The physical and psychosocial impact of a school-based running programme for adolescents with disabilities.

BACKGROUND: Adolescents with disabilities have fewer opportunities to participate in community-based fitness programmes. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of a school-based running programme at a local middle school in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, on fitness and quality of life (QoL) in children with physical and cognitive disabilities in a life-skills classroom. METHODS: Nineteen adolescents with diagnosed disabilities including intellectual disability (ID), autism spectrum disorder and Down syndrome were recruited from three life-skills classrooms to participate in a school-based running programme. The programme was designed to be implemented two times/week for 6 weeks by classroom teachers/aides. Physical therapy faculty and students developed the programme and assisted with implementation. Each session lasted 30 min, consisting of a warm-up and cooldown, relay races, games and timed runs. Pre- and post-test measures included physiological cost index (PCI) and Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ (PedsQL™). Pre- and post-test data were compared using Wilcoxon signed rank tests. Each week participants also completed a training log to reflect on the activity for the day. RESULTS: Participants demonstrated significant improvements in PCI (P = 0.028) and the PedsQL™ (P = 0.008) following the running programme. CONCLUSIONS: Results of this study suggest that participation in a 6-week school-based running programme may improve fitness and QoL in adolescents with disabilities.

Assessing the use of minimally invasive self-sampling at home for long-term monitoring of the microbiota within UK families.

Monitoring the presence of commensal and pathogenic respiratory microorganisms is of critical global importance. However, community-based surveillance is difficult because nasopharyngeal swabs are uncomfortable and painful for a wide age range of participants. We designed a methodology for minimally invasive self-sampling at home and assessed its use for longitudinal monitoring of the oral, nasal and hand microbiota of adults and children within families. Healthy families with two adults and up to three children, living in and near Liverpool, United Kingdom, self-collected saliva, nasal lining fluid using synthetic absorptive matrices and hand swabs at home every two weeks for six months. Questionnaires were used to collect demographic and epidemiological data and assess feasibility and acceptability. Participants were invited to take part in an exit interview. Thirty-three families completed the study. Sampling using our approach was acceptable to 25/33 (76%) families, as sampling was fast (76%), easy (76%) and painless (60%). Saliva and hand sampling was acceptable to all participants of any age, whereas nasal sampling was accepted mostly by adults and children older than 5 years. Multi-niche self-sampling at home can be used by adults and children for longitudinal surveillance of respiratory microorganisms, providing key data for design of future studies.

A Network-DEA model to evaluate the impact of quality and access on hospital performance.

The relationship between efficiency, quality, and access in healthcare is far from being well defined. In particular, there is no consensus on whether there is a trade-off between hospital performance and its social dimensions, such as the care appropriateness, safety, and access to proper health care. This study proposes a new approach based on the Network Data Envelopment Analysis (NDEA) to evaluate the existence of potential trade-offs between efficiency, quality, and access. The aim is to contribute for the heated debate around this topic with a novel approach. The suggested methodology combines a NDEA model with the weak disposability of outputs to handle with undesirable outputs related to the poor quality of care or the lack of access to appropriate and safe care. This combination results in a more realistic approach that has not yet been used to investigate this topic. We utilised data of the Portuguese National Health Service from 2016 to 2019, with four models and nineteen variables selected to quantify the efficiency, quality, and access to public hospital care in Portugal. A baseline efficiency score was calculated and compared with the performance scores obtained under two hypothetical scenarios to quantify the impact of each quality/access-related dimension on efficiency. The first scenario considers that each variable, individually, is at its best situation (for example, absence of septicaemia cases), and the second one, at its worst (e.g., all seen inpatients had a septicaemia case). The findings suggest that there might exist meaningful trade-offs between efficiency, quality, and access. Most variables exhibited a considerable and negative impact on the overall hospital efficiency. That is, we may expect a trade-off between efficiency and quality/access.

Southern ocean carbon and heat impact on climate.

The Southern Ocean greatly contributes to the regulation of the global climate by controlling important heat and carbon exchanges between the atmosphere and the ocean. Rates of climate change on decadal timescales are therefore impacted by oceanic processes taking place in the Southern Ocean, yet too little is known about these processes. Limitations come both from the lack of observations in this extreme environment and its inherent sensitivity to intermittent processes at scales that are not well captured in current Earth system models. The Southern Ocean Carbon and Heat Impact on Climate programme was launched to address this knowledge gap, with the overall objective to understand and quantify variability of heat and carbon budgets in the Southern Ocean through an investigation of the key physical processes controlling exchanges between the atmosphere, ocean and sea ice using a combination of observational and modelling approaches. Here, we provide a brief overview of the programme, as well as a summary of some of the scientific progress achieved during its first half. Advances range from new evidence of the importance of specific processes in Southern Ocean ventilation rate (e.g. storm-induced turbulence, sea-ice meltwater fronts, wind-induced gyre circulation, dense shelf water formation and abyssal mixing) to refined descriptions of the physical changes currently ongoing in the Southern Ocean and of their link with global climate. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Heat and carbon uptake in the Southern Ocean: the state of the art and future priorities'.

DNA methylation differences in monozygotic twins with Van der Woude syndrome.

Introduction: Van der Woude Syndrome (VWS) is an autosomal dominant disorder responsible for 2% of all syndromic orofacial clefts (OFCs) with IRF6 being the primary causal gene (70%). Cases may present with lip pits and either cleft lip, cleft lip with cleft palate, or cleft palate, with marked phenotypic discordance even among individuals carrying the same mutation. This suggests that genetic or epigenetic modifiers may play additional roles in the syndrome's etiology and variability in expression. We report the first DNA methylation profiling of 2 pairs of monozygotic twins with VWS. Our goal is to explore epigenetic contributions to VWS etiology and variable phenotypic expressivity by comparing DNAm profiles in both twin pairs. While the mutations that cause VWS in these twins are known, the additional mechanism behind their phenotypic risk and variability in expression remains unclear. Methods: We generated whole genome DNAm data for both twin pairs. Differentially methylated positions (DMPs) were selected based on: (1) a coefficient of variation in DNAm levels in unaffected individuals < 20%, and (2) intra-twin pair absolute difference in DNAm levels >5% (delta beta > | 0.05|). We then divided the DMPs in two subgroups for each twin pair for further analysis: (1) higher methylation levels in twin A (Twin A > Twin B); and (2) higher methylation levels in twin B (Twin B >Twin A). Results and Discussion: Gene ontology analysis revealed a list of enriched genes that showed significant differential DNAm, including clef-associated genes. Among the cleft-associated genes, TP63 was the most significant hit (p=7.82E-12). Both twin pairs presented differential DNAm levels in CpG sites in/near TP63 (Twin 1A > Twin 1B and Twin 2A < Twin 2B). The genes TP63 and IRF6 function in a biological regulatory loop to coordinate epithelial proliferation and differentiation in a process that is critical for palatal fusion. The effects of the causal mutations in IRF6 can be further impacted by epigenetic dysregulation of IRF6 itself, or genes in its pathway. Our data shows evidence that changes in DNAm is a plausible mechanism that can lead to markedly distinct phenotypes, even among individuals carrying the same mutation.

Time series analysis of in-hospital maternal case fatality ratio in the postpartum period according to pregnancy risks and route of delivery in the regions of Brazil, 2010-2019. / Análise temporal da letalidade materna hospitalar no pós-parto segundo risco gestacional e via de parto, nas regiões do Brasil, 2010-2019.

OBJECTIVE: to analyze in-hospital maternal case fatality ratio in the postpartum period according to pregnancy risks and route of delivery, within the Brazilian National Health System, Brazil and macro-regions, 2010-2019. METHODS: this was an ecological time-series study, using data from the Hospital Information System; in-hospital maternal case fatality ratio in the postpartum period took into consideration maternal hospitalizations with outcome 'death' over the total number of hospitalizations per year, according to pregnancy risks and route of delivery, in the regions. RESULTS: there were 19,158,167 hospitalizations for childbirth and 5,110 deaths in the period analyzed; maternal case fatality ratio increased from 1.1 (2010) to 1.9 death/10,000 hospitalizations (2019), in usual-risk pregnancies after vaginal deliveries, and decreased from 10.5 (2010) to 7.0 deaths/10,000 hospitalizations (2019) in high-risk pregnancies after cesarean sections; the Midwest region presented the highest and the South region the lowest case fatality ratio for high-risk pregnancies. CONCLUSION: in-hospital case fatality ratio was higher for high-risk pregnancies, showing differences according to route of delivery and regions.

Time series analysis of Postpartum maternal lethality according to pregnancy risk and the mode of delivery in regions of Brazil, 2010-2019 / Análisis de series temporales de letalidad materna posparto según riesgo gestacional y forma de parto en regiones del Brasil, 2010-2019 / Análise temporal da letalidade materna hospitalar no pós-parto segundo risco gestacional e via de parto, nas regiões do Brasil, 2010-2019

Objective: to analyze temporal series of postpartum maternal lethality according to gestational risk and mode of delivery by the Unified Health System in Brazil and regions, 2010-2019. Methods: ecological time series study with data from the Hospital Information System; the hospital postpartum maternal lethality rate considered maternal hospitalizations with hospital discharge due to death, by the total hospitalizations, per year according to gestational risk and mode of delivery, in the regions of Brazil. Results: there were 19.158.167 admissions for childbirth and 5.110 deaths in the period; maternal lethality rose from 1.10 in 2010 to 1.9 deaths/10.000 in 2019 in low-risk pregnancies after vaginal deliveries and decreased from 10,5 to 7,0 deaths/10.000 in high-risk pregnancies after cesarean sections; Midwest expressed the highest and the South the lowest fatality rate for high-risk pregnancies. Conclusion: Hospital lethality was higher in high-risk pregnancies, with differences according to mode of delivery and regions of Brazil.

Objetivo: analizar la letalidad materna hospitalaria posparto según riesgo gestacional y modalidad de parto por el Sistema Único de Salud en Brasil y regiones, 2010-2019. Métodos: estudio de serie temporal ecológica con datos del Sistema de Información Hospitalario; la tasa de letalidad materna hospitalaria posparto consideró las hospitalizaciones maternas con resultado de muerte, por el total de hospitalizaciones por año. Resultados: hubo 19.158.167 admisiones por parto y 5.110 óbitos en el período; la letalidad materna aumentó de 1,10 (2010) a 1,9 muertes/10.000 (2019) en embarazos de riesgo habitual posparto vaginal y disminuyó de 10,5 a 7,0 muertes/10.000 en embarazos de alto riesgo después de cesáreas; Medio Oeste expresó la tasa de letalidad más alta y el Sur la más baja para embarazos de alto riesgo. Conclusión: la letalidad hospitalaria fue mayor en los embarazos de alto riesgo, con diferencias según el modo de parto y las regiones de Brasil.

Objetivo: analisar a letalidade materna hospitalar pós-parto segundo risco gestacional e via de parto, no Sistema Único de Saúde, Brasil e regiões nacionais, 2010-2019. Métodos: estudo ecológico de série temporal, com dados do Sistema de Informações Hospitalares; a taxa de letalidade materna hospitalar pós-parto considerou internações maternas com desfecho 'óbito' sobre o total de internações/ano, segundo risco gestacional e via de parto, nas regiões. Resultados: foram 19.158.167 internações para parto e 5.110 óbitos no período analisado; a letalidade materna subiu de 1,1 (2010) para 1,9 óbitos/10 mil internações (2019), em gestações de risco habitual após partos vaginais, e reduziu-se de 10,5 (2010) para 7,0 óbitos/10 mil internações (2019) em gestações de alto risco após cesarianas; Centro-Oeste expressou a maior e Sul a menor taxa de letalidade para gestações de alto risco. Conclusão: a letalidade hospitalar foi maior em gestações de alto risco, com diferenças segundo via de parto e regiões.

Parent-reported toothbrushing behaviour in the Portuguese preschool population.

PURPOSE: Study toothbrushing behaviours and associated factors in a Portuguese preschool population. METHODS: The study population was the parents of children attending Portuguese kindergartens. The data on sociodemographic and toothbrushing behaviours, at home and at school, were collected by an online questionnaire. The data analysis was performed using Chi-square, Fisher, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests (α = 0.05). RESULTS: The sample included 711 parents. Most of the children brushed their teeth at home at least twice-a-day (65.3%), with the help of an adult (62.9%). The majority of the children did not brush their teeth at school (71.2%); however, only 9.9% of the parents reported that they don't/wouldn't authorise it. Considering both toothbrushing, at home and at school, 75% of the children brushed their teeth twice-a-day. However, only 7.8% of the children performed all the correct toothbrushing related procedures. Toothbrushing at school was more frequent in private kindergartens (p < 0.001). A higher level of education was associated with non-authorisation of toothbrushing at school (p = 0.019) and with performing the correct toothbrushing related procedures (p = 0.007). Attending an oral health professional appointment was also associated with performing the correct toothbrushing related procedures (p = 0.005). CONCLUSION: Toothbrushing twice-a-day was frequent in the studied population, however, the percentage of children who brushed at school was low, as well as the percentage of children who performed all the correct toothbrushing related procedures. Toothbrushing at school was more likely in private kindergartens. Performing correct toothbrushing related procedures was more frequent in children who had a previous oral health appointment and whose parents had a higher education level.

First report and biological characteristics of Heterorhabditis amazonensis in the state of Paraná, Brazil.

Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) from Heterorhabditidae and Steinernematidae families are extensively used to control insect pests. In Brazil, however, relatively few studies have identified and characterized these entomopathogens. The objective of this study was to identify and characterize an EPN isolate obtained from soil samples collected in the state of Paraná, Brazil. An isolate (UEL 08) of Heterorhabditis was detected in a soil sample collected from a pasture area cultivated with Brachiaria grass in Londrina, state of Paraná, Brazil (23°34'311''S, 050°58'298''W), using the insect-baiting technique with Galleria mellonella larvae as hosts. The nematode was identified through morphometric studies and molecular analyses based on amplification of the rDNA ITS region. Although we identified certain morphometric differences compared with the original description, the molecular data indicated that the ITS sequence obtained for the UEL 08 isolate is identical to the reference sequence of H. amazonensis (DQ665222) and presented 100% similarity. Thus, the findings of our morphological and molecular studies confirmed that the isolated nematode is H. amazonensis, which is the first time this species has been registered in Paraná. Study of the biological characteristics of H. amazonensis (UEL 08) revealed that the isolate has two distinct life cycles - one short (216 h) and the other long (288 h) - and produces two generations in both cycles. We observed that H. amazonensis (UEL 8) was pathogenic and virulent to the three evaluated hosts, although with different virulence against these hosts. The larvae of G. mellonella and Alphitobius diaperinus were more susceptible than adult Dichelops (Diacereus) melacanthus, with 100%, 85%, and 46% mortality, respectively. Furthermore, an in vivo production assay revealed a mean daily yield of 3.4 × 103 infective juveniles/g host larvae.

Maternal mortality in South region of Brazil: an analysis from 2000 to 2018.

This study characterises maternal mortality in southern Brazil and verifies its trends between 2000 and 2018. It is an ecological time-series study, analysing secondary data from the Department of Informatics of the Unified Health System. The trend of the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) was calculated using generalised linear regression, and the ratios of the rates according to women's characteristics, with a confidence interval (CI) of 95%. The MMR in the South region went from 53.4 to 36.8 deaths per 100,000 live births from 2000 to 2018, a reduction trend of 1.2 percentage points per year. Mortality was directly related to increasing age (p < .001) and inversely related to schooling (p < .001) and predominated in non-white women (p < .001). The main cause of death was direct causes, including hypertensive disorders. Despite the reduction trend in maternal mortality in southern Brazil, the MMR observed is constantly above the recommended by the World Health Organisation.Impact StatementWhat is already known on this subject? The Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) is an indicator that allows an analysis of women's health in relation to the socio-economic and care characteristics of the region where they live. Between 2000 and 2015, Brazil had presented a high MMR, with around 50 deaths per 100,000 live births, while WHO considers a reasonably adequate MMR of fewer than 20 deaths per 100,000 live births.What do the results of this study add? This study updates data about MMR in the Southern Region of Brazil, the one which has the lowest rates in the country, but with variable values between the states. There was a reduction in MMR in southern Brazil between 2000 and 2018 but higher rates for women over 30 years old and in a situation of social vulnerability, as low-income and non-white women. Santa Catarina State presented stable values in the period and remained below the RMM averages of the other states during all years.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Comparing previous and current Maternal Mortality Rates in the regional context is important to adapt public health policies for the most affected population. Maternal death is still a reality for single and low-income women, who have greater difficulty in access to health care. Strategies in the Unified Health System are needed to tackle this problem.

Increment of Maternal Mortality Among Admissions for Childbirth in Low-risk Pregnant Women in Brazil: Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic?

OBJECTIVE: To assess the possible impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal mortality among admissions for childbirth in 2020 in relation of the last 10 years. METHODS: An ecological study with pregnant women who underwent hospital births at the Brazilian unified public health service (SUS, in the Portuguese acronym) in Brazil from 2010 to 2020. The mortality among admissions for childbirth was obtained based on the number of admissions for childbirth with reported death as outcome divided by the total number of admissions. The underlying gestational risk and route of delivery were considered based on the national surveillance system. The average mortality for the period between 2010 and 2019 (baseline) was compared with the rate of deaths in 2020 (1st pandemic year); the rate ratio was interpreted as the risk of death in 2020 in relation to the average of the previous period (RR), with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: In 2020, the 1st year of the COVID-19 pandemic, 1,821,775 pregnant women were hospitalized for childbirth and 651 deaths were reported, which represents 8.7% of the total hospitalizations and 11.3% of maternal deaths between 2010 and 2020. There was an increase in maternal mortality after births in 2020 compared with the average for the period between 2010 and 2019, specially in low-risk pregnancies, both in vaginal (RR = 1.60; 95%CI:1.39-1.85) and cesarean births (RR = 1.18; 95%CI:1.04-1.34). CONCLUSION: Maternal mortality among admissions for childbirth according to SUS data increased in 2020 compared with the average between 2010 and 2019, with an increment of 40% in low-risk pregnancies. The increase was of 18% after cesarean section and of 60% after vaginal delivery.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar os possíveis impactos da pandemia de COVID-19 na mortalidade materna nas admissões para o parto em 2020 em relação ao histórico dos últimos 10 anos. MéTODOS: Estudo ecológico com gestantes que realizaram parto hospitalar pelo Sistema Unificado de Saúde do Brasil (SUS) de 2010 a 2020. Para obter-se a taxa de mortalidade entre as admissões para o parto, foi utilizado o número de internações para parto que tiveram óbito como desfecho dividido pelo total de internações. O risco gestacional e o tipo de parto foram considerados a partir do sistema de vigilância nacional. A média de mortalidade no período de 2010 a 2019 (linha de base) foi comparada com a taxa de mortalidade pós-parto de 2020 (1° ano pandêmico); a razão das taxas foi interpretada como risco de óbito em 2020 em relação à média no período anterior (RR), com intervalo de confiança (IC) de 95%. RESULTADOS: Em 2020, 1° ano da pandemia de COVID-19, 1.821.775 gestantes foram internadas para o parto e 651 óbitos foram registrados, o que representa 8,7% do total de internações e 11,3% das mortes maternas entre 2010 e 2020. Houve aumento na mortalidade materna após partos em 2020 em relação à média do período entre 2010 e 2019, especialmente em gestações de baixo risco, tanto em partos normais (RR = 1.60; IC95%: 1.39­185) quanto em cesáreas (RR = 1.18; IC95%: 1.04­1.34). CONCLUSãO: A mortalidade entre as admissões para o parto pelo SUS aumentou em 2020 em relação à média de óbitos entre 2010 e 2019, com um incremento de 40% em mulheres de baixo risco gestacional. O aumento verificado foi de 18% após cesárea e de 60% após parto vaginal.

Hospitalization due to abortion in Brazil, 2008-2018: an ecological time-series study. / Internações por aborto no Brasil, 2008-2018: estudo ecológico de série temporal.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the temporal trend of hospitalizations caused by abortion in Brazil between 2008-2018, according to region and federal units (FU). METHODS: Ecological study concerning hospitalizations due to abortion of women of childbearing age, from Hospital Information System data. The rates were calculated according the characteristics of women. The trend was assessed by Prais-Winsten generalized linear regression. RESULTS: The 2,258,104 hospitalizations due to abortion represent 5% of all hospitalizations in women of childbearing age. Hospitalizations for abortions in Brazil reduced 0.76 in the period; this trend occurred in 19 Brazilian FUs and all regions, except the South (stable). There was a significant reduction (p<0.001) in hospitalizations for spontaneous abortion and in admissions for abortion in women aged 20 to 39 years. CONCLUSION: A temporal trend of reduction in the hospitalizations due to abortion in Brazil was found, variating according to characteristics of the woman, FU and region of residence.

Abortion hospitalization in Brazil, 2008-2018: temporal trends ecological study / Hospitalizaciones de aborto en Brasil, 2008-2018: estudio ecológico serie temporal / Internações por aborto no Brasil, 2008-2018: estudo ecológico de série temporal

Objective: To analyze the temporal trend of hospitalizations caused by abortion in Brazil between 2008-2018, according to Region and federal units (FU). Methods: Ecological study concerning hospitalizations due to abortion of women of childbearing age, from Hospital Information System data. The rates were calculated according the characteristics of women. The trend was assessed by Prais-Winsten generalized linear regression. Results: The 2,258,104 hospitalizations due to abortion 4 represent 5% of all hospitalizations in women of childbearing age. Hospitalizations for abortions in Brazil reduced 0.76 in the period; this trend occurred in 19 Brazilian FUs and all regions, except the South (stable). There was a significant reduction (p<0.001) in hospitalizations for spontaneous abortion and in admissions for abortion in women aged 20 to 39 years. Conclusion: A temporal trend of reduction in the hospitalizations due to abortion in Brazil was found, variating according to characteristics of the woman, FU and Region of residence.

Objetivo: Analizar la tendencia temporal de las hospitalizaciones por aborto en Brasil de 2008-2018, según región y unidad federativa. Métodos: Estudio ecológico con datos sobre hospitalizaciones por aborto de mujeres en edad fértil del Sistema de Información Hospitalaria. Las tasas se calcularon según las características de la mujer y la tendencia se evaluó mediante regresión lineal generalizada de Prais-Winsten. Resultados: Las 2.258.104 hospitalizaciones por aborto representan el 5% de todas las hospitalizaciones en mujeres en edad fértil. Hubo una reducción significativa de 0,76 puntos porcentuales por año; esta tendencia ocurrió en 19 UF brasileñas y en todas las regiones, excepto en el Sur (estable). Hubo una reducción significativa (p<0,001) en las hospitalizaciones por aborto espontáneo y en mujeres de 20 a 39 años. Conclusión: El estudio mostró una tendencia a reducir las hospitalizaciones por aborto en Brasil, con variaciones según características de la mujer, UF y Región de residencia

Objetivo: Analisar a tendência temporal das internações por aborto no Brasil, de 2008 a 2018, segundo região e Unidades da Federação (UF). Métodos: Estudo ecológico, com dados de internações por aborto de mulheres em idade fértil registrados no Sistema de Informações Hospitalares/Sistema Único de Saúde (SIH/SUS). As taxas foram calculadas segundo características da mulher; e a tendência, avaliada por regressão linear generalizada de Prais-Winsten.  Resultados: As 2.258.104 internações por aborto representaram 5% de todas as internações de mulheres em idade fértil. Houve redução significativa, de 0,76 pontos percentuais ao ano, no período. Essa tendência ocorreu em 19 UFs brasileiras e em todas as regiões, exceto a Sul (estável). Houve redução significativa (p-valor<0,001) nas internações por aborto espontâneo e nas internações de mulheres de 20 a 39 anos. Conclusão: Observou-se tendência de redução das internações por aborto no país, com variações segundo características da mulher, UF e região de residência.

Effect of heat stable carbetocin vs oxytocin for preventing postpartum haemorrhage on post delivery hemoglobin-a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of heat-stable carbetocin 100 µg IM versus oxytocin 10 IU IM on post-delivery hemoglobin level. SETTING: Hospital based study in Southern India. POPULATION: Women delivering vaginally who were enrolled in the WHO CHAMPION trial in a single facility in India. WHO CHAMPION Trial was a randomized, double-blind, noninferiority trial comparing intramuscular injections of heat-stable carbetocin with oxytocin administered immediately after vaginal birth in women across 23 sites in 10 countries. METHODS: This was a nested randomized controlled trial designed to compare the effect of heat-stable carbetocin 100 µg IM versus oxytocin 10 IU IM, administered within one minute of vaginal delivery of the baby for prevention of postpartum hemorrhage, on post-delivery 48-72 h hemoglobin level, adjusted for pre-delivery hemoglobin level. 1,799 women from one hospital in India participated in this study. RESULTS: Pre-delivery hemoglobin and postpartum blood loss were not significantly different between carbetocin and oxytocin. Post-delivery hemoglobin, unadjusted or adjusted for pre-delivery hemoglobin, was slightly lower for carbetocin (10.09 g/dL) compared to oxytocin (10.21) (p value of 0.0432). The drop in hemoglobin was slightly higher for carbetocin, although the difference was very small (1.2 g/dL for carbetocin, 1.1 g/dL for oxytocin) (p value of .0786). The proportion of participants with a drop in hemoglobin of 2 g/dL or more, adjusted for pre-delivery hemoglobin, was higher for carbetocin (RR = 1.29, 95% CI 1.02-1.63). From the regression coefficients it can be derived that post-delivery hemoglobin, adjusted for pre-delivery hemoglobin, decreases on average 0.12 g/dL for each dL of blood lost, for the two treatments combined. CONCLUSION: The present ancillary study showed that intramuscular administration of 100 µg of heat stable carbetocin can result in a slightly lower post-delivery hemoglobin, slightly higher drop and higher percentage of women having a drop of 2 g/dL or larger, compared to 10 IU of oxytocin.

Portuguese adaptation of the S3-non-invasive ventilation (S3-NIV) questionnaire for home mechanically ventilated patients.

Short, valid and easy to use tools are needed to monitor non-invasive ventilation in clinical practice and for organization of home mechanical ventilation services. The aim of this study was to develop a professional translation and cultural adaptation of the Portuguese S3 non-invasive ventilation questionnaire. 234 stable patients (128 male patients, 53.8%) with a mean age of 69.3 years under long-term home non-invasive ventilation were recruited from a single-center outpatient clinic. The most frequent diagnostic groups were obesity hypoventilation syndrome, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and restrictive chest wall disorders. The Portuguese version of the questionnaire was obtained using translation back-translation process with two professional translators. Internal consistency for the total score was good (Cronbach's α coefficient of 0.76) as well as for the "respiratory symptoms" and the "sleep and side effects" domains (Cronbach's α coefficient=0.68 and Cronbach's α coefficient=0.72, respectively). An exploratory factor analysis was performed leading to an explained variance of 54.6%, and resulted in 3 components. The Portuguese version of the S3-NIV questionnaire is a simple and valid tool for the routine clinical assessment of patients receiving home NIV.

[D-CBP study: Evaluation of lung cancer management times]. / Étude D-CBP : Évaluation des délais de prise en charge du cancer broncho- pulmonaire au sein du service de Pneumologie et d'Oncologie Thoracique du CHU de Caen.

INTRODUCTION: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death. Delays may have an impact on patient survival. The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic and therapeutic management times for patients admitted for lung cancer treatment in the Respiratory Department of CHU de Caen Normandie. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective, single-center and observational study, conducted on all patients treated for lung cancer from June 2017 to January 2018 in our department of pneumology in the Caen Normandie CHU. The main median times were investigated were: Global Time (abnormal imaging-treatment), Diagnosis time (abnormal imaging-diagnosis) and Treatment Time (diagnosis-treatment). RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-seven (127) patients were included. Median global time was 55.5 days [31,25; 393], median diagnosis time was 22 days [13; 49], and median treatment time was 24.5 days [12,25; 45]. DISCUSSION: Our treatment times are consistent with those previously published. Areas for improvement are being developed in accordance with the 2014-2019 cancer plan, in particularly the creation in our institution of a specific care pathway for patients with lung cancer.

Natural history of subaortic stenosis in 166 dogs (1999-2011).

INTRODUCTION: Subaortic stenosis (SAS) is one of the most common congenital cardiac diseases in dogs. The objective of this study was to provide survival times on a large population of dogs with SAS and to propose a redefined pressure gradient (PG) scale to include a mild, moderate, severe and very severe disease group. ANIMALS, MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dogs were divided into four groups based on the Doppler-derived PG across the stenosis. Disease severity was defined as follows: mild = PG < 50 mmHg; moderate = PG range 50-80 mmHg; severe = PG range 80-130 mmHg; and very severe = PG > 130 mmHg. Over the study period (1999-2011), 166 client-owned dogs were diagnosed with SAS of which 129 had follow-up information available. RESULTS: Unadjusted median survival time for severity groups were as follows: mild 10.6 years; moderate 9.9 years; severe 7.3 years; and very severe 3.0 years. Univariable analysis examining the effect of the PG, age at diagnosis and sex found only the PG and age at diagnosis had a significant effect on survival. Adjusted survival curves showed that the survival time in the very severe group was decreased compared with all other groups. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this study, a revised SAS classification system with four PG groups is appropriate. Dogs with a PG > 130 mmHg were identified as those with the lowest median survival time.

COVID-19 challenges: From SARS-CoV-2 infection to effective point-of-care diagnosis by electrochemical biosensing platforms.

In January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) identified a new zoonotic virus, SARS-CoV-2, responsible for causing the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019). Since then, there has been a collaborative trend between the scientific community and industry. Multidisciplinary research networks try to understand the whole SARS-CoV-2 pathophysiology and its relationship with the different grades of severity presented by COVID-19. The scientific community has gathered all the data in the quickly developed vaccines that offer a protective effect for all variants of the virus and promote new diagnostic alternatives able to have a high standard of efficiency, added to shorter response analysis time and portability. The industry enters in the context of accelerating the path taken by science until obtaining the final product. In this review, we show the principal diagnostic methods developed during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, when we observe the diagnostic tools section of an efficient infection outbreak containment report and the features required for such tools, we could observe a highlight of electrochemical biosensing platforms. Such devices present a high standard of analytical performance, are low-cost tools, easy to handle and interpret, and can be used in the most remote and low-resource regions. Therefore, probably, they are the ideal point-of-care diagnostic tools for pandemic scenarios.