Design and Evaluation of a Technological Platform for Monitoring Patients with Dementia: Unifying Requirements from Mexican Day Centers.

The monitoring of patients with dementia who receive comprehensive care in day centers allows formal caregivers to make better decisions and provide better care to patients. For instance, cognitive and physical therapies can be tailored based on the current stage of disease progression. In the context of day centers of the Mexican Federation of Alzheimer, this work aims to design and evaluate Alzaid, a technological platform for assisting formal caregivers in monitoring patients with dementia. Alzaid was devised using a participatory design methodology that consisted in eliciting and validating requirements from 22 and 9 participants, respectively, which were unified to guide the construction of a high-fidelity prototype evaluated by 14 participants. The participants were formal caregivers, medical staff, and management. This work contributes a high-fidelity prototype of a technological platform for assisting formal caregivers in monitoring patients with dementia considering restrictions and requirements of four Mexican day centers. In general, the participants perceived the prototype as quite likely to be useful, usable, and relevant in the job of monitoring patients with dementia (p-value < 0.05). By evaluating and designing Alzaid that unifies requirements for monitoring patients of four day centers, this work is the first effort towards a standard monitoring process of patients with dementia in the context of the Mexican Federation of Alzheimer.

Algorithm for phase extraction from a set of interferograms with arbitrary phase shifts.

The generalized analytical quadrature filter from a set of interferograms with arbitrary phase shifts is obtained. Both symmetrical and non symmetrical algorithms for any order are reported. The analytic expression is obtained through the convolution of a set of two-frame algorithms and expressed in terms of the combinatorial theory. Finally, the solution is applied to obtain several generalized tunable quadrature filters.

Design and evaluation of a dashboard to support the comprehension of the progression of patients with dementia in day centers.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: In day centers, people with dementia are assigned to specific groups to receive care according to the progression of the disease. This article presents the design and evaluation of a dashboard aimed at facilitating the comprehension of the progression of people with dementia to support decision-making of healthcare professionals (HCPs) when determining patient-group assignment. MATERIALS AND METHOD: A participatory design methodology was followed to build the dashboard. The grounded theory methodology was utilized to identify requirements. A total of 8 HCPs participated in the design and evaluation of a low-fidelity prototype. The perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use of the high-fidelity prototype was evaluated by 15 HCPs (from several day centers) and 38 psychology students utilizing a questionnaire based on the technology acceptance model. RESULTS: HCPs perceived the dashboard as extremely likely to be useful (Mdn=6.5 out of 7) and quite likely to be usable (Mdn=6 out of 7). Psychology students perceived the dashboard as quite likely to be useful and usable (both with Mdn=6). CONCLUSIONS: Making use of a participatory design helped foster in HCPs a sense of ownership of the dashboard, thus facilitating its acceptance. The creation of low-fidelity and high-fidelity prototypes led to identifying valuable, timely, and specific feedback at different stages of the development process as well as to establishing a set of lessons learned for the development of dashboards in the healthcare domain.

Two-frame algorithm to design quadrature filters in phase shifting interferometry.

The main purpose of this paper is to present a method to design tunable quadrature filters in phase shifting interferometry. From a general tunable two-frame algorithm introduced, a set of individual filters corresponding to each quadrature conditions of the filter is obtained. Then, through a convolution algorithm of this set of filters the desired symmetric quadrature filter is recovered. Finally, the method is applied to obtain several tunable filters, like four and five-frame algorithms.

A comparative case study of 2D, 3D and immersive-virtual-reality applications for healthcare education.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The workings of medical educational tools are implemented using a myriad of approaches ranging from presenting static content to immersing students in gamified virtual-reality environments. The objective of this paper is to explore whether and how different approaches for designing medical educational tools affect students' learning performance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four versions of an educational tool for the study of clinical cases were implemented: a 2D version, a gamified 2D version, a gamified 3D version, and a gamified immersive-virtual-reality version. All complying with the same functional requirements. Each version was used and evaluated by an independent group of students. The participants (n = 78) evaluated the applications regarding usefulness, usability, and gamification. Afterward, the students took an exam to assess the retention of information on the clinical cases presented. RESULTS: One-sample Wilcoxon signed-rank tests confirmed that the participants perceived that it was at least quite likely that gamification helped improved their learning. In addition, based on the participants' perception, the gamification of the immersive-virtual-reality version helped the most to improve their learning performance in comparison with the gamified 2D and 3D versions. CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of whether different versions of a medical educational tool (complying with the same functional requirements) are perceived as equally useful and usable, the design approach (either 2D, 3D, or immersive-virtual-reality with or without gamification) affects students' retention of information on clinical cases.

Design and evaluation of a mobile application for monitoring patients with Alzheimer's disease: A day center case study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: This paper presents Alzheed, a mobile application for monitoring patients with Alzheimer's disease at day centers as well as a set of design recommendations for the development of healthcare mobile applications. The Alzheed project was conducted at Day Center "Dorita de Ojeda" that is focused on the care of patients with Alzheimer's disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A software design methodology based on participatory design was employed for the design of Alzheed. This methodology is both iterative and incremental and consists of two main iterative stages: evaluation of low-fidelity prototypes and evaluation of high-fidelity prototypes. Low-fidelity prototypes were evaluated by 11 day center's healthcare professionals (involved in the design of Alzheed), whereas high-fidelity prototypes were evaluated using a questionnaire based on the technology acceptance model (TAM) by the same healthcare professionals plus 30 senior psychology undergraduate students uninvolved in the design of Alzheed. RESULTS: Healthcare professional participants perceived Alzheed as extremely likely to be useful and extremely likely to be usable, whereas senior psychology undergraduate students perceived Alzheed as quite likely to be useful and quite likely to be usable. Particularly, the median and mode of the TAM questionnaire were 7 (extremely likely) for healthcare professionals and 6 (quite likely) for psychology students (for both constructs: perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use). One-sample Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were performed to confirm the significance of the median for each construct. CONCLUSIONS: From the experience of designing Alzheed, it can be concluded that co-designing with healthcare professionals leads to (i) fostering group endorsement, which prevents resistance to change and (ii) helps to meet the needs of both healthcare professionals and patients, guaranteeing the usefulness of the application. In addition, evaluation of mobile healthcare applications by users involved and uninvolved in the application's design process helps to improve the ease of use of the application.

[Myths and evidence on the use of botulinum toxin: neuropharmacology and dystonia]. / Mitos y evidencias en el empleo de la toxina botulinica: neurofarmacologia y distonias.

INTRODUCTION: Botulinum toxin type A (BTA) is a bacterial endotoxin, whose therapeutic use has had a dramatic impact on different neurological disorders, such as dystonia and spasticity. AIM: To analyze and summarize different questions about the use of BTA in our clinical practice. DEVELOPMENT: A group of experts in neurology developed a list of topics related with the use of BTA. Two groups were considered: neuropharmacology and dystonia. A literature search at PubMed, mainly for English language articles published up to June 2016 was performed. The manuscript was structured as a questionnaire that includes those questions that, according to the panel opinion, could generate more controversy or doubt. The initial draft was reviewed by the expert panel members to allow modifications, and after subsequent revisions for achieving the highest degree of consensus, the final text was then validated. Different questions about diverse aspects of neuropharmacology, such as mechanism of action, bioequivalence of the different preparations, immunogenicity, etc. were included. Regarding dystonia, the document included questions about methods of evaluation, cervical dystonia, blepharospasm, etc. CONCLUSION: This review does not pretend to be a guide, but rather a tool for continuous training of residents and specialists in neurology, about different specific areas of the management of BTA.

TITLE: Mitos y evidencias en el empleo de la toxina botulinica: neurofarmacologia y distonias.Introduccion. La toxina botulinica de tipo A (TBA) ha supuesto una verdadera revolucion terapeutica en neurologia, y en la actualidad es el tratamiento rutinario en las distonias focales y la espasticidad. Objetivo. Plantear, revisar y responder cuestiones controvertidas en relacion con la neurofarmacologia de la TBA y su uso en las distonias en la practica clinica habitual. Desarrollo. Un grupo de expertos en trastornos del movimiento reviso una lista de temas controvertidos relacionados con la farmacologia de la TBA y su uso en las distonias. Revisamos la bibliografia e incluimos articulos relevantes especialmente en ingles, pero tambien, si su importancia lo merece, en castellano y en frances, hasta junio de 2016. El documento se estructuro como un cuestionario que incluyo las preguntas que podrian generar mayor controversia o duda. El borrador inicial del documento fue revisado por los miembros del panel y se realizaron las modificaciones necesarias hasta alcanzar el mayor grado de consenso. Incluimos preguntas sobre diferentes aspectos de la neurofarmacologia, especialmente el mecanismo de accion, la bioequivalencia de los diferentes preparados y la inmunogenicidad. En relacion con el subapartado de las distonias, se incluyeron aspectos sobre la evaluacion y el tratamiento de las distonias focales. Conclusiones. Esta revision no pretende ser una guia, sino una herramienta practica destinada a neurologos y medicos internos residentes interesados en esta area, dentro de diferentes ambitos especificos del manejo de la TBA.

Tibial tunnel widening associated with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using autogenous hamstrings: A comparison between antero-medial portal and transtibial techniques. / Valoración de la apertura del túnel tibial tras la reconstrucción del ligamento cruzado anterior empleando isquiotibiales autógenos: Estudio comparativo entre la técnica de portal anteromedial y la técnica transtibial convencional.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the enlargement effect of the tibial tunnel emergence of 2 different of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction techniques: antero-medial portal (AMP) vs. transtibial (TT) technique. METHODS: A prospective, randomized controlled study was performed in 36 consecutive patients who underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with autologous hamstring tendon grafts employing the AMP and conventional TT techniques. Lateral and antero-posterior radiographs were obtained for each patient at 6 weeks and 12 months postoperatively. The sclerotic margins of the tibial tunnels were measured at the widest dimension of the tunnel as well as the diameter of the tibial emergence and were compared with the initially drilled tunnel size after correction for radiographic magnification. Statistical analysis was performed to compare the 2 groups by use of the independent-samples t test, with significance set at .05. RESULTS: The mean percentage increase in the diameter of tibial tunnel emergence at 6 weeks after surgery was 8.1%±2.9 for the PAM technique and 21.20%±11.87 for the TT technique on the anteroposterior x-ray view. However, the mean percentage increase in the diameter of the tibial tunnel emergence on the lateral view was 7.1%±4.72 for the medial portal technique and 17.64%±11.48 for the transtibial technique. This difference was statistically significant on both anteroposterior and lateral views. CONCLUSIONS: The diameter of the tibial tunnel emergence for hamstring autologous anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions was significantly lower for the medial portal technique when compared with the conventional TT technique.

[Cemented total knee replacement: comparative study between the use or not of tourniquet on the inmediate results]. / Artroplastía total cementada de rodilla: comparación entre el uso o no de isquemia en el resultado postoperatorio inmediato.

Comparison of immediate postoperative results of patients undergoing cemented total knee arthroplasty with and without ischemia. Observational, cross-sectional, retrospective, analytical, single-center study that included 180 patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty from 2011 to 2014: 120 without ischemia, 60 with ischemia. Mean age was 70 years with SD ± 7. Criteria to assess the immediate postoperative results include intraoperative bleeding, hemoglobin differential and pain. Exclusion criteria comprised patients being treated at a pain clinic, those on anticoagulants, with a history of bleeding disorders, psychiatric conditions, kidney failure or those intolerant to NSAIDs. In total knee arthroplasty without ischemia there is better pain control (p = 0.026). The hemoglobin differential and intraoperative bleeding were less with ischemia (p = 0.008). 32.8% of patients required blood transfusion, but no statistically significant relationship was established with the use or non-use of ischemia (p = 0.301). The most commonly reported pain was within a VAS of 0-3; 62.2% of cases reported mild pain. Mean hemoglobin differential was 3.7 with SD ± 1.3 with a range from 0 to 7.4. Patients in whom no ischemia was used during the surgical procedure experienced less pain. There was less bleeding and hemoglobin differential with the use of ischemia. However, this did not result in a statistically significant difference in the need for blood transfusion. The use of ischemia with caution and according to the surgeons preference is recommended.

Comparar el resultado postoperatorio inmediato en el paciente sometido a artroplastía total cementada de rodilla con y sin el uso de isquemia. Estudio observacional, transversal, retrospectivo, analítico y unicéntrico. 180 pacientes operados de artroplastía total cementada de rodilla: 120 sin isquemia, 60 con isquemia, de 2011 a 2014, edad promedio 70 años con DE ± 7 años, se comparará el sangrado operatorio, diferencial de hemoglobina y dolor como criterios de resultado postoperatorio inmediato. Se excluyeron pacientes de clínica de dolor, manejo con anticoagulantes, coagulopatía previa, patología siquiátrica, insuficientes renales o con intolerancia a AINEs. En artroplastía total cementada de rodilla sin isquemia se presenta mejor control del dolor (p = 0.026). El diferencial de hemoglobina y sangrado operatorio es menor cuando está asociado al uso de isquemia (p = .008). Se requirió transfusión sanguínea en 32.8%, sin establecer una relación entre el uso o exclusión de isquemia con relevancia estadística (p = 0.301). El dolor referido más común se encuentra entre 0 y 3 de EVA correspondiente a dolor leve en 62.2% de los casos. El diferencial de hemoglobina promedio se reporta en 3.7 con desviación estándar de ± 1.3 en un rango de 0 a 7.4. Existe menor dolor postoperatorio en el paciente al que no se aplica isquemia durante el procedimiento quirúrgico; hay menor sangrado y diferencial de hemoglobina con el uso de isquemia; sin embargo, esto no representa estadísticamente una diferencia en la necesidad de transfusión sanguínea. Se recomienda utilizar con cautela la isquemia y su uso queda a elección del cirujano.

[Brain stem involvement in eclampsia and HELLP syndrome]. / Afectación del tronco cerebral en la eclampsia y síndrome HELLP.

INTRODUCTION: Nowadays, eclampsia is a rare complication of pregnancy and the puerperium. However, it is still one of the main causes of maternal morbi-mortality. Systemic findings in eclampsia may sometimes include association with microangiopathic hemolytic anaemia, raised liver enzymes and thrombocytopenia. This clinical combination constitutes the HELLP syndrome (Hemolysis Elevated Liver enzymes Low Platelets). The commonest neurological findings in eclampsia are headache, visual alterations, convulsions and stupor or coma. The presence of clinical symptoms and signs due to brainstem disorders is unusual. CLINICAL CASE: We present the case of a thirty year old woman with eclampsia and associated HELLP syndrome, which briefly affected the brain stem. The patient showed progressive general and neurological improvement. Three months afterwards she still had paresia of the sixth right cranial nerve, due to what was presumed to be a right paramedian infarct of the pons. CONCLUSION: We consider it important not to forget this exceptional association so that suitable treatment may be given to such patients since prognosis is not invariably bad.

[Deficiency, disability and handicap in multiple sclerosis: a population-based study in Valladolid]. / Deficiencia, discapacidad y minusvalía en la esclerosis múltiple: un estudio de base poblacional en Valladolid.

INTRODUCTION: Apart from impairment there is hardly any other assessment of the repercussions of multiple sclerosis (MS) in population studies. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the functional state of en epidemiological series of patients in the Valladolid health district. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A descriptive transversal study of a geographically defined population base. During a period of three months and complementing a prevalence study, were assessed, by means of the Minimal Record of Disability, impairment, disability and handicap in a series of 51 patients (33 women and 18 men) with clinically defined MS, who lived in the area on 1 March 1997. RESULTS: There was a primarily progressive evolution in 21.6% of the patients, and secondarily progressive in 11.8%. Average follow-up time was 9.1 years (range 1-41) and average age of onset 27.8 years (range 14.7-51.0). The distribution of scores on the Expanded Disability Status Scale was bimodal (average and interquartile range: 3.0 (1.5-5.0). 80.4% of the patients continued to be ambulatory. 21.5% had frequent urinary incontinence or required a long-term urinary catheter. Less than 20% needed help with day to day activities. 78% of the patients complained of some degree of fatigue, and 51% had difficulties with social relationships. 59.4% of the patients had full-time jobs and 70.6% had no financial problems. CONCLUSIONS: The study shows that the functional state of persons with MS is better than was thought, and that assessment of the consequences of this illness should include disability and handicap profiles.

Suicides and the lunar cycle.

The existence of lunar influence on the frequency of suicide is tested by means of a permutation test. A total of 897 suicide deaths reported by the Anatomical Forensic Institute of Madrid were analyzed by a permutation test, a direct application of Fisher's ideas. Noteworthy in this study are the testing method used and the accuracy of timing of the deaths. Both factors provide firm ground for our conclusion: there appears to be no relationship between lunar phases and suicide.

[Comparative analysis of the criteria for surveillance and monitoring in anesthesia, resuscitation and pain therapy. Recommendation of the Sociedad Española de Anestesia y Reanimación]. / Análisis comparativo de los criterios de vigilancia y monitorización en anestesia, reanimación y terapia del dolor. Recomendaciones de la SEDAR.

INTRODUCTION: One part of morbidity and mortality associated with anesthesia is due to accidents. It is thought that an additional monitoring can prevent and avoid most of anesthetic accidents. OBJECTIVES: In order to improve patient's safety and quality of anesthesia, Harvard University hospital approved in 1985 the rules for intraoperative monitoring. These were adopted by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) in 1986. In line with this procedure, professional associations of several countries pronounced their own rules. SEDAR did it in 1989. The purpose of this study was to compare spanish rules with those of America (Harvard and ASA), Australia, England and France. RESULTS: Comparative analysis revealed that the spanish norms are more extensive since they include not only the intraoperative anesthetic activities, but also those related to recovery, pain, and obstetric anesthesia. However, it has some deficiencies such as the lack of a periodical revision, and of an adaptative period and assistance to the anesthesiologist provided by auxiliary personnel. Successful points were the recognition that pulse oximetry is essential, the preoperative verification of all material, and, more importantly, is the only one that considers essential capnography in the assessment of ventilation and pulse oximetry during regional anesthesia and postoperative phase. CONCLUSION: Spanish norm is comparable to that of the other countries considered in this study. It shows important successful points and at the same time some significant deficiencies.

[Latex allergy. Reaction to intraoperative anaphylaxis]. / Alergia al látex. Reacción de anafilaxia intraoperatoria.

We report a case of anaphylaxis during surgery as a result of reaction to latex. The patient was a 26-year old woman undergoing emergency exploratory laparotomy. Sixty minutes after the start of the procedure, rash, confluent cutaneous wheals and severe bronchospasm appeared. An allergic reaction was suspected and treatment with corticoids, H1 and H2 antihistamines, theophylline and adrenalin was begun, after which the symptoms disappeared. We wish to emphasize that in the presurgical taking of the patient's case history, no relevant diseases or known allergies were mentioned, and that all complementary analytical data obtained before surgery were within the normal limits. The woman had had a cesarean section seven months before, with no anesthetic complications. Later, the patient mentioned suffering sinusitis and food allergies, describing a clear history of atopy.

[Comparison of oxygen saturations in mixed venous and central blood during thoracic anesthesia with selective single-lung ventilation]. / Comparición de las saturaciones de oxígeno en sangre venosa mixta y central durante la anestesia torácica con ventilación selectiva unipulmonar.

OBJECTIVES: To establish the ratio of oxygen saturation in mixed venous to that of central venous blood in patients undergoing thoracic surgery, in order to rationalize use of the pulmonary arterial catheter. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We compared simultaneous spectrophotometric in vivo measurements for SvO2 [Abbott Oximetrix 3/SvO2 (O)] and in vitro analysis of blood taken from the distal opening of the catheter (co-oximeter/SvO2 [CO]), with in vitro analysis of central venous blood from the superior vena cava (co-oximetry/SvcO2 [CO]) for 23 patients scheduled for lung resection by thoracotomy in lateral decubitus with single lung ventilation and the same type of monitoring and anesthesia. Measurements were taken 15 min after induction (M1), after 15 minutes in lateral decubitus (M2), 5 minutes after pleurotomy (M3), 5 min (M4) and 20 min (M5) after lung collapse, 5 min after closure of the thoracic wall (M6) and after 5 min supine (M7). RESULTS: SvO2(O) was higher than SvcO2 (CO) at M1, M3, M6 and M7 and the mean difference between the two concentrations was always less than 0.9%. SvcO2 (CO) was always higher than SvO2 (CO) (M1 to M7) and the mean difference was less than 1.3%. Simple linear correlation was significant (p < 0.001) for each of the measurements as well as for the whole sample. Both bias (0.2 and 0.7%) and its standard deviation (2.7 and 2.5%) between the two techniques were small and the differences between all measurements were less than 5% in 97 and 95.6%. CONCLUSION: For thoracic anesthesia in patients who are not good candidates for catheterization of the pulmonary artery, continuous measurement of SvO2 may be substituted for that of SvcO2 in order to monitor the balance of supply/demand.

[Postoperative complications in a case of iatrogenic hypothyroidism induced by diet drugs]. / Complicaciones postoperatorias de un hipotiroidismo iatrógeno no detectado inducido por fármacos adelgazantes.

Oral thyroid preparations, which were first administered in 1892 to treat myxedema, are the oldest effective endocrine medications. Since thyroxin became available, such drugs have been dispensed without a physician's prescription and have come to be mistakenly referred to as "diet pills". Self-prescription of such products can cause changes in thyroid function, with systemic repercussions. We report the case of a woman who took thyroid extracts, among other diet drugs to enhance weight loss without medical supervision. The patient failed to report taking such drugs during the preanesthetic visit. Interrupting therapy several days before surgery produced a state of hypothyroidism that led to marked postoperative hemodynamic changes necessitating transfer to the intensive care unit.