Diseño y Validación de una Aplicación Móvil, para el Diagnóstico de Anemia en Pre-Escolares. Estudio de Precisión Diagnóstica / Design and Validation of a Mobile Application for the Diagnosis of Anemia in Preschoolers. Diagnostic Accuracy Study

La anemia afecta a miles de niños. Para el diagnóstico se cuantifica la hemoglobina (Hb); técnica que no se encuentra al alcance de toda la población. Contar con un instrumento validado de fácil aplicación, puede ayudar al diagnóstico. El objetivo de este estudio fue validar una aplicación móvil (APP) para diagnosticar anemia en niños de 2 a 5 años, aplicable por padres o tutores. Estudio de validación de escalas. Mediante búsqueda bibliografía se recopilaron ítems y dominios relacionados con anemia en niños. Una vez reducidos, se construyó un cuestionario para pilotaje, con tres hematólogos pediatras. El resultado de este fue posteriormente validado por 22 expertos mediante aplicación de escalas tipo Likert. Los ítems validados, se contrastaron con la Hb de niños de 267 niños de 2 a 5 años de los andes ecuatorianos (2.560 msnm). Se determinó asociación de los ítems con Hb y con los resultados obtenidos y se construyó la APP. 14 ítems fueron analizados. Todos ellos puntuaron sobre la mediana de la distribución (35,5 puntos) y fueron valorados por, al menos el 50 % de los expertos. Se seleccionaron palidez palmar, astenia y sueño en horas no habituales. Todos mostraron asociación significativa con anemia (p<0,05), y fueron aplicados como preguntas a padres o tutores y contrastados con el valor de Hb. Sensibilidad y especificidad para palidez fue: 85,1 % y 85,0 %; astenia: 72,3 % y 87,7 %; sueño en horas no habituales: 68,1 % y 87,7 %; palidez más astenia o sueño: 95,7 % y 74,6 %; y debilidad más sueño: 92,5 % y 76,8 %. Se desarrolló y validó una APP para diagnóstico de anemia en niños de 2 a 5 años aplicable por padres o tutores.

SUMMARY: Anemia affects thousands of children, and to reach a diagnosis, hemoglobin (Hb) is quantified. This technique however, is not always accessible to the general population. Therefore, the availability of a validated instrument can be useful in the diagnosis. The aim of this study was to validate a mobile application (APP), to diagnose anemia in children from 2 to 5 years old, applicable by parents or guardians. Scale validation study. Through a bibliographic search, items and domains related to anemia in children were collected. Once reduced, a pilot questionnaire was constructed with three pediatric hematologists. The result was later validated by 22 experts through the application of the Likert-type scales. The validated items were contrasted with the Hb of children of 267 children from 2 to 5 years of age from the Ecuadorian Andes (2,560 meters above sea level). The association of the items with Hb and with the results obtained was determined, and the APP was constructed. 14 items were analyzed. All of them scored above the median of the distribution (35.5 points) and were valued by at least 50 % of the experts. Palmar pallor, asthenia, and sleep at unusual hours were selected. All showed a significant association with anemia (p<0.05) and were applied as questions to parents or guardians and contrasted with the Hb value. Sensitivity and specificity for pallor was: 85.1 % and 85.0 %; asthenia: 72.3 % and 87.7 %; sleep at unusual hours: 68.1 % and 87.7 %; paleness plus fatigue or sleepiness: 95.7 % and 74.6 %; and weakness plus sleep: 92.5 % and 76.8 %. An APP for the diagnosis of anemia in children from 2 to 5 years old applicable by parents or guardians was developed and validated.

Cancer Biomarkers in Liquid Biopsy for Early Detection of Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review.

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common neoplasm in women worldwide. Liquid biopsy (LB) is a non-invasive diagnostic technique that allows the analysis of biomarkers in different body fluids, particularly in peripheral blood and also in urine, saliva, nipple discharge, volatile respiratory fluids, nasal secretions, breast milk, and tears. The objective was to analyze the available evidence related to the use of biomarkers obtained by LB for the early diagnosis of BC. Methods: Articles related to the use of biomarkers for the early diagnosis of BC due to LB, published between 2010 and 2022, from the databases (WoS, EMBASE, PubMed, and SCOPUS) were included. The MInCir diagnostic scale was applied in the articles to determine their methodological quality (MQ). Descriptive statistics were used, as well as determination of weighted averages of each variable, to analyze the extracted data. Sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve values for specific biomarkers (individual or in panels) are described. Results: In this systematic review (SR), 136 articles met the selection criteria, representing 17 709 patients with BC. However, 95.6% were case-control studies. In 96.3% of cases, LB was performed in peripheral blood samples. Most of the articles were based on microRNA (miRNA) analysis. The mean MQ score was 25/45 points. Sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve values for specific biomarkers (individual or in panels) have been found. Conclusions: The determination of biomarkers through LB is a useful mechanism for the diagnosis of BC. The analysis of miRNA in peripheral blood is the most studied methodology. Our results indicate that LB has a high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of BC, especially in early stages.

Clinical utility of liquid biopsy in breast cancer: A systematic review.

Advancements in genetic sequencing techniques along with the identification of specific mutations and structural changes in multiple cancer genes, make it possible to identify circulating tumor cells and cell free nucleic acids as blood-based biomarkers, serving as a liquid biopsy (LB) with great utility for the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of patients with neoplasms. This systematic review focuses on the clinical utility of LB in patients with breast cancer (BC). Articles published between 1990 and 2021 were included. Databases searched: Trip Database, WoS, EMBASE, PubMed, SCOPUS, and Clinical Keys. Variables studied: Publication year, country, number of cases, primary study design, LB detection methods, genes found, overall survival, disease-free survival, stage, response to treatment, clinical utility, BC molecular type, systemic treatment and methodological quality of primary studies. Of 2619 articles, 74 were retained representing 12 658 patients, mainly cohort studies (66.2%), the majority were from China (15%) and Japan (12.2%). All primary studies described clinical stage and type of systemic treatment used. Most used biomarker detection method: DNA (52.7%) and type of analysis: quantification of total cfDNA (35.1%). PIK3CA mutation was most frequent (62.9%). Evidence suggests clinically useful applications of BC. Though heterogeneous, publications suggest that LB will constitute part of the standard diagnostic-therapeutic process of BC.

Resultados del tratamiento del hepatoblastoma en los Andes Ecuatorianos / Results of the treatment of hepatoblastoma in the Ecuadorian Andes

RESUMEN: El hepatoblastoma (HB), es una neoplasia maligna, que se origina en el hígado. La supervivencia (SV) depende de la extensión de avance de la enfermedad. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar diferencias en la SV actuarial global (SVAG) y libre de enfermedad (SVLE) en pacientes con HB, según la extensión de su enfermedad. Serie de casos con seguimiento. Se incluyeron pacientes de entre 4 y 160 meses de edad tratados en un centro oncológico de Los Andes ecuatorianos (2000-2019). Las variables resultado fueron: lóbulo afectado, metástasis pulmonar, infiltración vascular, estadio PRETEXT, riesgo, histología, niveles de alfafetoproteína (AFP), remisión completa (RC), SVAG y SVLE. Se utilizó estadística descriptiva y analítica (Chi2, exacto de Fisher y corrección por continuidad). Se realizaron análisis de SV con curvas de Kaplan Meier y log-rank. Fueron estudiados 28 pacientes (53,6 % hombres), con una mediana de edad de 40 meses. Se verificaron metástasis pulmonares e infiltración vascular en el 25,0 % y 35,7 % de los casos respectivamente. La histología, estadio clínico y riesgo alto fueron mayoritariamente tipo epitelial (42,8 %), PRETEXT II (50,0 %) y riesgo alto (67,8 %) respectivamente. La media de AFP al diagnóstico fue 1055712ng/ml y 9 pacientes alcanzaron RC. La SVAG y SVLE general a 19 años fue 33,1 % y 26,0 % respectivamente. Según su extensión, la SVAG y la SVLE para los pacientes de riesgo estándar y alto fueron 50,0 % y 25,4 % (p=0,148); y 50,0 % y 14,7 % (p=0,037) respectivamente. La SVAG y SVLE verificadas son menores a las reportadas en otros estudios. La SVLE según su extensión, presentó diferencia significativa, sin embargo, este resultado debe ser tomado con cautela debido al número pequeño de pacientes.

SUMMARY: Hepatoblastoma (HB), is a malignant neoplasm, which originates in the liver. Survival (SV) depends on the extent of disease progression. The objective of this study was to determine differences in overall SV (OS) and disease-free (DFS) in patients with HB, according to the extent of their disease. Case series with follow-up. Patients between 4 and 160 months of age treated at an oncology center in the Ecuadorian Andes (2000-2019) were included. The result variables were affected lobe, lung metastasis, vascular infiltration, PRETEXT stage, risk, histology, alpha-fetoprotein levels (AFP), complete remission (RC), OS and DFS. Descriptive and analytical statistics (Chi2, Fisher's exact and continuity correction) were used. SV analyzes were performed with Kaplan Meier and log-rank curves. In this analysis 28 patients (53.6 % men), with a median age of 40 months, were studied. Lung metastases and vascular infiltration were verified in 25.0 % and 35.7 % of the cases, respectively. Histology, clinical stage, and high risk were mainly epithelial type (42.8 %), PRETEXT II (50.0 %), and high risk (67.8 %), respectively. The mean AFP at diagnosis was 1055712 ng / ml and 9 patients achieved CR. OS and DFS at 19 years were 33.1 % and 26.0 % respectively. According to their extension, the OS and DFS for standard and high risk patients were 50.0 % and 25.4 % (p = 0.148); and 50.0 % and 14.7 % (p = 0.037) respectively. The verified OS and DFS are lower than those reported in other studies. DFS according to its extension, presented a significant difference, however, this result should be considered with caution due to the small number of patients.

Surgical treatment results of hepatocellular carcinoma in non-cirrhotic liver in southern Chile: case series with follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most frequent primary tumour of the liver. Although often associated with chronic liver disease, it can also occur in non-cirrhotic livers. The aim of this study was to describe post-operative morbidity (POM), and survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in non-cirrhotic liver treated surgically, and to identify variables associated with prognosis. METHODS: Case series of patients who underwent surgery for hepatocellular carcinoma in non-cirrhotic liver at Clínica RedSalud Mayor de Temuco, Chile (2001-2017), were studied. The minimum follow-up time considered was 12 months. Principal outcomes were development of POM and survival. Other variables of interest were age, sex, tumour diameter, surgical time, hospital stay, follow-up time, need for surgical re-intervention, mortality, vascular and lymph node invasion and staging. Descriptive and analytic statistics were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 32 patients were studied. They were characterized by a mean age of 67.3 ± 7.2 years, 62.5% of whom were men. Averages of tumour diameter, surgical time and hospitalization were 12.0 ± 2.6 cm, 114.4 ± 32.3 min and 7.2 ± 2.9 days, respectively. POM was 31.3%. There was no mortality and there were no re-interventions. The overall actuarial survival at 1, 2 and 3 years was 96.8%, 73.4% and 17.3%, respectively. Lower survival was verified in patients with vascular invasion, lymph node infiltration and stages III and IVa. CONCLUSION: Despite the tumour diameter and extent of the resections, POM in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in non-cirrhotic liver is moderate. However, its prognosis is poor. Vascular invasion, lymph node invasion and advances stages were associated with worse survival.

A systematic review of the effectiveness of adjuvant therapy for patients with gallbladder cancer.

BACKGROUND: Equipoise exists regarding the benefit of adjuvant therapy (AT) in patients with gallbladder cancer (GBC). The aim of this study was to critically review the available evidence for the effectiveness of AT in patients with GBC following surgery with curative intent. METHODS: A systematic review was performed. Relevant studies were identified from Trip Database, BIREME-BVS, SciELO, Cochrane Central Register, WoS, MEDLINE, EMBASE and SCOPUS. Adjuvant therapies considered included chemotherapy, chemoradiotherapy, and radiotherapy. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS). Subgorup analysis of patients with positive lymph node disease (PLND), positive surgical margin (PSM), or advanced stage (AS) were performed. RESULTS: 748 related articles were identified; 27 met the selection criteria (3 systematic reviews and 24 observational studies). Evidence provided was moderate, poor and very poor for chemotherapy, chemoradiotherapy, and radiotherapy. Existing evidence is not robust, but suggests certain benefits with AT in improving OS, especially in patients with PLND, PSM and AS. CONCLUSION: Results do not provide strong evidence that AT is effective in patients who undergo resection for GBC. Subgroups of PLND and PSM may have a survival advantage. Future studies with appropriate internal validity and adequate number of patients are required to better answer this question.

Cáncer gástrico avanzado: resultados de una cirugía resectiva en un centro privado y regional de salud / Advanced gastric cancer: resective surgery results in a private and regional health establishment

El cáncer gástrico (CG), representa el cuarto lugar de enfermedades oncológicas en mujeres y el primero en hombres. La mejor opción de tratamiento para pacientes con CG avanzado (CGA), sigue siendo la cirugía, lo que supone la realización de una gastrectomía total o subtotal, asociado a linfadenectomía D2 (LD2 ). El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar morbilidad postoperatoria (MPO) y supervivencia (SV) en pacientes resecados por CGA sin neoadyuvancia. La metodología usada fue serie de casos en retrospectiva de pacientes con CGA sometidos a gastrectomía total o subtotal con LD2 , de forma consecutiva, en Clínica RedSalud Mayor Temuco, entre 2008 y 2017. La variable resultado fue SV actuarial global (SVAG) a 5 años. Otras variables de interés fueron: tiempo quirúrgico, número de linfonodos resecados, estancia hospitalaria, MPO, y recurrencia. Los pacientes fueron seguidos de forma clínica. Se utilizó estadística descriptiva, con medidas de tendencia central y dispersión; y análisis de SV con curvas de Kaplan Meier y long Rank test. Se intervinieron 29 pacientes (72,4 % hombres), con una mediana de edad de 63 años. La localización más frecuente fue subcardial (51,7 %); el tipo de resección más frecuente fue gastrectomía total (51,7 %). La medianas del tiempo quirúrgico, del número de linfonodos resecados y de estancia hospitalaria; fue de 185 min, 32 y 6 días respectivamente. La MPO fue 17,2 %. Con una mediana de seguimiento de 26 meses, se verificó recurrencia de 37,9 %; y SVAG a 5 años para estadios IIIA, IIIB y IV fue de 47,6 %, 34,3 % y 15,4 % respectivamente (p < 0,05). Los resultados obtenidos, en términos de MPO, mortalidad y SVAG, fueron similares a series de centros de derivación nacionales e internacionales en los que no se ha aplicado terapias neoadyuvantes.

Gastric cancer (CG) represents the fourth place of oncological diseases in women and the first in men. The best treatment option for patients with advanced CG (ACG) is still surgery, which involves making total or subtotal gastrectomies and D2 lymphadenectomy (D2L). The aim of this study is to determine postoperative morbidity (POM) and overall survival (OS) in patients resected by CGA without neoadjuvant therapy. The methodology used was a series of cases in retrospective of patients with CGA undergoing total or subtotal gastrectomies and D2L, consecutively at RedSalud Mayor Temuco Clinic, between 2008 and 2017. The outcome variable was OS at 5 years. Other variables of interest were: surgical time, number of resected lymph nodes, hospital stay, POM, and recurrence. Patients were followed clinically. Descriptive statistics was used, and OS analysis was applied using long Rank test. Twenty-nine patients (72.4% men), with a median age of 63 years, were operated. The most frequent location was subcardinal (51.7%). The most frequent type of resection was total gastrectomy (51.7%). The median of surgical time, number of resected lymph nodes and hospital stay; was 185 min, 32 and 6 days respectively. MPO was 17.2%. With a median follow-up of 26 months, a recurrence of 37.9% was verified; and 5-year OS for stages IIIA, IIIB and IV were 47.6%, 34.3% and 15.4% respectively (p <0.05). The results achieved, in terms of POM and OS series were similar to national and international series in which neoadjuvant therapies have not been applied.

Resultados de la cirugía resectiva de pacientes con Cáncer de Colon no complicado en un centro privado y regional de salud / Results of resective surgery in patients with non-complicated Colon Cancer in a private and regional health establishment

El tratamiento estándar del cáncer de colon (CC), continúa siendo la resección radical del segmento intestinal comprometido con márgenes libres (al menos 5 cm por encima y debajo del tumor), pudiendo o no asociarse a terapias complementarias. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar morbilidad postoperatoria (MPO) y supervivencia actuarial global (SVAG) a 5 años en pacientes resecados por CC no complicado. La metodología usada fue serie de casos retrospectiva de pacientes con CC no complicado, sometidos a colectomía subtotal y linfadenectomía, de forma consecutiva, en Clínica RedSalud Mayor Temuco, entre 2007 y 2017. La variable resultado fue SV actuarial global (SVAG) a 5 años. Otras variables de interés fueron: tiempo quirúrgico, número de linfonodos resecados, estancia hospitalaria, MPO, y recurrencia. Los pacientes fueron seguidos de forma clínica. Se utilizó estadística descriptiva, con medidas de tendencia central y dispersión; y análisis de SV con curvas de Kaplan Meier. Se intervinieron 43 pacientes (58,1 % hombres), con una mediana de edad de 66 años. La localización y estadios más frecuentes fueron colon derecho (18 casos, 41,9 %); y IIIA, IIIB, respectivamente. La resecabilidad de la serie fue 100 %. La medianas del tiempo quirúrgico, del número de linfonodos resecados y de estancia hospitalaria; fueron de 100 minutos, 30 y 5 días, respectivamente. La MPO fue 30,2 % (13 casos). Con una mediana de seguimiento de 55 meses, se verificó una recurrencia de 13,9 %; y SVAG a 5 años de 69,8 % para la totalidad de la serie. Los resultados obtenidos, en términos de MPO, mortalidad y SVAG a 5 años, fueron similares a series de nacionales e internacionales.

The standard treatment of colonic cancer (CC) continues to be the radical resection of the intestinal segment compromised with free margins, associated or not with adjuvant therapies. The aim of this study was to determine postoperative morbidity (POM) and 5-year overall survival (OS) in patients resected by non-complicated CC. The methodology used was a series of cases in retrospective of patients with non-complicated CC undergoing colectomy and lymphadenectomy, consecutively, at RedSalud Mayor Temuco Clinic, between 2007 and 2017. The outcome variable was 5-years OS. Other variables of interest were: surgical time, the number of resected lymph nodes, hospital stay, POM, and recurrence. Patients were followed clinically. Descriptive statistics were used (measures of central tendency and dispersion), and OS analysis was applying Kaplan Meier curves. 43 patients (58.1% men) were intervened, with a median age of 66 years. The most frequent localization and stages were the right colon (18 cases, 41.9%); and IIIA, IIIB respectively. Median surgical time, the number of resected lymph nodes and hospital stay were 100 min, 30 and 5 days respectively. MPO was 30.2% (13 cases). With a median follow-up of 55 months, a recurrence of 13.9% was verified, and a 5-year OS of 69.8% was observed. The results, in terms of POM, mortality and 5-year OS, were similar to the national and international series.

Neoplasia papilar intracolecística: reporte de un caso y revisión de la evidencia existente / Intracholecystic papillary neoplasia: report of a case and review of existing evidence

La neoplasia papilar intracolecística (NPIC), es un tumor compuesto por células neoplásicas preinvasivas, que forman masas de hasta 1,0 cm, clínicamente detectables. El objetivo de este estudio fue reportar un caso de NPIC y revisar la evidencia existente. Se trata de un paciente sexo masculino, de 33 años de edad, asintomático, que en el curso de un examen de salud, se realiza una ecotomografía abdominal, en la que se verifica una lesión polipoide vesicular de 32 x 19 mm de diámetro. Se programa para colecistectomía electiva, la que se realizó por vía laparoscópica, cirugía que se pudo realizar sin inconvenientes. Una vez extirpado el espécimen, se fue a estudio histopatológico en el que tras un mapeo vesicular se concluye NPIC, colecistitis crónica inespecífica, colesterolosis y pólipos colesterínicos. El paciente ha evolucionado sin inconvenientes. Presentamos un caso de NPIC en un paciente joven, cuyo diagnóstico fue confirmado por anatomía patológica tras una colecistectomía electiva, descartándose la presencia de carcinoma invasivo y displasia de alto grado, por lo que el pronóstico es favorable.

Intracholecystic papillary neoplasm (ICPN) is a tumor composed of pre-invasive neoplastic cells, with up to 1.0 cm clinically detectable masses. The objective of this study was to report a case of NPIC and review the evidence in the literature. A 33-year-old asymptomatic male patient had an abdominal ultrasonography during a health examination, in which a vesicular polyp lesion of 32 x 19 mm in diameter was verified. Thepatient was subsequently scheduled for elective cholecystectomy, which was performed laparoscopically and the surgery was uneventful. Once removed, the specimen was studied histopathologically and after performing vesicular mapping, we determined an ICPN, chronic non-specific cholecystitis, cholesteroliasis and cholesteric polyps. The patient has evolved without reported problems. We present a case of ICPN in a young patient, whose diagnosis was confirmed by pathological anatomy after an elective cholecystectomy, ruling out the presence of invasive carcinoma and high-grade dysplasia, with a favorable prognosis.