Detect coastal disturbances and climate change effects in coralligenous community through sentinel stations.

This study was implemented to assess the Sessile Bioindicators in Permanent Quadrats (SBPQ) underwater environmental alert method. The SBPQ is a non-invasive and low-cost protocol; it uses sessile target species (indicators) to detect environmental alterations (natural or anthropic) at either the local or global (i.e., climate change) scale and the intrusion of invasive species. The SBPQ focuses on the monitoring of preselected sessile and sensitive benthic species associated with rocky coralligenous habitats using permanent quadrats in underwater sentinel stations. The selected target species have been well documented as bioindicators that disappear in the absence of environmental stability. However, whether these species are good indicators of stability or, in contrast, suffer variations in long-term coverage has not been verified. The purpose of this study was to assess the part of the method based on the hypothesis that, over a long temporal series in a highly structured and biodiverse coralligenous assemblage, the cover of sensitive sessile species does not change over time if the environmental stability characterising the habitat is not altered. Over a ten-year period (2005-2014), the sublittoral sessile biota in the Straits of Gibraltar Natural Park on the southern Iberian Peninsula was monitored at a 28 m-deep underwater sentinel stations. Analyses of the coverages of target indicator species (i.e., Paramuricea clavata and Astroides calycularis) together with other accompanying sessile organisms based on the periodic superimposition of gridded images from horizontal and vertical rocky surfaces allowed us to assess the effectiveness of the method. We conclude that no alterations occurred during the study period; only minimal fluctuations in cover were detected, and the method is reliable for detecting biological changes in ecosystems found in other geographical areas containing the chosen indicator species at similar dominance levels.

Popliteal venous aneurysms: results of surgical treatment.

BACKGROUND: Popliteal venous aneurysms are an uncommon clinical entity although they have been the subject of a number of published clinical cases. Herein we have conducted an updated review of reports of these aneurysms while also describing our own experience with 4 such cases over the last 10 years. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted on MEDLINE and Embase concerning popliteal venous aneurysms. We collected all information mentioned associated with their clinical morphology, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. The patients included consisted of all those from the literature reports for whom the presence of an aneurysm in the popliteal region was described, plus the 4 cases in our own series. RESULTS: The most significant contribution was made by Sessa et al. in 2000, who recommended that this disorder be actively searched for in conventional echo-Doppler studies and, once detected, surgical repair should be undertaken by tangential aneurysmectomy with lateral venorrhaphy to prevent repeat pulmonary embolisms. In conjunction with their series, we reviewed other publications over the last 10 years to determine whether these recommendations have undergone any changes based on the new findings. We found 91 cases in addition to the 117 cases described by Sessa and colleagues as well as the 4 contributed by our group. Most of these cases do not present any specific symptomatology and are discovered by chance via echo Doppler. They are sometimes detected as a palpable mass in the popliteal fossa, with a tendency toward growth, venous thrombosis, and repeat pulmonary embolisms. Phlebography is usually left to preoperative study, and NMR and CAT are rarely used. The objective of surgical treatment is to eliminate the aneurysm while maintaining venous drainage to the limb, with the technique employed most often being tangential aneurysmectomy with lateral venorrhaphy. There are very few postoperative complications and relapses are rare. CONCLUSIONS: The most recent publications confirm the recommendations made by Sessa et al. more than 10 years ago. Thus, no further changes should be made to the current approach to treatment of venous aneurysms.

Deceleration time of early filling in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction: functional and prognostic independent value.

BACKGROUND: Although diastolic function parameters have been mentioned as significant predictors of functional capacity and prognosis in patients with left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction, it has not been fully elucidated whether they keep an independent predictive value when multiple parameters from a wide variety of examinations are considered. METHODS: We prospectively studied 60 patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II-IV chronic heart failure symptoms and LV ejection fraction <0.4. At the time of entry into the study, demographic data and functional class were obtained, and usual Doppler echocardiographic, radionuclide ventriculographic, cardiopulmonary exercise testing and hemodynamic variables were determined. Deceleration time of early filling (DT) and NYHA functional class were the only independent predictors of functional capacity as assessed by means of peak oxygen uptake (peak VO2). Mean follow-up was 21 +/- 6 months, and event-free survival was defined as the absence of cardiac death, urgent cardiac transplantation, or hospital admission requiring inotropic or mechanical support. RESULTS: Multivariate Cox analysis showed that DT (P =.008), peak VO2 (P =.01), and NYHA class (P =.02) were independent predictors of event-free survival at 1 year. Patients in the lowest tertile of DT (<130 ms) had a significantly lower event-free survival than patients in the intermediate (44% vs 80%, P =.03) and in the highest tertile (44% vs 83%, P =.02). Patients with both a DT <130 milliseconds and a peak VO2 <14 mL/kg/min had the highest rate of events at 1 year (83% vs 22% for the remaining patients, relative risk 3.75, P <.001). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with LV systolic dysfunction, DT is a powerful independent predictor of functional capacity and prognosis among a wide variety of variables. A shortened DT (<130 ms) identifies a subgroup of patients with a worse outcome, especially when combined with a reduced peak VO2 (<14 mL/kg/min).

Diagnóstico de las masas pleuro-mediastino pulmonares mediante mediastinostomía y mediastinoscopia / Diagnosis of pleuro

Se analizaron los resultados obtenidos de las Mediastinostomías y Mediastinoscopias en 130 pacientes afectos de masas pleuro- mediastino- pulmonares clínica e imagenológicamente, en los hospitales de la provincia de Camagüey, desde junio 1997- julio 2000, los que fueron evaluados previamente por un grupo multidisciplinario creado al efecto en el Hospital "Amalia Simoni", donde siguiendo el protocolo diseñado se logró en el 99.23 por ciento de los casos obtener la tipificación y estadiamiento de la lesión, lo que permitió planificar una mejor conducta y manejo de estos pacientes(AU)

Diagnóstico de los procesos pleuro pulmonares y mediastinales por toracoscopia / Diagnosis of pleuro-pulmonary and mediastinal process for thoracoscopy

Analizamos los resultados obtenidos en 75 pacientes que se les realizó toracoscopia o pleuroscopia bajo visualización directa con la toma de la biopsia y otros procederes terapéuticos, en el Hospital Clínico Quirúrgico Docente Amalia Simoni de Camagüey desde junio 1997- julio 2000, todos los casos tenían el diagnóstico sugestivo por imagenología de proceso expansivo intratorácico con o sin derrames tabicados, además de otros como las neoplasias del esófago. Todos estos casos se evaluaron previamente por el grupo multidisciplinario creado al efecto en esta institución, que funciona bajo un protocolo investigativo, al lograr en el 100 por ciento de los pacientes la tipificación, estadiación del proceso, además de la terapéutica adecuada(AU)

Diagnóstico de los procesos pleuro - pulmonares y mediastinales por toracoscopia / Diagnosis of pleuro-pulmonary and mediastinal process for thoracoscopy

Analizamos los resultados obtenidos en 75 pacientes que se les realizó toracoscopia o pleuroscopia bajo visualización directa con la toma de la biopsia y otros procederes terapéuticos, en el Hospital Clínico Quirúrgico Docente Amalia Simoni de Camagüey desde junio 1997- julio 2000, todos los casos tenían el diagnóstico sugestivo por imagenología de proceso expansivo intratorácico con o sin derrames tabicados, además de otros como las neoplasias del esófago. Todos estos casos se evaluaron previamente por el grupo multidisciplinario creado al efecto en esta institución, que funciona bajo un protocolo investigativo, al lograr en el 100 % de los pacientes la tipificación, estadiación del proceso, además de la terapéutica adecuada.

We analized the results obtained from 78 patients who were performed thorascoscopy or pleuroscopy under direct visualization, taking biobsy and other therapeutic procedures an Amalia Simoni Clinical Hospital of Camagüey from June 1997 to July 200, all cases had th diganosis suggested by imaging of intratoracic expansive process, with or withoud septate overflows, together with others such as esophagus neoplasias. All these cases were previuosly evaluated by the multidisciplinary group created for this purpose in this institution which functions guided by a research protocol, archieving in 100 % of patients typification, process staging and adequate therapeuties.

Diagnóstico de las masas pleuro-mediastino pulmonares mediante mediastinostomía y mediastinoscopia / Diagnosis of pulmonary mass by pleuro-mediastinum mediastinostomy, and mediastinoscopy

Se analizaron los resultados obtenidos de las Mediastinostomías y Mediastinoscopias en 130 pacientes afectos de masas pleuro- mediastino- pulmonares clínica e imagenológicamente, en los hospitales de la provincia de Camagüey, desde junio 1997- julio 2000, los que fueron evaluados previamente por un grupo multidisciplinario creado al efecto en el Hospital Amalia Simoni, donde siguiendo el protocolo diseñado se logró en el 99, 23 % de los casos obtener la tipificación y estadiamiento de la lesión, lo que permitió planificar una mejor conducta y manejo de estos pacientes.

The results obtained in mediastinostomies and mediastinoscopies are analyzed in 130 patients with clinical and genological pleuro-mediastinum-pulmonary masses affected, in Camagüey city Hospitals from june 1997 to july 2000, which were evaluated previously by a multidisciplinary group created for this purpose at Amalia Simoni Hospital; it was archieved the attainment of typification and staging of lesion in 92, 23 % of cases which brought about a better behavior and management of patients.