Blue prescription: A pilot study of health benefits for oncological patients of a short program of activities involving the sea.

Performing outdoor activities in blue spaces can help improve human health and mental well-being by reducing stress and promoting social relationships. The number of people surviving cancer has increased globally to experience this disease as a life-changing and chronic condition with physical and psychosocial symptoms that have negative impacts on their quality of life. While there has been a growth of programs in green spaces to meet the needs of cancer patients, such as follow-up post-treatment care, support groups and physical activity programs, very few studies have examined the effects of activities involving the sea for the health and well-being of oncology patients. This is the first study to evaluate whether different outdoor activities in blue spaces can benefit oncological patients' physical and mental health using smartwatches, sphygmomanometers and Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaires. We assessed changes in blood pressure, heart rate, sleep quality and mental health of 16 patients after twelve sessions of three different activities (walking, beach and snorkelling) and four sessions of a control activity. While no significant differences between activities were observed in terms of the data gathered by the smartwatches, a gradient of positive results for human mental health was observed towards exposure to a blue space, assessed through POMS questionnaires. Results show that exposure to blue spaces contributes to tension and anger reduction and improves the vigour mood state of oncology patients. No significant increases in patients' heart rate were recorded after the beach and snorkelling activities, with results similar to the control activity, suggesting that the contribution may be to participants' relaxation.

[Subependymoma of the lateral ventricle. A case report]. / Subependimoma del ventriculo lateral. A proposito de un caso.

INTRODUCTION. Intracranial subependymomas are rare, slow-growing, noninvasive, benign tumors. They are most often located in the fourth ventricle. Most of these tumors are discovered incidentally during autopsy. Routine medical checkups using neuroimaging techniques have increased their diagnosis. Subependymomas may present with symptoms related to cerebrospinal fluid obstruction or mass effect. CASE REPORT. A 52-year-old man presented with severe headache and mental deterioration with memory disturbances and bradypsychia. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a mass in the right lateral ventricle causing obstructive hydrocephalus. The tumour was totally removed through a right frontal transcortical approach. Histological examination showed a typical subependymoma. A complete neurological recovery was achieved after surgery. CONCLUSIONS. Subependymomas are rare low-grade glial neoplasm that commonly arise in the ventricular system. They have a low-proliferative potential but in these locations they can cause symptomatic hydrocephalus. Surgical removal of the mass and the restoration of the normal cerebrospinal fluid pathways constitute the optimal management strategy.

Subependimoma del ventrículo lateral. A propósito de un caso / Subependymoma of the lateral ventricle. A case report

Introducción. Los subependimomas intracraneales son tumores benignos poco frecuentes, no invasivos y de lento crecimiento. Se localizan habitualmente en el cuarto ventrículo. La mayor parte de estos tumores se descubre incidentalmente como pequeñas lesiones durante la realización de estudios de autopsia. Los estudios con técnicas de neuroimagen han incrementado su diagnóstico. En los casos de pacientes sintomáticos con subependimomas, estos síntomas habitualmente se deben a la obstrucción del líquido cefalorraquídeo o por efecto masa. Caso clínico. Varón de 52 años que presentaba cefalea intensa y deterioro cognitivo con alteraciones de memoria y bradipsiquia. Las imágenes de tomografía computarizada y de resonancia magnética mostraron una lesión en el ventrículo lateral derecho que provocó hidrocefalia obstructiva. El tumor fue resecado totalmente a través de un abordaje frontal transcortical derecho. El examen histológico demostró hallazgos de subependimoma típico. Tras la cirugía, se consiguió una recuperación neurológica completa. Conclusiones. Los subependimomas son neoplasias gliales poco frecuentes que habitualmente crecen dentro del sistema ventricular. Tienen un bajo potencial proliferativo, pero en estas localizaciones pueden provocar hidrocefalia sintomática. La resección quirúrgica de la lesión y la restauración de las vías normales de circulación del líquido cefalorraquídeo constituyen la estrategia terapéutica óptima (AU)

Introduction. Intracranial subependymomas are rare, slow-growing, noninvasive, benign tumors. They are most often located in the fourth ventricle. Most of these tumors are discovered incidentally during autopsy. Routine medical checkups using neuroimaging techniques have increased their diagnosis. Subependymomas may present with symptoms related to cerebrospinal fluid obstruction or mass effect. Case report. A 52-year-old man presented with severe headache and mental deterioration with memory disturbances and bradypsychia. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a mass in the right lateral ventricle causing obstructive hydrocephalus. The tumour was totally removed through a right frontal transcortical approach. Histological examination showed a typical subependymoma. A complete neurological recovery was achieved after surgery. Conclusions. Subependymomas are rare low-grade glial neoplasm that commonly arise in the ventricular system. They have a low-proliferative potential but in these locations they can cause symptomatic hydrocephalus. Surgical removal of the mass and the restoration of the normal cerebrospinal fluid pathways constitute the optimal management strategy (AU)