínicos-radiológicos y de hallazgos histopatológicos cuando se dispone de biopsias. Son escasos los reportes sobre la asociación entre esta entidad y la hipertensión pulmonar. No existe tratamiento hasta la fecha, aunque se relatan sucesos en algunos casos de transplante pulmonar. Describimos las características clínicas de un paciente atendido en un hospital del Paraguay.

Pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis is an unusual lung disease with unique clinical, radiological, and pathological characteristics that has recently been included in the updated consensus on idiopathic interstitial pneumonia. Their name refers to a combination of fibrosis involving the visceral pleura and fibro-elastic changes that predominate in the subpleural pulmonary parenchyma. Although several associations between diseases have been described, no single cause has been unequivocally identified. The diagnosis is based on clinical-radiological criteria and histopathological findings when biopsies are available. There are few reports on the association between this entity and pulmonary hypertension. There is no treatment to date, although some cases of lung transplantation have been successful. We describe the clinical characteristics of a patient treated in a hospital in Paraguay.

Efectos del confinamiento en el hogar debido a la pandemia por COVID-19 en el consumo en pacientes en tratamiento en un programa de deshabituación de alcohol / Effects of the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic on alcohol consumption in patients under treatment in an alcohol relapse prevention programme

Durante la pandemia producida por la infección por el Covid-19 se produjeron una serie de cambios sociosanitarios excepcionales para evitar su propagación como el confinamiento en el hogar y la supresión de los servicios asistenciales sanitarios habituales. Se consideró que estos cambios podrían implicar un incremento en el consumo de alcohol y un mayor riesgo de recaídas para los pacientes en tratamiento. El objetivo de este estudio fue valorar los cambios en el consumo durante el período de confinamiento (marzo a mayo de 2020) en los pacientes en tratamiento en el programa de alcohol del Hospital Doce de Octubre de Madrid. Fueron valorados 311 pacientes mediante entrevista telefónica dentro de la práctica clínica habitual durante ese período. Un 76 % de los pacientes no presentaron cambios en su situación de consumo, un 9,2% de estos cesaron en el consumo, algunos de ellos con cuadros de abstinencia graves, y un 7,5% recayeron. El sexo femenino, el consumo en solitario o en el hogar, en atracón, o el de otras drogas de forma concomitante y el no estar en terapia grupal o no asistir a grupos de las asociaciones de ayuda mutua por videoconferencia durante el confinamiento fueron factores predictores de mal pronóstico. Un 31,6% presentó alteraciones psicopatológicas debidas al confinamiento, sobre todo, aquellos pacientes con comorbilidad psiquiátrica. Por lo tanto, en situaciones similares a esta, la mayoría de los pacientes en tratamiento no modifican el patrón de consumo, pero, ciertas características identifican un subgrupo de sujetos más vulnerables. (AU)

During the COVID-19 pandemic, several exceptional measures were put in place in order to avoid virus propagation, such as lockdown and the discontinuation of usual health care assistance services. It was considered that these changes might be associated with an increase in alcohol consumption and a higher risk of relapse for patients under treatment. The aim of this study was to assess changes in alcohol consumption during the lockdown period (between March and May, 2020) in patients following treatment under the Alcohol Use Disorders Programme at the “Hospital 12 de Octubre” in Madrid. A total of 311 patients were assessed through interviews carried out by telephone in accordance with usual clinical practice during that period. 76% of the total number of patients did not experience changes in their alcohol consumption, 9.2% stopped drinking and some experienced severe withdrawal syndrome, while 7.5% relapsed. The risk factors found for worsening the prognosis of the patients were: being female, drinking alcohol alone or at home, binge drinking, concomitant substance misuse and failure to attend therapy groups or self-help groups online during the lockdown. 31.6% of the sample described psychopathological symptoms due to the lockdown, especially those who already had psychiatric comorbidities. For this reason, we can conclude that during the lockdown as a result of the pandemic, most of our alcohol dependent patients did not modify their drinking patterns, but specific factors enabled us to identify a more vulnerable subgroup. (AU)

Pheromone Activity after Stimulation with Ampicillin in a Plasmid-Free Enterococcus faecalis Strain.

Enterococci exhibit clumping under the selective pressure of antibiotics. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of supernatants from a plasmid-free clone (C29) of Enterococcus faecalis subjected to 0.25×, 0.5×, and 0.75× of the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ampicillin on the expression of an aggregation substance (AS) by a donor plasmid clone (1390R). A clumping assay was performed. The relative expression of prgB (gene that encodes AS) was determined and semiquantified in 1390R, and iad1 expression was determined and semiquantified in C29. AS expression was analyzed in the stimulated 1390R cells by confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, and ELISA. Adherence was also measured. Maximal clumping was observed with the pheromone medium 0.25×. Only the 1390R strain stimulated with the C29 supernatant without ampicillin and with 0.25× was able to express prgB. No expression of prgB was observed at 0.5× and 0.75×. The difference in relative expression (RE) of 1390R without ampicillin and with 0.25× was 0.5-fold. AS expression in 1390R showed the greatest increase upon stimulation with 0.25×. When 1390R was stimulated with 0.5× and 0.75×, AS expression was also observed but was significantly lower. Ampicillin stimulated C29 switch-off pheromone expression in recipient cells, which in turn switched off AS expression in donor cells. We observed that although prgB was switched off after 0.5× stimulation in C29, the supernatants induced expression in certain 1390R strains. In conclusion, ampicillin was able to modulate pheromone expression in free plasmid clones which, in turn, modulated AS expression in plasmid donor cells. The fact that PrgB gene expression was switched off after the ampicillin stimulus at 0.5× MIC, whereas AS proteins were present on the surface of the bacteria, suggested that a mechanism of rescue associated with mechanism pheromone sensing may be involved.

Effects of the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic on alcohol consumption in patients under treatment in an alcohol relapse prevention programme. / Efectos del confinamiento en el hogar debido a la pandemia por COVID-19 en el consumo en pacientes en tratamiento en un programa de deshabituación de alcohol.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, several exceptional measures were put in place in order to avoid virus propagation, such as lockdown and the discontinuation of usual health care assistance services. It was considered that these changes might be associated with an increase in alcohol consumption and a higher risk of relapse for patients under treatment. The aim of this study was to assess changes in alcohol consumption during the lockdown period (between March and May, 2020) in patients following treatment under the Alcohol Use Disorders Programme at the "Hospital 12 de Octubre" in Madrid. A total of 311 patients were assessed through interviews carried out by telephone in accordance with usual clinical practice during that period. 76% of the total number of patients did not experience changes in their alcohol consumption, 9.2% stopped drinking and some experienced severe withdrawal syndrome, while 7.5% relapsed. The risk factors found for worsening the prognosis of the patients were: being female, drinking alcohol alone or at home, binge drinking, concomitant substance misuse and failure to attend therapy groups or self-help groups online during the lockdown. 31.6% of the sample described psychopathological symptoms due to the lockdown, especially those who already had psychiatric comorbidities. For this reason, we can conclude that during the lockdown as a result of the pandemic, most of our alcohol dependent patients did not modify their drinking patterns, but specific factors enabled us to identify a more vulnerable subgroup.

Durante la pandemia producida por la infección por el Covid-19 se produjeron una serie de cambios sociosanitarios excepcionales para evitar su propagación como el confinamiento en el hogar y la supresión de los servicios asistenciales sanitarios habituales. Se consideró que estos cambios podrían implicar un incremento en el consumo de alcohol y un mayor riesgo de recaídas para los pacientes en tratamiento. El objetivo de este estudio fue valorar los cambios en el consumo durante el período de confinamiento (marzo a mayo de 2020) en los pacientes en tratamiento en el programa de alcohol del Hospital Doce de Octubre de Madrid. Fueron valorados 311 pacientes mediante entrevista telefónica dentro de la práctica clínica habitual durante ese período. Un 76 % de los pacientes no presentaron cambios en su situación de consumo, un 9,2% de estos cesaron en el consumo, algunos de ellos con cuadros de abstinencia graves, y un 7,5% recayeron. El sexo femenino, el consumo en solitario o en el hogar, en atracón, o el de otras drogas de forma concomitante y el no estar en terapia grupal o no asistir a grupos de las asociaciones de ayuda mutua por videoconferencia durante el confinamiento fueron factores predictores de mal pronóstico. Un 31,6% presentó alteraciones psicopatológicas debidas al confinamiento, sobre todo, aquellos pacientes con comorbilidad psiquiátrica. Por lo tanto, en situaciones similares a esta, la mayoría de los pacientes en tratamiento no modifican el patrón de consumo, pero, ciertas características identifican un subgrupo de sujetos más vulnerables.

Engaging Public Health Critical Race Praxis in Local Social Determinants of Health Research: The Youth Health Equity and Action Research Training Program in Portland, OR-yHEARTPDX.

The social determinants of health (SDH) have long been considered a core mechanism through which racial health inequities are (re)produced and incubated in the U.S. Moreover, scholars have expressly-and appropriately-named structural racism as a precursor to inequities associated with SDH. However, while research on racial health inequities-SDH-related or otherwise-continues to grow, communities of color remain grossly underrepresented as public health researchers and practitioners. Additionally, although SDH are experienced in a very local sense, much research and practice fails to more deeply and thoroughly engage and center local community knowledges. Thus, much work around SDH and racial health inequities presents, ironically, as structurally racist itself-being done/led mostly by White scholars and in ways that do not "center the margins". Moreover, in the context of public health practice, youth perspective is seldom centered within local health department (LHD) community SDH assessment efforts. With these challenges in mind, this paper introduces and discusses the development of the youth health equity and action research training (yHEART) program as a model for public health researchers/practitioners to engage public health critical race praxis (PHCRP) to better understand and respond to local SDH in communities of color. Specifically, we highlight the significance of PHCRP principles of "voice" and "social construction of knowledge" in advancing antiracism in research and LHD practice related to local SDH. First, we articulate core conceptual and theoretical groundings that informed the yHEART program's development and animate its ongoing training and research activities. Second, we outline the program's core training components and overall process, and provide some brief illustrative examples of work completed during the program's first iteration-yHEART PDX, Vol.I: Youth Participatory Research on Local Social Determinants of Health. We then close with a discussion that reflects on program strengths, challenges, and implications for SDH and racial health equity research/practice in light of growing calls for an antiracist public health.

Calcifediol for Use in Treatment of Respiratory Disease.

Calcifediol is the prohormone of the vitamin D endocrine system (VDES). It requires hydroxylation to move to 1,25(OH)2D3 or calcitriol, the active form that exerts its functions by activating the vitamin D receptor (VDR) that is expressed in many organs, including the lungs. Due to its rapid oral absorption and because it does not require first hepatic hydroxylation, it is a good option to replace the prevalent deficiency of vitamin D (25 hydroxyvitamin D; 25OHD), to which patients with respiratory pathologies are no strangers. Correcting 25OHD deficiency can decrease the risk of upper respiratory infections and thus improve asthma and COPD control. The same happens with other respiratory pathologies and, in particular, COVID-19. Calcifediol may be a good option for raising 25OHD serum levels quickly because the profile of inflammatory cytokines exhibited by patients with inflammatory respiratory diseases, such as asthma, COPD or COVID-19, can increase the degradation of the active metabolites of the VDES. The aim of this narrative revision is to report the current evidence on the role of calcifediol in main respiratory diseases. In conclusion, good 25OHD status may have beneficial effects on the clinical course of respiratory diseases, including COVID-19. This hypothesis should be confirmed in large, randomized trials. Otherwise, a rapid correction of 25(OH)D deficiency can be useful for patients with respiratory disease.

Analysis of complications in intraventricular neuroendoscopy in children: proposal for a standardization system.

Although intraventricular neuroendoscopy is considered a minimally invasive technique with good results, there is nevertheless a risk of developing certain complications. As no agreement apparently exists concerning the classification of these complications, we aim to propose a form of classification based on the results of our series, comparing them with recent publications. We undertook a retrospective study of 170 children who underwent intraventricular neuroendoscopy between 2003 and September 2020 at our center. Data were recorded on demographic and clinical variables: age, gender, presenting symptoms, etiology, number of procedures, type of procedure, and complications. Complications were divided into two main groups, intraoperative and postoperative, and in subgroups. The intraoperative complications included one group of systemic alterations and another group of surgical problems. The postoperative complications were divided into six groups: systemic, neurologic, hormone, fluid, hemorrhagic and death. A total of 202 neuroendoscopic procedures were performed in 170 children. The mean age at first surgery was 71 months (22-122). The most common etiology of the hydrocephalus was intraventricular tumors (32.9%), followed by aqueductal stenosis (13.5%). The most usual presenting sign was intracranial hypertension. The procedure most used was third ventriculostomy (62.9%). During the procedures, we experienced 5 surgical intraoperative complications (2.47% per procedure). In the postoperative period, there were 23.7% systemic complications per procedure, 12.87% neurologic, 8.41% hormone, 10.9% fluid, 0.5% hemorrhagic, and 0.99% for postoperative death. The rate of complications associated with intraventricular neuroendoscopy was similar in our series to those already published. Comparative studies require standardization for the analysis of neuroendoscopic complications.