Design of a Multi-Monochromatic X-ray Imager (MMI) for Kr K-shell line emission.

The Multi-Monochromatic X-ray Imager (MMI) is a time-gated spectrometer used in implosion experiments at the OMEGA laser facility. From the data, electron temperature and density spatial distributions can be obtained at different implosion times. Previous MMI designs used Ar K-shell emission (3-6 keV) as a spectroscopic tracer and provided a spectral resolution of around 20 eV. However, Ar K-shell line emission becomes less useful at electron temperatures above 2 keV due to over-ionization. Kr K-shell (12-16 keV) has been shown to be an attractive alternative to diagnose hot implosion cores in recent publications. The purpose of this paper is to show a new point design that allows the MMI to detect this higher photon energy range with suitable spectral resolution. The algorithm used to find the optimal design couples a ray-tracing code and an exhaustive parameter space search. This algorithm may be useful as a tool to find optimal MMI designs for other purposes, i.e., other spectral regions for other spectroscopic tracers. The main change between the two designs is the replacement of the multi-layer mirror with a flat Bragg Ge (220) crystal. The final Kr K-shell MMI design has a photon energy range from 12 to 16.1 keV.

Impacto de la anemia sobre la supervivencia de los pacientes intervenidos de cistectomía radical por tumor vesical / Impact of anemia on the survival of patients undergoing radical cystectomy for bladder cancer

OBJETIVO: Evaluar la prevalencia de anemia preoperatoria y su impacto sobre los resultados oncológicos de pacientes intervenidos de cistectomía radical (CR) por tumor vesical. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Estudio retrospectivo de 176 CR realizadas entre mayo de 2008 y julio de 2018 en un mismo centro. La anemia fue definida según los criterios de la OMS (hemoglobina < 130 mg/dl en hombres y < 120 mg/dl en mujeres). Mediante el método de Kaplan-Meier analizamos la supervivencia global, la supervivencia específica de cáncer y la supervivencia libre de recurrencia. Utilizamos la regresión logística multivariante para identificar los factores pronósticos de mortalidad global. RESULTADOS: Del total, 89 (50,6%) pacientes eran anémicos preoperatoriamente y 44 de ellos (49,4%) recibieron quimioterapia neoadyuvante. Los pacientes anémicos tuvieron un ASA mayor (ASA > 2: 54,6 vs. 27,5%, p = 0,003), más ectasia prequirúrgica (41,6 vs. 19,5%; p = 0,002), peor estadio patológico (pT > 2: 49,4 vs. 33,3%; p = 0,03), realizaron más quimioterapia neoadyuvante (49,4 vs. 19,5%; p < 0,001) y requirieron más transfusiones sanguíneas (25,8 vs. 11,5%; p = 0,015). La mediana de seguimiento fue de 27,2 meses (RIC 11,12-72,28). La supervivencia global (105 vs. 34 meses; p = 0,001), la supervivencia específica de cáncer (89 vs. 61 meses; p = 0,004) y la supervivencia libre de recurrencia (85 vs. 57 meses; p = 0,002) fueron peores en las CR anémicas. En el estudio multivariante, la anemia, un estadio pT > 2 y tener afectación ganglionar fueron identificados como factores predictores independientes de mortalidad. CONCLUSIÓN: La anemia previa a CR es común y asocia un peor pronóstico oncológico. Siendo esta una variable modificable, la implementación de programas de Patient Blood Management durante la prehabilitación puede tener un papel importante para mejorar la supervivencia de estos pacientes

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of preoperative anemia and its effect on oncological outcomes in patients undergoing radical cystectomy (RC) due to bladder cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective single-center study with 176 RCs between May 2008 and July 2018. Anemia was defined according to the WHO classification (male < 130 mg/dL, female < 120 mg/dL). Kaplan-Meier test was used to estimate recurrence-free, cancer-specific and overall survival rates. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with overall mortality rates. RESULTS: Overall, 89 (50.6%) patients had preoperative anemia, and 44 of them (49.4%) received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Anemic patients resulted in higher rates of ASA (ASA > 2: 54.6 vs. 27.5%; P = .003), ectasia rate previous to RC (41.6 vs. 19.5%; P = .002), treatment with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (49.4 vs. 19.5%; P < .001), blood transfusion rate (25.8 vs. 11.5%; P = .015) and pathological stage (pT > 2: 49.4 vs. 33.3%; P = .03) compared to non-anemic patients. Median follow-up was 27.2 months (IQR 11.12-72.28). Median overall survival (105 vs. 34 months, log-rank; P = .001), cancer-specific survival (89 vs. 61 months; P = .004) and recurrence-free survival (85 vs. 57 months; P = .002) were significantly lower in anemic patients compared to the non-anemic group. In multivariable Cox analysis, preoperative anemia, pT > 2 and N ≥ 1 were independently associated with overall mortality. CONCLUSION: Preoperative anemia was common in patients undergoing RC for bladder cancer, and it is related with a worse cancer prognosis. Anemia is a preoperative modifiable factor; we believe that the implementation of Patient Blood Management programs during prehabilitation may have a relevant role in improving the oncological outcomes in these patients

Impact of anemia on the survival of patients undergoing radical cystectomy for bladder cancer. / Impacto de la anemia sobre la supervivencia de los pacientes intervenidos de cistectomía radical por tumor vesical.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of preoperative anemia and its effect on oncological outcomes in patients undergoing radical cystectomy (RC) due to bladder cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective single-center study with 176 RCs between May 2008 and July 2018. Anemia was defined according to the WHO classification (male<130mg/dL, female<120mg/dL). Kaplan-Meier test was used to estimate recurrence-free, cancer-specific and overall survival rates. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with overall mortality rates. RESULTS: Overall, 89 (50.6%) patients had preoperative anemia, and 44 of them (49.4%) received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Anemic patients resulted in higher rates of ASA (ASA>2: 54.6 vs. 27.5%; P=.003), ectasia rate previous to RC (41.6 vs. 19.5%; P=.002), treatment with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (49.4 vs. 19.5%; P<.001), blood transfusion rate (25.8 vs. 11.5%; P=.015) and pathological stage (pT>2: 49.4 vs. 33.3%; P=.03) compared to non-anemic patients. Median follow-up was 27.2 months (IQR 11.12-72.28). Median overall survival (105 vs. 34 months, log-rank; P=.001), cancer-specific survival (89 vs. 61 months; P=.004) and recurrence-free survival (85 vs. 57 months; P=.002) were significantly lower in anemic patients compared to the non-anemic group. In multivariable Cox analysis, preoperative anemia, pT>2 and N≥1 were independently associated with overall mortality. CONCLUSION: Preoperative anemia was common in patients undergoing RC for bladder cancer, and it is related with a worse cancer prognosis. Anemia is a preoperative modifiable factor; we believe that the implementation of Patient Blood Management programs during prehabilitation may have a relevant role in improving the oncological outcomes in these patients.

SEOM clinical guideline of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and cancer (2019).

In 2011, the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM) first published a clinical guideline of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and cancer. This guideline was updated in 2014, and since then, multiple studies and clinical trials have changed the landscape of the treatment and prophylaxis of VTE in cancer patients. To incorporate the most recent evidence, including data from direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) randomized clinical trials, SEOM presents a new update of the guideline.

Haemolytic uraemic syndrome associated with gemcitabine

Haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) is a rare thromboembolic complication observed in patients with cancer. It is characterised by the clinical triad of acute renal failure, microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia and thrombocytopaenia. It may be associated with a variety of aetiologies, including chemotherapeutic agents such as mitomycin, cisplatin, bleomycin, 5-fluorouracil and, most recently, gemcitabine. We report a 70-year-old patient treated with gemcitabine who developed haemolytic uraemic syndrome (AU)

[Utilization of health services by febrile patients in a malaria transmission area in Mexico]. / Utilización de servicios de salud por febriles en un área de transmisión de paludismo en México.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze primary health care service (PHCS) utilization by febrile patients in a malarial area of Mexico. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in September, 1993, in 32 communities of Tabasco (decentralized health services) and Campeche (non-decentralized) states. Predictors of utilization were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: 817 febrile patients received care at home 55% of all febrile patients received care at home (SELF), 16.5% by PHCS and 17% by volunteer collaborators, with no significant differences in health services utilization between states. Febrile patients living in communities where PHCS was available used these facilities 11 times more than those without PHCS (C.I. 95%: 7.0-18.2%). Severely febrile patients used PHCS 2.8 times more than mild-moderate cases (C.I. 95%: 1.7-4.6%). Febrile patients under 13 years of age used PHCS 1.9 times more than older patients. Two per cent of febrile patients consisted of malaria cases. CONCLUSIONS: There was no difference between decentralized and non-decentralized health services regarding the utilization of PHCS. Fever symptoms must be evaluated as a single screening indicator of malarial disease.