Association of Implantation Biopsy Findings in Living Donor Kidneys With Donor and Recipient Outcomes.

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: Some living donor kidneys are found to have biopsy evidence of chronic scarring and/or glomerular disease at implantation, but it is unclear if these biopsy findings help predict donor kidney recovery or allograft outcomes. Our objective was to identify the prevalence of chronic histological changes and glomerular disease in donor kidneys, and their association with donor and recipient outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: Single center, living donor kidney transplants from January 2010 to July 2022. EXPOSURE: Chronic histological changes, glomerular disease in donor kidney implantation biopsies. OUTCOME: For donors, single-kidney estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) increase, percent total eGFR loss, ≥40% eGFR decline from predonation baseline, and eGFR<60mL/min/1.73m2 at 6 months after donation; for recipients, death-censored allograft survival. ANALYTICAL APPROACH: Biopsies were classified as having possible glomerular disease by pathologist diagnosis or chronic changes based on the percentage of glomerulosclerosis, interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy, and vascular disease. We used logistic regression to identify factors associated with the presence of chronic changes, linear regression to identify the association between chronic changes and single-kidney estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) recovery, and time-to-event analyses to identify the relationship between abnormal biopsy findings and allograft outcomes. RESULTS: Among 1,104 living donor kidneys, 155 (14%) had advanced chronic changes on implantation biopsy, and 12 (1%) had findings suggestive of possible donor glomerular disease. Adjusted logistic regression showed that age (odds ratio [OR], 2.44 per 10 years [95% CI, 1.98-3.01), Hispanic ethnicity (OR, 1.87 [95% CI, 1.15-3.05), and hypertension (OR, 1.92 [95% CI, 1.01-3.64), were associated with higher odds of chronic changes on implantation biopsy. Adjusted linear regression showed no association of advanced chronic changes with single-kidney eGFR increase or relative risk of eGFR<60mL/min/1.73m2. There were no differences in time-to-death-censored allograft failure in unadjusted or adjusted Cox proportional hazards models when comparing kidneys with chronic changes to kidneys without histological abnormalities. LIMITATIONS: Retrospective, absence of measured GFR. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 1 in 7 living donor kidneys had chronic changes on implantation biopsy, primarily in the form of moderate vascular disease, and 1% had possible donor glomerular disease. Abnormal implantation biopsy findings were not significantly associated with 6-month donor eGFR outcomes or allograft survival. PLAIN-LANGUAGE SUMMARY: Kidney biopsies are the gold standard test to identify the presence or absence of kidney disease. However, kidneys donated by healthy living donors-who are extensively screened for any evidence of kidney disease before donation-occasionally show findings that might be considered "abnormal," including the presence of scarring in the kidney or findings suggestive of a primary kidney disease. We studied the frequency of abnormal kidney biopsy findings among living donors at our center. We found that about 14% of kidneys had chronic abnormalities and 1% had findings suggesting possible glomerular kidney disease, but the presence of abnormal biopsy findings was not associated with worse outcomes for the donors or their recipients.

Enlightening brain energy metabolism.

Brain tissue metabolism is distributed across several cell types and subcellular compartments, which activate at different times and with different temporal patterns. The introduction of genetically-encoded fluorescent indicators that are imaged using time-lapse microscopy has opened the possibility of studying brain metabolism at cellular and sub-cellular levels. There are indicators for sugars, monocarboxylates, Krebs cycle intermediates, amino acids, cofactors, and energy nucleotides, which inform about relative levels, concentrations and fluxes. This review offers a brief survey of the metabolic indicators that have been validated in brain cells, with some illustrative examples from the literature. Whereas only a small fraction of the metabolome is currently accessible to fluorescent probes, there are grounds to be optimistic about coming developments and the application of these tools to the study of brain disease.

The clinical significance of receiving a kidney allograft from deceased donor with chronic histologic changes.

Allograft survival of deceased donor kidneys with suboptimal histology (DRTx/suboptimal histology: >10% glomerulosclerosis, >10% tubulointerstitial scarring, or >mild vascular sclerosis) is inferior to both DRTx with optimal histology (DRTx/optimal histology) and living donor kidneys irrespective of histologic changes (LRTx). In this report, we explored the reasons behind this guarded outcome with a special focus on the role of alloimmunity. We initially assessed gene expression in 39 time-zero allograft biopsies using the Nanostring 770 genes PanCancer Immune Profiling Panel. Subsequently, we studied 696 consecutive adult kidney allograft recipients that were grouped according to allograft type and histology at time-zero biopsy [DRTx/suboptimal histology (n = 194), DRTx/optimal histology (n = 166), and LRTx (n = 336)]. Part-1: Several immune pathways were upregulated in time-zero biopsies from DRTx/suboptimal histology (n = 11) compared to LRTx (n = 17) but not to DRTx/optimal histology (n = 11). Part-2: Amongst the three groups of recipients, DRTx/suboptimal histology had the highest incidence of acute rejection episodes, most of which occurred during the first year after transplantation (early rejection). This increase was mainly attributed to T cell mediated rejection, while the incidence of antibody-mediated rejection was similar amongst the three groups. Importantly, early acute T cell mediated rejection was a strong independent predictor for allograft failure in DRTx/suboptimal histology (adjusted HR: 2.13, P = 0.005) but not in DRTx/optimal histology nor in LRTx. Our data highlight an increased baseline immunogenicity in DRTx/suboptimal histology compared to LRTx but not to DRTx/optimal histology. However, our results suggest that donor chronic histologic changes in DRTx may help transfer such increased baseline immunogenicity into clinically relevant acute rejection episodes that have detrimental effects on allograft survival. These findings may provide a rationale for enhanced immunosuppression in recipients of DRTx with baseline chronic histologic changes to minimize subsequent acute rejection and to prolong allograft survival.

COVID-19 in pancreas transplant recipients.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a pandemic since first being described in January 2020. Clinical manifestations in non-transplant patients range from asymptomatic infection to severe pneumonia with acute respiratory distress syndrome, multiorgan system failure, and death. Limited reports in kidney transplant recipients suggest similar characteristics in that population. We report here the first case series of COVID-19 infection occurring in pancreas transplant recipients.

Association between Reperfusion Renal Allograft Biopsy Findings and Transplant Outcomes.

Biopsy findings at the time of procurement of deceased donor kidneys remain the most common reason cited for kidney discard. To determine the value of renal allograft histology in predicting outcomes, we evaluated the significance of histologic findings, read by experienced renal pathologists, in 975 postreperfusion biopsy specimens collected from 2005 to 2009 after living donor (n=427) or deceased donor (n=548) renal transplant. We evaluated specimens for the degree of glomerulosclerosis, interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy, and vascular disease; specimens with a score of 0 or 1 (scale, 0-3) for each parameter were considered optimal. Overall, 66.3% of living donor kidneys and 50.7% of deceased donor kidneys received an optimal histology score (P<0.001). Irrespective of donor status, suboptimal kidneys came from older donors with a higher incidence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and obesity and a higher mean kidney donor risk index (all P<0.001). Death-censored outcomes after transplant differed significantly between optimal and suboptimal kidneys only in the deceased donor transplants (P=0.02). Regardless of histologic classification, outcomes with deceased donor kidneys were inferior to outcomes with living donor kidneys. However, 73.2% of deceased donor kidneys with suboptimal histology remained functional at 5 years. Our findings suggest that histologic findings on postreperfusion biopsy associate with outcomes after deceased donor but not living donor renal transplants, thus donor death and organ preservation-related factors may be of greater prognostic importance. Discarding donated kidneys on the basis of histologic factors may be inappropriate and merits further study.

Elevated expression levels of lysyl oxidases protect against aortic aneurysm progression in Marfan syndrome.

Patients with Marfan syndrome (MFS) are at high risk of life-threatening aortic dissections. The condition is caused by mutations in the gene encoding fibrillin-1, an essential component in the formation of elastic fibers. While experimental findings in animal models of the disease have shown the involvement of transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß)- and angiotensin II-dependent pathways, alterations in the vascular extracellular matrix (ECM) may also play a role in the onset and progression of the aortic disease. Lysyl oxidases (LOX) are extracellular enzymes, which initiates the formation of covalent cross-linking of collagens and elastin, thereby contributing to the maturation of the ECM. Here we have explored the role of LOX in the formation of aortic aneurysms in MFS. We show that aortic tissue from MFS patients and MFS mouse model (Fbn1(C1039G/+)) displayed enhanced expression of the members of the LOX family, LOX and LOX-like 1 (LOXL1), and this is associated with the formation of mature collagen fibers. Administration of a LOX inhibitor for 8weeks blocked collagen accumulation and aggravated elastic fiber impairment, and these effects correlated with the induction of a strong and rapidly progressing aortic dilatation, and with premature death in the more severe MFS mouse model, Fbn1(mgR/mgR), without any significant effect on wild type animals. This detrimental effect occurred preferentially in the ascending portion of the aorta, with little or no involvement of the aortic root, and was associated to an overactivation of both canonical and non-canonical TGF-ß signaling pathways. The blockade of angiotensin II type I receptor with losartan restored TGF-ß signaling activation, normalized elastic fiber impairment and prevented the aortic dilatation induced by LOX inhibition in Fbn1(C1039G/+) mice. Our data indicate that LOX enzymes and LOX-mediated collagen accumulation play a critical protective role in aneurysm formation in MFS.

Validity and reliability of the T-Scan(®) III for measuring force under laboratory conditions.

Although measuring bite force is an important indicator of the health of the masticatory system, few commercially available transducers have been validated for routine clinical use. T-Scan(®) III Occlusal Analysis System allows to record the bite force distribution, indicating its relative intensity and occlusal timing. Nevertheless, even fewer studies have evaluated the validity and reliability of the latest generation of the T-Scan(®) occlusal analysis system. To determine the validity and reliability of the T-Scan(®) III system when measuring total absolute bite force under laboratory conditions. Known forces were applied to 18 T-Scan(®) III sensors, which were classified into two groups differentiated by their production series. Both Lin's concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) and the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) were used to assess the system's reliability and validity. Considering all the sensors studied, a substantial level (Lin's CCC 0·969) and a very good level of reliability (CCI 0·994) were obtained. When evaluating the validity of the system, a poor (Lin's CCC 0·530) and moderate (ICC 0·693) agreement were also obtained. The main factor that negatively influenced the validity of the T-Scan(®) III under these study conditions was the significant difference in the behaviour of the two sensor groups. The T-Scan(®) III showed a high degree of reliability when used to perform consecutive measurements. However, the system showed an insufficient degree of validity for measuring absolute force when estimating total occlusal force under laboratory conditions.

Kidneys at higher risk of discard: expanding the role of dual kidney transplantation.

Half of the recovered expanded criteria donor (ECD) kidneys are discarded in the United States. A new kidney allocation system offers kidneys at higher risk of discard, Kidney Donor Profile Index (KDPI)>85%, to a wider geographic area to promote broader sharing and expedite utilization. Dual kidney transplantation (DKT) based on the KDPI is a potential option to streamline allocation of kidneys which otherwise would have been discarded. To assess the clinical utility of the KDPI in kidneys at higher risk of discard, we analyzed the OPTN/UNOS Registry that included the deceased donor kidneys recovered between 2002 and 2012. The primary outcomes were allograft survival, patient survival and discard rate based on different KDPI categories (<80%, 80-90% and >90%). Kidneys with KDPI>90% were associated with increased odds of discard (OR=1.99, 95% CI 1.74-2.29) compared to ones with KDPI<80%. DKTs of KDPI>90% were associated with lower overall allograft failure (HR=0.74, 95% CI 0.62-0.89) and better patient survival (HR=0.79, 95% CI 0.64-0.98) compared to single ECD kidneys with KDPI>90%. Kidneys at higher risk of discard may be offered in the up-front allocation system as a DKT. Further modeling and simulation studies are required to determine a reasonable KDPI cutoff percentile.

Multivisceral ex vivo surgery for tumors involving celiac and superior mesenteric arteries.

Abdominal tumors involving both roots of the celiac and superior mesenteric artery are deemed unresectable by conventional surgical methods. We performed three cases of multivisceral ex vivo surgery involving temporary removal of the entire abdominal viscera followed by vascular reconstruction, ex vivo tumor resection and autotransplantation of excised organs. We achieved a complete tumor resection with negative margins in all cases. All patients have survived with no tumor recurrence to date at 17-, 27- and 38-month follow-up. Postoperative complications included diarrhea, sphincter of Oddi dysfunction and arterial stenosis; all responded to directed treatments. Multivisceral ex vivo surgery applying techniques of deceased donor multivisceral transplantation is feasible in achieving local control of otherwise unresectable abdominal tumors. This surgery is best suitable for locally invasive tumors unresectable because of location and vascular involvement.

Visualizing physiological parameters in cells and tissues using genetically encoded indicators for metabolites.

The study of metabolism is undergoing a renaissance. Since the year 2002, over 50 genetically-encoded fluorescent indicators (GEFIs) have been introduced, capable of monitoring metabolites with high spatial/temporal resolution using fluorescence microscopy. Indicators are fusion proteins that change their fluorescence upon binding a specific metabolite. There are indicators for sugars, monocarboxylates, Krebs cycle intermediates, amino acids, cofactors, and energy nucleotides. They permit monitoring relative levels, concentrations, and fluxes in living systems. At a minimum they report relative levels and, in some cases, absolute concentrations may be obtained by performing ad hoc calibration protocols. Proper data collection, processing, and interpretation are critical to take full advantage of these new tools. This review offers a survey of the metabolic indicators that have been validated in mammalian systems. Minimally invasive, these indicators have been instrumental for the purposes of confirmation, rebuttal and discovery. We envision that this powerful technology will foster metabolic physiology.

When disaster strikes: death of a living organ donor.

Donor safety is of paramount importance in living donor transplantation. Yet, living donor deaths occur. We believe that problems exist in our system of live donor transplantation that can be summarized in a series of simple statements: (1) Donor mortality can never be completely eliminated; (2) Live donor risk has not been mitigated so that it is as low as possible; (3) After a donor death, systematic reviews are not routinely performed to identify correctable causes; (4) The lessons learned from any donor death are not adequately communicated to other programs and (5) The administrative mechanisms and resources are not universally available at all transplant centers to implement lessons learned. To rectify these problems, we propose the following: (1) A national living donor death task force be established with the purpose of performing systematic reviews of any donor death. (2) Findings of these reviews be disseminated to all institutions performing live donor transplants on a secure, password-protected website. (3) A no-fault donor death indemnity fund be established to provide a financial imperative for institutions to cooperate with this external peer-review. These measures will serve the best interests of the involved institutions, the transplant community, and most importantly, the patients and their families.

Impact of Deceased Donor Kidney Procurement Biopsy Technique on Histologic Accuracy.

INTRODUCTION: The factors that influence deceased donor kidney procurement biopsy reliability are not well established. We examined the impact of biopsy technique and pathologist training on procurement biopsy accuracy. METHODS: We retrospectively identified all deceased donor kidney-only transplants at our center from 2006 to 2016 with both procurement and reperfusion biopsies performed and information available on procurement biopsy technique and pathologist (n = 392). Biopsies were scored using a previously validated system, classifying "suboptimal" histology as the presence of at least 1 of the following: glomerulosclerosis ≥11%, moderate/severe interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy, or moderate/severe vascular disease. We calculated relative risk ratios (RRR) to determine the influence of technique (core vs. wedge) and pathologist (renal vs. nonrenal) on concordance between procurement and reperfusion biopsy histologic classification. RESULTS: A total of 171 (44%) procurement biopsies used wedge technique, and 221 (56%) used core technique. Results of only 36 biopsies (9%) were interpreted by renal pathologists. Correlation between procurement and reperfusion glomerulosclerosis was poor for both wedge (r 2 = 0.11) and core (r 2 = 0.14) biopsies. Overall, 34% of kidneys had discordant classification on procurement versus reperfusion biopsy. Neither biopsy technique nor pathologist training was associated with concordance between procurement and reperfusion histology, but a larger number of sampled glomeruli was associated with a higher likelihood of concordance (adjusted RRR = 1.12 per 10 glomeruli, 95% confidence interval = 1.04-1.22). CONCLUSIONS: Biopsy technique and pathologist training were not associated with procurement biopsy histologic accuracy in this retrospective study. Prospective trials are needed to determine how to optimize procurement biopsy practices.

Procurement Biopsies in the Evaluation of Deceased Donor Kidneys.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Biopsies taken at deceased donor kidney procurement continue to be cited as a leading reason for discard; however, the reproducibility and prognostic capability of these biopsies are controversial. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS: We compiled a retrospective, single-institution, continuous cohort of deceased donor kidney transplants performed from 2006 to 2009. Procurement biopsy information-percentage of glomerulosclerosis, interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy, and vascular disease-was obtained from the national transplant database. Using univariable, multivariable, and time-to-event analyses for death-censored graft survival, we compared procurement frozen section biopsy reports with reperfusion paraffin-embedded biopsies read by trained kidney pathologists (n=270). We also examined agreement for sequential procurement biopsies performed on the same kidney (n=116 kidneys). RESULTS: For kidneys on which more than one procurement biopsy was performed (n=116), category agreement was found in only 64% of cases (κ=0.14). For all kidneys (n=270), correlation between procurement and reperfusion biopsies was poor: overall, biopsies were classified into the same category (optimal versus suboptimal) in only 64% of cases (κ=0.25). This discrepancy was most pronounced when categorizing percentage of glomerulosclerosis, which had 63% agreement (κ=0.15). Interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy and vascular disease had agreement rates of 82% (κ=0.13) and 80% (κ=0.15), respectively. Ninety-eight (36%) recipients died, and 56 (21%) allografts failed by the end of follow-up. Reperfusion biopsies were more prognostic than procurement biopsies (hazard ratio for graft failure, 2.02; 95% confidence interval, 1.09 to 3.74 versus hazard ratio for graft failure, 1.30; 95% confidence interval, 0.61 to 2.76), with procurement biopsies not significantly associated with graft failure. CONCLUSIONS: We found that procurement biopsies are poorly reproducible, do not correlate well with paraffin-embedded reperfusion biopsies, and are not significantly associated with transplant outcomes.

[Neuraxial analgesia during labor in a patient with Arnold-Chiari type I malformation and syringomyelia]. / Malformación de arnold-chiari tipo I con siringomielia, trabajo de parto y analgesia neuroaxial.

Chiari type I malformation is a caudal displacement of the cerebellum with tonsillar herniation through the foramen magnum, frequently associated with syringomyelia, a syndrome characterized by cyst-like cavities in the spinal cord; each of the conditions leads to characteristic neurologic abnormalities. Pregnant patients with these types of malformation are considered to have an increased risk of brainstem compression and/or progression of the disease during labor. We present the case of a patient in labor with a diagnosis of syringomyelia associated with Chiari type I malformation and describe the anesthetic management. The patient revealed during labor that she had syringomyelia associated with Chiari type I malformation, after having made no mention of it in previous history taking. Finally, we review the pathology observed in these patients.

[Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders: profile of a cohort according to the 2015 diagnostic criteria]. / Espectro de neuromielitis optica: descripcion de una cohorte segun los criterios diagnosticos de 2015.

INTRODUCTION: The new 2015 criteria for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) have been recently incorporated in the study of different international cohorts. AIM: To describe clinical-radiological characteristics and prognostic factors in patients with NMOSD according to the 2015 criteria. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 36 patients diagnosed with NMOSD according to serologic AQP4 status (positive, negative, unknown and negative + unknown). Clinical and radiological characteristics were compared and possible disability prognostic factors were evaluated. RESULTS: AQP4 were positive in 7 patients, negative in 12 and unknown in 17. Age of presentation was 36.6 ± 16 years, with higher female proportion (4:1). Mean disease duration was 7.4 ± 7.6 years. Most frequent presenting symptoms were acute myelitis (61%), optic neuritis (33%) and area postrema syndrome (11%). Most frequent MRI lesion was longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (75%). All patients received acute treatment during attacks, and preventive treatment was used in 81% (azathioprine and rituximab mostly prescribed). Median EDSS was 2.0 at the end of follow-up. No differences were observed in any of the variables comparing serologic status. Age of first attack was prognostic, with direct correlation with EDSS. First attack in < 30 years was protective, meanwhile > 50 years old patients had increased risk of disability. CONCLUSIONS: The 2015 criteria allow the description and classification of NMOSD patients within different cohorts. Age of first attack seems to be a prognostic factor for developing disability.

TITLE: Espectro de neuromielitis optica: descripcion de una cohorte segun los criterios diagnosticos de 2015.Introduccion. Los nuevos criterios diagnosticos de 2015 del espectro de neuromielitis optica (NMO) estan comenzando a utilizarse en diferentes poblaciones en el mundo. Objetivo. Describir las caracteristicas clinicorradiologicas y pronosticas de pacientes diagnosticados de NMO con los criterios de 2015. Pacientes y metodos. Analizamos retrospectivamente 36 pacientes diagnosticados de NMO con los actuales criterios. Se generaron cuatro grupos segun la serologia de antiacuaporina 4 (positivos, negativos, desconocidos y negativos mas desconocidos agrupados). Se compararon sus caracteristicas clinicorradiologicas y se evaluaron posibles variables pronosticas de discapacidad. Resultados. Encontramos siete pacientes seropositivos, 12 negativos y 17 desconocidos. La edad de inicio fue de 36 ± 16 años, con mayor proporcion de mujeres (4 a 1). La duracion de la enfermedad fue de 7,4 ± 7,6 años. Los sintomas iniciales mas frecuentes fueron mielitis (61%), neuritis optica (33%) y sindrome del area postrema (11%). La lesion mas frecuente en la resonancia magnetica fue la mielitis longitudinalmente extensa (75%). Todos los pacientes recibieron tratamiento agudo, y el preventivo se utilizo en el 81%; la azatioprina y el rituximab fueron los que mas se usaron. La mediana de la Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) fue de 2 al final del seguimiento. No hubo diferencias significativas en las variables clinicorradiologicas entre los distintos grupos de pacientes. La edad de inicio fue pronostica y presenta correlacion directa con la EDSS. El inicio antes de los 30 años fue protector y, despues de los 50 años, un factor de riesgo para mayor discapacidad. Conclusiones. Los actuales criterios permiten describir diferentes cohortes. La edad de inicio parece ser un factor pronostico para desarrollar discapacidad.

Evidence of ß-Cell Dedifferentiation in Human Type 2 Diabetes.

CONTEXT: Diabetes is associated with a deficit of insulin-producing ß-cells. Animal studies show that ß-cells become dedifferentiated in diabetes, reverting to a progenitor-like stage, and partly converting to other endocrine cell types. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether similar processes occur in human type 2 diabetes, we surveyed pancreatic islets from 15 diabetic and 15 nondiabetic organ donors. DESIGN: We scored dedifferentiation using markers of endocrine lineage, ß-cell-specific transcription factors, and a newly identified endocrine progenitor cell marker, aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A3. RESULTS: By these criteria, dedifferentiated cells accounted for 31.9% of ß-cells in type 2 diabetics vs 8.7% in controls, and for 16.8% vs 6.5% of all endocrine cells (P < .001). The number of aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A3-positive/hormone-negative cells was 3-fold higher in diabetics compared with controls. Moreover, ß-cell-specific transcription factors were ectopically found in glucagon- and somatostatin-producing cells of diabetic subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The data support the view that pancreatic ß-cells become dedifferentiated and convert to α- and δ-"like" cells in human type 2 diabetes. The findings should prompt a reassessment of goals in the prevention and treatment of ß-cell dysfunction.

Conducta fumadora en estudiantes de kinesiología y su asociación con actitudes y conocimientos sobre tabaquismo: estudio de corte transversal / Smoking behavior in Chilean physical therapist students and their association with attitudes and knowledge on cigarette smoking: a cross sectional study

INTRODUCCIÓN: El tabaquismo continúa siendo un problema sanitario en población universitaria y profesionales de la salud. Los kinesiólogos participan en la implementación de programas orientados a la prevención y cese del tabaquismo en la comunidad. El objetivo de este estudio fue explorar la prevalencia de tabaquismo y actitudes sobre consumo de tabaco en estudiantes de kinesiología. MÉTODOS: Estudio de corte transversal realizado en estudiantes de Kinesiología de Concepción (Chile), durante los años 2017 y 2018. Se determinó la conducta y actitudes sobre tabaquismo. Mediante regresión logística se determinó la asociación entre la conducta fumadora y las actitudes sobre tabaquismo. Se consideró un valor de p < 0,05 como estadísticamente significativo. RESULTADOS: Se contestaron 554 cuestionarios. El 57,8% de los estudiantes encuestados declaró no haber fumado nunca, 13 % no haber fumado los últimos 6 meses y 29,4% declaró ser fumador actual. Por su parte, el 99,5% expresó algún grado de acuerdo con que fumar es perjudicial para la salud, lo cual se relacionó con la conducta fumadora (p < 0,0002). En relación a actitudes sobre tabaquismo, comparado a los no fumadores, los fumadores actuales presentan mayor probabilidad de mostrar desacuerdo o indiferencia respecto a actitudes positivas sobre tabaquismo. Principalmente en aquellas acciones que restringen su consumo, venta y divulgación (OR ponderado = 2,43; 95%IC 2,02 - 2,92). CONCLUSIONES: La prevalencia de tabaquismo en estudiantes de Kinesiología de Concepción es del 29,2%. Los estudiantes fumadores expresan una menor aprobación relacionada a intervenciones, actitudes y consecuencias del tabaquismo para la salud comparada con los no fumadores.

INTRODUCTION: Notwithstanding control policies, smoking continues to be a health problem in university students and health professionals, who are responsible for implementing programs oriented to prevention and cessation of smoking in the community. The objective of this study was to explore the prevalence of smoking and attitudes about smoking in physical therapy students. METHODS: Cross-sectional study carried out in students of physical therapy from three universities of Concepción city (Chile), during the years 2017 and 2018. Behavior and attitudes about smoking were evaluated. Association between smoking behavior and attitudes about smoking was determined by logistic regression. A p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: 554 questionnaires were answered. 57.8% of respondents had never smoked, 13.0% had not smoked in the last 6 months and 29.4% were current smokers. Moreover 99.5% of respondents stated some degree of agreement that smoking is harmful to health, which was related to smoking behavior (p < 0.0002). In relation to attitudes about smoking, compared to non-smokers, current smokers have a greater chance of showing disagreement or indifference regarding positive attitudes about smoking. Mainly in those actions that restrict tobacco consumption, sale and disclosure (weighted OR = 2.43, 95% CI 2.02 - 2.92). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of current smoking in physical therapy students from Concepcion city is 29.2%. Smoking students express lower approval related to interventions, attitudes and consequences of smoking for health compared with non-smokers.

Preservation of hearing in surgical removal of acoustic neuromas of the internal auditory canal and cerebellar pontine angle.

The surgical results in 69 patients with unilateral tumors of the cerebellopontine angle or internal auditory canal in whom total tumor removal was accomplished, and in whom an attempt was made to preserve hearing, are presented. The success rate of preservation of hearing and facial nerve function was correlated with the size of the tumor. Useful hearing, as defined by speech reception threshold no poorer than 70 dB and a discrimination score of at least 15%, was preserved in 73% of cases in which the tumor extension to the posterior fossa was no greater than 0.5 cm. In contrast, useful hearing was preserved in 22% of cases in which posterior fossa extension was greater than 2.5 cm. No significant correlation was found between preoperative evoked responses and success in preservation of hearing. The techniques and value of intraoperative monitoring of electrocochleogram (ECoG) and brain stem evoked responses are discussed. A theory of pathogenesis of intraoperative hearing loss, based on correlation of changes in evoked responses and simultaneous surgical events, is presented.

The effects of smoking and silica exposure on pulmonary epithelial permeability: a radioaerosol study with 99mTc-DTPA.

1. Pulmonary epithelial permeability (PEP) as evaluated by the clearance rate (K, %/min) of 99mTc-DTPA from lung to blood was measured in 4 groups of individuals: 10 normal controls; 10 smokers; 15 silica dust-exposed ceramic workers, 7 without chest X-ray alternations; and 8 with mild radiographic alterations, consistent with silicosis (small opacities of up to 1.5 mm diameter). 2. All subjects had normal pulmonary function tests. The mean clearance rates of smokers (3.0 %/min) and silica-exposed workers with X-ray changes (2.9 %/min) were accelerated compared to controls (1.2%/min) (P less than 0.05). Ceramic workers with normal X-rays had mean clearance rates (2.0 %/min) similar to controls. However, 3 of 7 (43%) had K values higher than the upper limit of the 95% confidence interval for the control mean. 3. Comparison of regional K (%/min) values with controls indicated faster clearance of 99mTc-DTPA in the upper lung regions of smokers. There was also increased clearance in the silicotic workers although of more uniform distribution over the lung regions analyzed. 4. Both smokers and ceramic workers exposed to a silica dust environment, with or without chest X-ray alterations, may show increased PEP compared to controls. As measurement of this parameter appears to be a sensitive index of lung injury, follow-up studies involving workers exposed to noxious dust are proposed to relate alterations in PEP to early silicosis and to the extent of lung injury.

The effects of contextual cues on making occupational and gender categorizations.

We report one study investigating how persons are categorized when the targets are presented with contextual cues. Using photos of either persons in occupational clothing and in occupational contexts or photos of college students and without distracting stimuli, the response times to verify various group memberships were tested, with the underlying interest of determining how persons are perceived when the persons are clearly members of multiple categories. Consistent with past research, when using rather simplistic photos, women were categorized as women faster than men were categorized as men. With occupational photos, however, women were not categorized as women faster than men were as men, nor were men categorized by occupation faster than were women, contrary to predictions derived from the 'white male default' (Zárate & Smith, 1990). Rather, for female stereotypic occupations, female targets were classified by occupation faster than were male stereotypic occupations, male targets were classified by occupation faster than were female targets. Across all comparisons, subjects categorized same-sex targets faster than other sex targets. Results are discussed for their implications for various person perception models.