The impact of COVID-19 upon student radiographers and clinical training in Latin America.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to identify the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic upon radiography education across Latin American countries. METHODS: A survey containing 20 questions was circulated to radiography students, across 13 universities in 11 countries of Latin America using Google Forms. The survey contained open and closed questions. Answers were analysed with descriptive statistics and the methodology of interpretative phenomenological analysis for the open answers. RESULTS: Of the 1310 responses only 23.9% (n = 313) of students reported attending clinical placements and from this cohort only 8.9% (n = 28) became infected with COVID-19. In response to how the pandemic had impacted upon the students' academic progression, the most common topic in the open answers was "Concerns about the lack of clinical training", mentioned by 629 students. Students in middle and later years of their radiography education expressed the greatest concern about future clinical placements. Almost all radiography students (95.2%/n = 1247) indicated that their main concerns regarding COVID-19 infection while undertaking clinical placements was in relation to the risk of infecting their families as most students stated they cohabited with relatives (86.6%/n = 1134). CONCLUSION: Compared to European findings co-habitation trends increased anxiety related to infection and impacted their mental health. Students expressed concern about the quality of education they were receiving during the pandemic and access to resources to facilitate on-line learning was inadequate. Socio-economic and internet connectivity factors specific to Latin America were identified and these issues need to be addressed if on-line education is required in the future. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted Latin America and this study identifies the implications for radiography students related to their clinical and academic training and highlights factors which require consideration to support radiography students as the pandemic continues.

Young children's voices in an unlocked Sweden during the COVID-19 pandemic.

AIMS: During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sweden was one of the few countries that rejected lockdowns in favour of recommendations for restrictions, including careful hand hygiene and social distancing. Preschools and primary schools remained open. Several studies have shown negative impacts of the pandemic on children, particularly high levels of anxiety. The study aim was to explore how Swedish school-aged children aged 6-14 years, experienced the COVID-19 pandemic and their perceived anxiety. METHODS: In total, 774 children aged 6-14 years and their guardians answered an online questionnaire containing 24 questions, along with two instruments measuring anxiety: the Children's Anxiety Questionnaire and the Numerical Rating Scale. A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was used for analysing the quantitative and qualitative data. Each data source was first analysed separately, followed by a merged interpretative analysis. RESULTS: The results showed generally low levels of anxiety, with no significant sex differences. Children who refrained from normal social activities or group activities (n=377) had significantly higher levels of anxiety. Most of the children were able to appreciate the bright side of life, despite the social distancing and refraining from activities, which prevented them from meeting and hugging their loved ones. CONCLUSIONS: These Swedish children generally experienced low levels of anxiety, except those who refrained from social activities. Life was nonetheless mostly experienced as normal, largely because schools remained open. Keeping life as normal as possible could be one important factor in preventing higher anxiety and depression levels in children during a pandemic.

To be or not to be vaccinated against COVID-19 - The adolescents' perspective - A mixed-methods study in Sweden.

Vaccination of the population seems to be an important strategy in halting the COVID-19 pandemic in both local and global society. The aim of this study was to explore Swedish adolescents' willingness to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and its association with sociodemographic and other possible factors. A survey was distributed in Sweden between 7 July and 8 November 2020. The main qualitative question concerned adolescents' thoughts on vaccination against COVID-19 and evaluated whether the adolescents would like to be vaccinated when a COVID-19 vaccine is made available. In total, 702 adolescents aged between 15 and 19 responded to the questionnaire. A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was used. The results showed that nearly one in three adolescents had not decided if they wanted to get a COVID-19 vaccine, i.e. 30.5%: n = 214. Of the participants 54.3% (n = 381) were willing to be vaccinated. Girls had higher levels of anxiety about the vaccine compared to boys. In addition, high levels of anxiety impacted on the participants' willingness to be vaccinated. One reason for being undecided about the vaccine was that participants felt they did not know enough about it. Practising social distancing increased willingness to be vaccinated, as reflected in the qualitative results which showed participants wanted to be vaccinated to protect others. The results impart important knowledge to healthcare professionals and contribute to their communication with adolescents about vaccine hesitancy.

Physical topology of three-dimensional unsteady flows with spheroidal invariant surfaces.

Scope is the response of Lagrangian flow topologies of three-dimensional time-periodic flows consisting of spheroidal invariant surfaces to perturbation. Such invariant surfaces generically accommodate nonintegrable Hamiltonian dynamics and, in consequence, intrasurface topologies composed of islands and chaotic seas. Computational studies predict a response to arbitrary perturbation that is dramatically different from the classical case of toroidal invariant surfaces: said islands and chaotic seas evolve into tubes and shells, respectively, that merge into "tube-and-shell" structures consisting of two shells connected via (a) tube(s) by a mechanism termed "resonance-induced merger" (RIM). This paper provides conclusive experimental proof of RIM and advances the corresponding structures as the physical topology of realistic flows with spheroidal invariant surfaces; the underlying unperturbed state is a singular limit that exists only for ideal conditions and cannot be achieved in a physical experiment. This paper furthermore expands existing theory on certain instances of RIM to a comprehensive theory (supported by experiments) that explains all observed instances of this phenomenon. This theory reveals that RIM ensues from perturbed periodic lines via three possible scenarios: truncation of tubes by (i) manifolds of isolated periodic points emerging near elliptic lines or by either (ii) local or (iii) global segmentation of periodic lines into elliptic and hyperbolic parts. The RIM scenario for local segmentation includes a perturbation-induced change from elliptic to hyperbolic dynamics near degenerate points on entirely elliptic lines (denoted "virtual local segmentation"). This theory furthermore demonstrates that RIM indeed accomplishes tube-shell merger by exposing the existence of invariant surfaces that smoothly extend from the tubes into the chaotic shells. These phenomena set the response to perturbation-and physical topology-of flows with spheroidal invariant surfaces fundamentally apart from flows with toroidal invariant surfaces. Its entirely kinematic nature and reliance solely on continuity and solenoidality of the velocity field render the comprehensive theory and its findings universal and generically applicable for (arbitrary perturbation of) basically any incompressible flow-in fact any smooth solenoidal vector field-accommodating spheroidal invariant surfaces.

Consejería breve para cesación del consumo de tabaco como estrategia de elección por profesionales de Atención Primaria de Salud de la comuna de Peñalolén / Brief smoking cessation counselling as a choice strategy used by primary health care professionals in a commune of Santiago, Chile

INTRODUCCIÓN: El tabaquismo es una de las pandemias que afecta en mayor proporción a la población mundial. Una de las medidas para controlarlo es la aplicación de consejerías de cesación tabáquica (CCT). OBJETIVO: Determinar y evaluar la técnica de CCT más empleada por profesionales de APS de Peñalolén. METODOLOGÍA: Estudio observacional de corte transversal basado en encuesta y simulación clínica en atención primaria de salud. RESULTADOS: De los 39 participantes, un 55,3% declaró utilizar la consejería breve como CCT y un 42,1% indicó no utilizar ninguna técnica específica. De los 13 profesionales que participaron de la simulación clínica, el 50% incluyó 5 o menos de un total de 7 aspectos claves durante la realización de la consejería breve. CONCLUSIONES: La estrategia de CCT más utilizada por los encuestados es la consejería breve, aunque no siempre se consideran todos los aspectos claves cuando se realiza.

INTRODUCTION: Smoking is one of the pandemics that affects the world's population in a large proportion. One of the measures to control it is the application of smoking cessation counselling (SCC). OBJECTIVE: To determine and evaluate the SCC technique most used by primary health care professionals in Peñalolén a commune of Santiago, Chile. METHODOLOGY: Cross-sectional observational study based on survey and clinical simulation in primary health care professionals. RESULTS: Of the 39 participant professionals, 55.3% declared using brief counselling as SCC and 42.1% indicated they did not use any specific technique. Of the 13 professionals who participated in the clinical simulation, 50% included 5 or less of a total of 7 key aspects during the brief counselling. CONCLUSIONS: Brief smoking cessation counselling is the most used tobacco cessation counselling strategy by the professionals surveyed. Although not all key aspects are always considered when it is done.

Extracellular matrix 1 (ECM1) regulates the actin cytoskeletal architecture of aggressive breast cancer cells in part via S100A4 and Rho-family GTPases.

ECM1 overexpression is an independent predictor of poor prognosis in primary breast carcinomas, however the mechanisms by which ECM1 affects tumor progression have not been completely elucidated. ECM1 was silenced in the triple-negative breast cancer cell lines Hs578T and MDAMB231 using siRNA and the cells were evaluated for changes in morphology, migration, invasion and adhesion. Actin cytoskeleton alterations were evaluated by fluorescent staining and levels of activated Rho GTPases by pull down assays. ECM1 downregulation led to significantly diminished cell migration (p = 0.0005 for Hs578T and p = 0.02 for MDAMB231) and cell adhesion (p < 0.001 for Hs578T and p = 0.01 for MDAMB231). Cell invasion (matrigel) was reduced only in the Hs578T cells (p < 0.01). Silencing decreased the expression of the prometastatic molecules S100A4 and TGFßR2 in both cell lines and CD44 in Hs578T cells. ECM1-silenced cells also exhibited alterations in cell shape and showed bundles of F-actin across the cell (stress fibers) whereas NT-siRNA treated cells showed peripheral membrane ruffling. Downregulation of ECM1 was also associated with an increased F/G actin ratio, when compared to the cells transfected with NT siRNA (p < 0.001 for Hs578T and p < 0.00035 for MDAMB231) and a concomitant decline of activated Rho A in the Hs578T cells. Re-expression of S100A4 in ECM1-silenced cells rescued the phenotype in the Hs578T cells but not the MDAMB231 cells. We conclude that ECM1 is a key player in the metastatic process and regulates the actin cytoskeletal architecture of aggressive breast cancer cells at least in part via alterations in S100A4 and Rho A.

c-Abl links APP-BACE1 interaction promoting APP amyloidogenic processing in Niemann-Pick type C disease.

BACKGROUND: Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) disease is characterized by lysosomal accumulation of cholesterol. Interestingly, NPC patients' brains also show increased levels of amyloid-ß (Aß) peptide, a key protein in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis. We previously reported that the c-Abl tyrosine kinase is active in NPC neurons and in AD animal models and that Imatinib, a specific c-Abl inhibitor, decreased the amyloid burden in brains of the AD mouse model. Active c-Abl was shown to interact with the APP cytosolic domain, but the relevance of this interaction to APP processing has yet to be defined. RESULTS: In this work we show that c-Abl inhibition reduces APP amyloidogenic cleavage in NPC cells overexpressing APP. Indeed, we found that levels of the Aß oligomers and the carboxy-terminal fragment ßCTF were decreased when the cells were treated with Imatinib and upon shRNA-mediated c-Abl knockdown. Moreover, Imatinib decreased APP amyloidogenic processing in the brain of an NPC mouse model. In addition, we found decreased levels of ßCTF in neuronal cultures from c-Abl null mice. We demonstrate that c-Abl directly interacts with APP, that c-Abl inhibition prevents this interaction, and that Tyr682 in the APP cytoplasmic tail is essential for this interaction. More importantly, we found that c-Abl inhibition by Imatinib significantly inhibits the interaction between APP and BACE1. CONCLUSION: We conclude that c-Abl activity facilitates the APP-BACE1 interaction, thereby promoting amyloidogenic processing of APP. Thus, inhibition of c-Abl could be a pharmacological target for preventing the injurious effects of increased Aß levels in NPC disease.

Physical examination tests for screening and diagnosis of cervicogenic headache: A systematic review.

It has been suggested that differential diagnosis of headaches should consist of a robust subjective examination and a detailed physical examination of the cervical spine. Cervicogenic headache (CGH) is a form of headache that involves referred pain from the neck. To our knowledge, no studies have summarized the reliability and diagnostic accuracy of physical examination tests for CGH. The aim of this study was to summarize the reliability and diagnostic accuracy of physical examination tests used to diagnose CGH. A systematic review following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines was performed in four electronic databases (MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase and Scopus). Full text reports concerning physical tests for the diagnosis of CGH which reported the clinometric properties for assessment of CGH, were included and screened for methodological quality. Quality Appraisal for Reliability Studies (QAREL) and Quality Assessment of Studies of Diagnostic Accuracy (QUADAS-2) scores were completed to assess article quality. Eight articles were retrieved for quality assessment and data extraction. Studies investigating diagnostic reliability of physical examination tests for CGH scored poorer on methodological quality (higher risk of bias) than those of diagnostic accuracy. There is sufficient evidence showing high levels of reliability and diagnostic accuracy of the selected physical examination tests for the diagnosis of CGH. The cervical flexion-rotation test (CFRT) exhibited both the highest reliability and the strongest diagnostic accuracy for the diagnosis of CGH.

Phospholamban ablation rescues the enhanced propensity to arrhythmias of mice with CaMKII-constitutive phosphorylation of RyR2 at site S2814.

KEY POINTS: Mice with Ca(2+) -calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMKII) constitutive pseudo-phosphorylation of the ryanodine receptor RyR2 at Ser2814 (S2814D(+/+) mice) exhibit a higher open probability of RyR2, higher sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca(2+) leak in diastole and increased propensity to arrhythmias under stress conditions. We generated phospholamban (PLN)-deficient S2814D(+/+) knock-in mice by crossing two colonies, S2814D(+/+) and PLNKO mice, to test the hypothesis that PLN ablation can prevent the propensity to arrhythmias of S2814D(+/+) mice. PLN ablation partially rescues the altered intracellular Ca(2+) dynamics of S2814D(+/+) hearts and myocytes, but enhances SR Ca(2+) sparks and leak on confocal microscopy. PLN ablation diminishes ventricular arrhythmias promoted by CaMKII phosphorylation of S2814 on RyR2. PLN ablation aborts the arrhythmogenic SR Ca(2+) waves of S2814D(+/+) and transforms them into non-propagating events. A mathematical human myocyte model replicates these results and predicts the increase in SR Ca(2+) uptake required to prevent the arrhythmias induced by a CaMKII-dependent leaky RyR2. ABSTRACT: Mice with constitutive pseudo-phosphorylation at Ser2814-RyR2 (S2814D(+/+) ) have increased propensity to arrhythmias under ß-adrenergic stress conditions. Although abnormal Ca(2+) release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) has been linked to arrhythmogenesis, the role played by SR Ca(2+) uptake remains controversial. We tested the hypothesis that an increase in SR Ca(2+) uptake is able to rescue the increased arrhythmia propensity of S2814D(+/+) mice. We generated phospholamban (PLN)-deficient/S2814D(+/+) knock-in mice by crossing two colonies, S2814D(+/+) and PLNKO mice (SD(+/+) /KO). SD(+/+) /KO myocytes exhibited both increased SR Ca(2+) uptake seen in PLN knock-out (PLNKO) myocytes and diminished SR Ca(2+) load (relative to PLNKO), a characteristic of S2814D(+/+) myocytes. Ventricular arrhythmias evoked by catecholaminergic challenge (caffeine/adrenaline) in S2814D(+/+) mice in vivo or programmed electric stimulation and high extracellular Ca(2+) in S2814D(+) /(-) hearts ex vivo were significantly diminished by PLN ablation. At the myocyte level, PLN ablation converted the arrhythmogenic Ca(2+) waves evoked by high extracellular Ca(2+) provocation in S2814D(+/+) mice into non-propagated Ca(2+) mini-waves on confocal microscopy. Myocyte Ca(2+) waves, typical of S2814D(+/+) mice, could be evoked in SD(+/+) /KO cells by partially inhibiting SERCA2a. A mathematical human myocyte model replicated these results and allowed for predicting the increase in SR Ca(2+) uptake required to prevent the arrhythmias induced by a Ca(2+) -calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMKII)-dependent leaky RyR2. Our results demonstrate that increasing SR Ca(2+) uptake by PLN ablation can prevent the arrhythmic events triggered by SR Ca(2+) leak due to CaMKII-dependent phosphorylation of the RyR2-S2814 site and underscore the benefits of increasing SERCA2a activity on SR Ca(2+) -triggered arrhythmias.

Carcinogenicity assessment of the pan-caspase inhibitor, emricasan, in Tg.rasH2 mice.

Emricasan, formerly IDN-6556, is a small molecule currently being evaluated in clinical trials to reduce hepatic injury and liver fibrosis. Since emricasan is an irreversible pan-caspase inhibitor that potently inhibits caspase-mediated apoptosis and inflammation, its carcinogenic potential was evaluated in a humanized mouse model. Tg.rasH2 mice received LabDiet formulated with 0, 10, 25, and 75mg/kg/day of emricasan, for 26weeks. At terminal sacrifice, blood was collected for clinical pathology analysis and tissues were collected, processed, and evaluated microscopically. There were no treatment related deaths or overt signs of toxicity for the duration of the study. There was no evidence of a carcinogenic effect in the peripheral blood leukocyte counts. Liver microgranulomas, which are background lesions, were slightly increased, especially in males. Increases in the incidence of the activated germinal centers were seen in the spleens and mesenteric lymph nodes of males and females, and in the mandibular lymph nodes of male mice. Atrophy of ovaries and testicular degeneration were also seen in emricasan treated animals. Although several non-neoplastic lesions were observed, there was no evidence of emricasan-related tumor formation in any tissue. In addition, the non-neoplastic lesions were not considered pre-neoplastic. Thus, emricasan is not considered carcinogenic.

Evidence that periweaning failure-to-thrive syndrome (PFTS) has a genetic predisposition.

Genetic susceptibility or resistance to diseases is currently drawing increasing attention. This work describes two different breeding herds showing signs of periweaning failure-to-thrive syndrome (PFTS), an emergent swine disease. The disease was diagnosed based on clinical picture and confirmed by histopathology. The possibility of main infectious pathogens was ruled out by immunohistochemistry and PCR. In a simple approach, sires of the affected piglets have been determined using microsatellite paternity analysis, including a healthy group in each case. In each of the two farms, a single boar was found to have sired 45-50 per cent sick animals. Removal of this sire from two farms resulted in a significant decrease in the prevalence of the disease among the offspring, in accordance with other two cases diagnosed, although without including a control group. Since the analysed animals belonged to three different genetic lines, these findings point to the existence of individual genetic susceptibility to this syndrome.

Hernia del espacio de Petersen: complicación tardía del bypass gástrico laparoscópico / Petersen’s space hernia: late complication of laparoscopic gastric bypass

Introduction: Petersen's Space Hernia is a protrusion of intestinal loops through a defect between the alimentary loop and the transverse mesocolon that occur as a late complication of Gastric Bypass. Objective: To present our experience in the management of this entity, making emphasis on the difficulty of clinical diagnosis, the typical CT Scan findings and to suggest prevention and management strategies. Method: Case series study of patients with Petersen's Space Hernia after Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass. Clinical presentation, CT Scan findings and surgical results were analyzed. Results: 8 patients. Mean age 43 years. All presented al least 12 months after primary surgery, with unspecific abdominal pain. CT Scan most frequent findings were: Swirled mesentery, engorgement of mesentery vessels and the mushroom sign. Surgery was performed laparoscopically in the 8 patients. No bowel ischemia was found. In all cases, once reduced the protruded loops, complete closure of the defect with a running non absorbable suture was done. Conclusion: In patients with Gastric Bypass, presenting with abdominal pain, a high degree of suspicion must be kept about this entity. Clinical findings are unspecific and radiological study is crucial. When diagnosed on time bowel necrosis is avoided and the main surgical goal is to achieve a complete closure of the defect with non absorbable suture.

Introducción: La Hernia del Espacio de Petersen es una complicación tardía del bypass gástrico, que ocurre por la protrusión de asas intestinales a través del defecto que se genera entre el asa alimentaria y el mesocolon transverso. Objetivo: Presentar nuestra experiencia en el manejo de esta patología, haciendo énfasis en la dificultad del diagnóstico clínico, los hallazgos más típicos de la Tomografía Computada (TC) y sugerir estrategias de prevención y manejo. Método: Estudio de una serie de casos con diagnóstico de Hernia del Espacio de Petersen posterior a bypass gástrico. Se analizó la presentación clínica, los hallazgos imagenológicos e intraoperatorios y los resultados del tratamiento quirúrgico. Resultados: 8 pacientes. Todos se presentaron luego de 12 meses de la cirugía primaria y la manifestación fue dolor abdominal de carácter inespecífico. Los hallazgos más frecuentes de la TC fueron el "arremolinamiento" mesentérico, ingurgitación de los vasos mesentéricos y el "signo del hongo". La cirugía se realizó por vía laparoscópica en los 8 pacientes. No se evidenció isquemia intestinal. En todos los casos, una vez reducido el contenido herniado, se cerró el espacio con sutura continua de material no reabsorbible. No hubo complicaciones ni mortalidad. Conclusión: En los pacientes sometidos a bypass gástrico hay que mantener un alto grado de sospecha acerca de esta entidad. La clínica es inespecífica y el estudio imagenológico es fundamental. Pesquisado a tiempo se puede evitar la necrosis intestinal y el pilar fundamental del tratamiento es lograr un adecuado cierre del defecto con material no reabsorbible.

Análisis del control metabólico de pacientes con diabetes mellitus tipo 1 que acuden a campamentos de verano en Castilla-La Mancha / Analysis of metabolic control of patients with type 1 diabetes attending summer camps in Castilla-La Mancha

Objetivo: Describir el grado de control metabólico en jóvenes con diabetes mellitus tipo 1 (DM1) y analizar los factores que pueden influir en él. Material y métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo y observacional, con una recogida de datos retrospectiva, en el que se incluyó a pacientes con DM1 que acudieron a los campamentos de verano organizados por la Fundación Sociosanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha durante los años 2009 y 2010. Se determinó la hemoglobina glucosilada (HbA1c) en sangre capilar (método DCA 2000+). Se llevó a cabo un análisis estadístico mediante el programa SPSS. Resultados: Se incluyeron en el estudio 85 pacientes, con una media edad de 13,5 años. El 100% de los pacientes recibía una pauta de insulinoterapia intensiva: infusión subcutánea continua de insulina (8,2%), insulina detemir (10,6%), insulina glargina (70,6%) e insulina NPH (neutral protamine Hagedorn) (10,6%). Se realizó una media de 5,4 autoanálisis diarios (rango: 3-12). El valor medio de HbA1c era del 7,6% (rango: 5,7-13,7), presentando el 33% una HbA1c ≤7%, el 32% una HbA1c >7% y ≤8%, y un 35% una HbA1c >8%. No se encontraron diferencias significativas en función de la consulta de procedencia ni de la pauta de insulina empleada, y se observaron valores de HbA1c significativamente menores en los pacientes con menos de 2 años de evolución.Conclusiones: El factor que más influye en la HbA1c de los pacientes analizados es el tiempo de evolución de la enfermedad, sin diferencias significativas en función de la pauta de insulinoterapia (AU)

Objective: To describe the degree of metabolic control in youth with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1) and analyze the factors that influence in this control. Material and methods: We performed a descriptive, observational and retrospective study which includes patients with DM1 attending summer camps organized by the Fundación Sociosanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha during the years 2009 and 2010. Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is measured in capillary blood (method DCA 2000+). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS. Results: We collected 85 patients with mean age of 13.5 years. 100% of patients receiving intensive insulin regimen: continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (8.2%), detemir (10.6%), glargine (70.6%) and NPH (10.6%). The mean HbA1c is 7.6% (5.7 to 13.7%), with 33% HbA1c ≤7%, 32% HbA1c >7% and ≤8%, and 35% HbA1c ≥8%. No significant differences were found depending on the consultation of origin or the pattern of insulin used, with values of HbA1c significantly lower in patients with less than 2 years of evolution. Conclusions: The factor that most influences the HbA1c of the patients analyzed is the time to disease progression, with no differences according to the pattern of insulin (AU)

Índice ganglionar y número de linfonodos metastásicos como factores pronósticos en cáncer de colon / Lymph node index as a prognostic factor for survival in stage III colon cancer

Background: The lymph node ratio in malignant tumors corresponds to the ratio between the number of involved lymph nodes and the number of examined lymph nodes. This ratio may be a good prognostic index in stage III colon cancer. Aim: To compare the lymph node ratio with the absolute number of positive lymph nodes as prognostic factors in stage III colon cancer. Material and Methods: Analysis of 115 patients aged 25 to 91 years (63 percent women) with a stage III colon cancer operated between 1991 and 2007. Survival according to the absolute number of positive lymph nodes and the lymph node index was calculated. The area under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves obtained after a COX regression analysis of survival, was used to analyze the prognostic value of each parameter. Results: Lymph node involvement was classified as T2 in three, T3 in 93 and T4 in 19 patients. The mean number of positive lymph nodes was 3.4 (range 1 to 34) and the mean lymph node index was 0.237 +/- 0.197 (range 0.031-0.882). Seventy four percent of patients had one to three positive lymph nodes and 24 percent had more than three. During a mean follow up of 67 months (range 5-216), 29 patients died. In survival analysis, the area under the ROC curve for the number of involved lymph nodes (0.703, 95 confidence intervals (CI) 0.58-0.82) was slightly better than the area for lymph node index (0.69, 95 percent CI 0.57-0.81). Using a dichotomy analysis, a lymph node index over 0.31 had a higher discriminating value for survival (odds ratio (OR) 19.96 91 percent CI 1.51-253.6) than the presence of 12 or more involved lymph nodes (OR 2.55 95 percent CI 0.86-7.55). Conclusions: The lymph node index and the absolute number of involved lymph nodes are prognostic factors in stage III colon cancer.

Introducción: El índice ganglionar (IG) se ha propuesto como un factor pronóstico mejor que el número de LN positivos en cáncer de colon estadio III. El objetivo es comparar estos factores en una serie clínica. Pacientes y Método: Se incluyen todos los pacientes estadio III resecados con intención curativa (R0). Se compara la sobrevida según el número de LN positivos y el IG mediante el análisis de las curvas ROC. Resultados: Se trata de 115 pacientes con un promedio de edad de 67,9 años (extremos 25-91), el 63,4 por ciento mujeres. El compromiso en profundidad del tumor fue T2 en 3 casos, T3 en 93 casos y T4 en 19. El promedio de ganglios positivos fue 3,4 (extremos 1-34). El índice ganglionar promedio fue 0,237 (DE: 0,197; extremos 0,031-0,882) y la mediana fue 0,1666. El 74 por ciento de los pacientes tenía 1 a 3 ganglios positivos (N1) y el 26 por ciento 4 o más ganglios positivos (N2). El seguimiento promedio fue de 67 meses (extremos 5-216), durante el cual fallecen 29 pacientes. El área bajo la curva ROC del número de LN afectados (0,703; IC 95 por ciento:0,58-082) fue levemente mayor que el área bajo la curva ROC del IG (0,690; IC 95 por ciento:0,57-0,81) (p = 0,63). Al compararlas en forma dicotómica, el IG (OR: 19,96; IC 95 por ciento:1,51-253,6) muestra una mayor capacidad de discriminación que el número de LN afectados (OR: 2,55; IC 95 por ciento: 0,86-7,55). Conclusión: El número de LN metastásicos y el IG son factores pronósticos relevantes en la planificación de la adyuvancia del cáncer de colon estadio III.

Resultados funcionales del reservorio ileal / Functional results of ileal pouch

Background: Proctocolectomy with ileal pouch and posterior pouch anal anastomosis is the treatment of choice of severe ulcerative colitis and polyposis. Aim: To evaluate the functional results of ileal pouch anal anastomosis. Material and Methods: Retrospective assessment of all patients subjected to an ileal pouch anal anastomosis. Pouch function was evaluated using Oresland score that goes from 0 or perfect to 15 or bad. Results: During a 10 years period, 35 patients were operated. Ten patients aged 19 to 67 years were treated for an ulcerative colitis and nine, aged 18 to 54 years for a familial adenomatous polyposis. Global complication rate of the procedure was 20 percent. Late complication rate was 17 percent. Specific complication rate of the rectal- ileal pouch anastomosis was 6 percent. Specific late complications of the technique were only observed in six of 20 patients with ulcerative colitis. Pouch failure was observed in two patients (6 percent). Global Oresland score was 3.2. Seventeen of 22 patients with ulcerative colitis and seven of eight patients with polyposis had a satisfactory or acceptable score. Patients had a mean of 4.4 bowel movements per day (range 1 to 15) without differences according to the underlying disease. Conclusions: Eighty percent of patients subjected to an ileal pouch anal anastomosis reported an Oresland score of less than seven, that is satisfactory in terms of quality of life.

Introducción: La proctocolectomía con reservorio ileal y anastomosis reservorio-anal (RIARA) es el tratamiento quirúrgico de elección en la colitis ulcerosa grave y las poliposis. Objetivo: Evaluar resultados funcionales de la RIARA. Pacientes y Método: Evaluación retrospectiva de todos los pacientes intervenidos por una RIARA en forma consecutiva. Los resultados funcionales se evaluaron mediante entrevista según el escore de Õresland. Resultados: En un período de 10 años se intervinieron 35 pacientes, 26 por colitis ulcerosa (CU) (edad promedio 36,8; extremos 19-67) y 9 por poliposis adenomatosa familiar (PAF) (edad promedio 38,8; extremos 18-54). La morbilidad global de la RIARA alcanza al 20 por ciento y las complicaciones tardías se elevan al 17 por ciento. La morbilidad específica de la RIARA fue 5,6 por ciento. Las complicaciones tardías específicas de la técnica se presentaron exclusivamente en el grupo CU (6/30=20 por ciento) y la falla del reservorio alcanza al 5,7 por ciento (2 casos). El puntaje global de Õresland fue 3,2, sin diferencias entre ambos grupos. Hubo 17 de 22 (77 por ciento) pacientes con un puntaje satisfactorio o aceptable en el grupo CU y 7 de 8 (88 por ciento) en el grupo PAF. El promedio de evacuaciones en 24 horas fue 4,4 (extremos 1-15) en la serie global, sin diferencias entre ambos grupos. Conclusión: El 80 por ciento de los pacientes sometidos a una RIARA tienen un escore menor de 7 en la escala de Õresland, lo que equivale a una calidad de vida similar a la población general. Aunque los resultados funcionales de la RIARA no son perfectos, la calidad de vida y la satisfacción del paciente son satisfactorias.

Tratamiento de la rectitis actínica hemorrágica con aplicación tópica de formalina al 4 por ciento / Treatment of hemorrhagic radiation rectitis with topical application of 4percent formaldehyde

Background: Hemorrhagic radiation rectitis occurs in 15 percent of patients subjected to pelvic irradiation. One of the treatment alternatives is the topical application of 4 percent formaldehyde. Aim: To report the results of the use of topical formaldehyde in radiation rectitis. Material and Methods: Twenty patients aged 36 to 80 years (13 women) with hemorrhagic radiation rectitis were prospectively recruited. Fistula or stenosis was discarded endoscopically. Formaldehyde was applied in the operating room or at the outpatient clinic. Results: Fifteen patients required repeated transfusions. The application was performed in the operating room in five patients. Bleeding stopped in three patients with one application, in 12 patients with two applications and in four, with three applications. In one patient, bleeding did not stop after the first application and had a sigmoid perforation; therefore no further application was attempted. One patient had a severe proctitis after the procedure, which subsided with symptomatic treatment after 15 days. Conclusions: Topical formaldehyde application for hemorrhagic rectitis is effective to stop bleeding but has complications in 10 percent of patients.

Introducción: La rectitis actínica hemorrágica es una complicación que se presenta en el 15 por ciento de los pacientes sometidos a radioterapia por una neoplasia pélvica. Existen distintas alternativas para su tratamiento, entre las que se cuenta la aplicación de formalina al 4 por ciento. Presentamos los resultados del tratamiento de esta complicación en una serie prospectiva no aleatoria. Material y Método: Desde marzo de 2004 a mayo de 2007 se reclutaron en forma prospectiva todos los pacientes tratados por una rectitis actínica hemorrágica en nuestro servicio. En todos los pacientes se descartó una estenosis o fístula por endoscopia flexible. Los pacientes fueron sometidos a aplicación de formalina en pabellón o ambulatoria según la evaluación del tratante. Resultados: La serie corresponde a 20 pacientes, 13 mujeres, con un promedio de edad de 61 años (36-80), 15 requerían transfusiones a repetición. La indicación de radioterapia fue por un cáncer cérvico uterino en 9 casos, de próstata en 7 casos y endometrio en 4. El promedio de sesiones necesarias para controlar el sangrado fue de 2 (1-3); en 5 pacientes la aplicación se realizó en pabellón. Tres pacientes mejoraron con una aplicación, 12 pacientes con 2 aplicaciones y 4 con 3 procedimientos. Un paciente continúa sangrado después de un procedimiento, pero presenta una perforación de sigmoides en terreno neoplásico y no se intentó una segunda sesión, por lo que se considera un fracaso del procedimiento. Además un paciente presentó una proctitis intensa que cedió con tratamiento sintomático en 15 días, con lo que la morbilidad del procedimiento alcanza a un 10 por ciento. El éxito acumulado es de un 95 por ciento de los casos, con detención del sangrado, sin necesidad de transfusiones. Conclusión: Estimamos que el tratamiento con formalina al 4 por ciento es un procedimiento seguro para el tratamiento de la rectitis actínica hemorrágica, con buenos resultados en la gran mayoría de los pacientes ...

Plicatura gástrica laparoscópica, un nuevo procedimiento bariátrico: a propósito de un caso clínico / Laparoscopic gastric plication, a new bariatric procedure: report of one case

Bariatric surgery is an effective treatment for morbid obesity. Various techniques have been developed with different outcomes and complications. A new technique with promising results recently described in the literature: the gastric plication, which would not have the complications of using mechanical suture and would imply a reduction of costs. We report the first case in Chile under this technique.

La cirugía bariátrica es un tratamiento efectivo para la obesidad mórbida. Diversas técnicas se han desarrollado con diferentes resultados y complicaciones. Una nueva técnica con resultados prometedores se ha descrito recientemente en la literatura: la plicatura gástrica, la cual no tendría las complicaciones del uso de sutura mecánica e implicaría una reducción de los costos. Presentamos el caso clínico del primer paciente en Chile sometido a esta técnica.

Efectos de la albahaca (Ocimum basilicum) sobre dolor pélvico en dismenorrea primaria (menstruación dolorosa) en mujeres en edad fértil / Effects of basil (Ocimum basilicum) on pelvic pain in primary dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation) in women of childbearing age

El presente estudio se realizó con el objetivo de evaluar el efecto de la Albahaca (Ocimum basilicum) sobre dolor pélvico en dismenorrea primaria (menstruación dolorosa) en mujeres en edad fértil, durante los meses de julio y agosto del 2010. Para tal fin esta investigación fue aleatoria estratificada y doble ciego controlada con placebo (cápsulas color blanco con azul). Se seleccionaron 44 pacientes en el rango de edad fértil, con ciclos regulares y que presentaban dismenorrea primaria, las cuales fueron distribuidas en dos grupos de tratamiento: Grupo 1: cápsulas de Albahaca, y Grupo 2: cápsulas de placebo, las cuales estuvieron sometidas a dos meses de tratamiento con dosis específica; a las pacientes inicialmente se les fue socializado el consentimiento informado. Los síntomas fueron registrados por medio de encuestas que tenían en cuenta 3 variables principales las cuales fueron: “escala análoga del dolor” (escala numérica: 0 - ausencia del dolor; 10 - dolor insoportable), “intensidad máxima del dolor” y “total del dolor” (tiempo en minutos). Adicional a esto se tuvieron en cuenta comportamientos de “disminución”, “constante” y “aumento” en cuanto al dolor y al aumento o disminución del consumo de medicamentos de síntesis química Los resultados obtenidos en la investigación y los revisados con los estadísticos revelan que la Albahaca presentó un efecto en cuanto a disminución del dolor en las pacientes y, al compararse con el tratamiento con cápsula de placebo, se evidenciaron diferencias significativas en las variables tomadas en cuenta.

Resultados del tratamiento con neoadyuvancia del cáncer de recto localmente avanzado / Preoperative chemoradiotherapy in rectal cancer, experience in 76 patients

Background: Preoperative chemoradiotherapy is helpful as an adjuvant treatment for locally advanced rectal carcinoma. Aim: To report the results of a prospective series of patients with rectal carcinoma treated with chemoradiotherapy and surgical excision. Material and Methods: Seventy six patients aged 28 to 84 years (51 percent women), with locally advanced rectal cancer (T3-T4 or N+) subjected to curative surgery and treated with radiotherapy and 5 fluoruracil with leucovorin, were included in this series. Results: Mean hospital stay was 12.5 +/- 7.2 days, 37 percent had operative complications and no patient died. The downstaging effect was more marked for local invasion than for lymph node involvement. In 21 percent of cases, a complete pathological response was achieved and no patient has had a relapse during a 59 months follow up. Conclusions: Among patients with rectal cancer, preoperative chemoradiotherapy does not increase surgical complications and has a marked impact in tumor downstaging.

Antecedentes: El tratamiento del cáncer de recto bajo localmente avanzado ha cambiado en la última década hacia la neoadyuvancia con radio quimioterapia (RQT) preoperatoria. Objetivo: Dar a conocer los resultados de una serie prospectiva de casos tratados con RQT preoperatoria más cirugía radical con resección total del mesorrecto. Pacientes y Método: se incluye los pacientes con un cáncer de recto medio e inferior localmente avanzado (T3-T4 y/o N+) tratados con intención curativa con radioterapia más 5-FU con leucovorina. Se detalla el impacto de la RQT en la pieza operatoria comparado con una serie similar sin radioterapia previa. Resultados: Se trata de 76 pacientes (51,3 por ciento mujeres) con un promedio etario de 61,9 años (extremos 28-84). El tiempo de hospitalización promedio fue 12,55 días (DE: 7,19; extremos 4-35), la morbilidad global de la serie fue 37 por ciento, no hubo mortalidad operatoria. El efecto del downstaging fue más marcado en el factor T que en el compromiso linfonodal y en el 21 por ciento de los casos se logró una respuesta patológica completa (RPC) o casi completa (RP), sin recidiva en este subgrupo luego de un seguimiento promedio de 59 meses. Conclusión: En esta serie la RQT preoperatoria no aumenta la morbilidad perioperatoria, tiene un impacto marcado en el downstaging patológico y la RPC o RP casi completa se asocia positivamente con la sobrevida a largo plazo.