Search

INTRODUCTION In the treatment of patients with acute bronchiolitis there is great variability in clinical practice. Treatments whose efficacy has not been demonstrated are frequently used despite the recommendations contained in the Clinical Practice Guidelines. MATERIAL AND METHODS A quality improvement strategy is implemented in the care of patients with acute bronchiolitis in the Emergency Department, which is maintained for five years and is periodically updated to be increasingly restrictive regarding the use of bronchodilators. To evaluate the impact of the intervention, a retrospective study of the rates of prescription of bronchodilators in children diagnosed with acute bronchiolitis in the month of December of four epidemic periods (2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018) was carried out. RESULTS 1767 children are included. There were no differences regarding age, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation or the estimated severity in each of the study seasons. The use of salbutamol in the Emergency Department decreased from 51.2% (95% CI: 46.6%-55.8%) in 2012 to 7.8% (95% CI: 5.7%-10.5%) in 2018 (P

Purpose: This study was performed to evaluate the long-term evolution of continence and patient’s quality of life after surgical treatment for obstetric fecal incontinence.Methods: A prospective longitudinal study was conducted including consecutive patients who underwent sphincteroplasty for severe obstetric fecal incontinence. The first phase analyzed changes in continence and impact on quality of life. The second phase studied the long-term evolution reevaluating the same group of patients 6 years later. Degree of fecal incontinence was calculated using the Cleveland Clinic Score (CCS). Quality of life assessment was carried out with the Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life scale.Results: Thirty-five patients with median age of 55 years (range, 28 to 73 years) completed the study. Phase 1 results: after a postoperative follow-up of 30 months (4 to 132 months), CCS had improved significantly from a preoperative of 15.7 ± 3.1 to 6.1 ± 5.0 (P < 0.001). Phase 2 results: median follow-up in phase 2 was 110 months (76 to 204 months). The CCS lowered to 8.4 ± 4.9 (P = 0.04). There were no significant differences between phases 1 and 2 in terms of quality of life; lifestyle (3.47 ± 0.75 vs. 3.16 ±1.04), coping/behavior (3.13 ±0.83 vs. 2.80 ±1.09), depression/self-perception (3.65 ±0.80 vs. 3.32 ± 0.98), and embarrassment (3.32 ± 0.90 vs. 3.12 ± 1.00).Conclusion: Sphincteroplasty offers good short-medium term outcomes in continence and quality of life for obstetric fecal incontinence treatment. Functional clinical results deteriorate over time but did not impact on patients’ quality of life.

The aim of this study was to present a new technique for plastic carrier removal in retreatment situations. The gutta-percha technique that uses plastic carrier obturators is one of the most commonly used; however, removing this core is tedious and time-consuming. Two clinical cases were performed by an expert in the field of endodontics, to expose this technique, in which a conical ultrasonic tip with an active point and a Hëdstrom hand file allowed the removal of the plastic carrier quickly and effectively. The use of magnification is indispensable for a predictable success with this method SI

AIM: The aim of this study was to describe the incidence of complicated appendicitis during the SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) pandemic lockdown. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of pediatric patients diagnosed with acute appendicitis in a single pediatric institution that assumed care responsibility for most of the pediatric emergencies during the lockdown period in Madrid (Spain). A control group was made up of the same number of patients diagnosed the previous year. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-one patients diagnosed with acute appendicitis were included (77 during self-quarantine and 74 during the previous year). The incidence of complicated appendicitis was 38.9% versus 28.3%, showing no significant differences. The 2 groups were homogeneous, with no differences in time elapsed between symptom onset and first emergency department visit, laboratory test results, median length of stay, intensive care admissions, or patients correctly diagnosed on their first visit. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) self-quarantine has not increased the incidence of complicated appendicitis, and children who developed complicated appendicitis did not have worse clinical outcomes. Parents did not delay presenting for medical attention, and emergency department pediatricians did not fail to diagnose this condition. Reorganization of hospital resources, fast-track treatment protocols for noncomplicated appendicitis, and extended use of home-stay hospitalization for complicated appendicitis could have contributed to these favorable outcomes.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to assess the diagnostic value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), alone or combined with positron emission tomography (PET), for evaluation of mediastinal disease in lymphoma in comparison with PET/computed tomography (CT). Material and methods: Eighteen prospective studies with sample size ranging between 17 and 140 patients were included in this analysis. MRI, regardless of the sequence obtained, where used for the evaluation of lymphoma. Histopathology results and clinical or imaging follow-up were used as the reference standard. Studies were excluded if the sample size was less than 15 cases or if less than 15 lymph nodes assessment were presented. Papers not reporting sufficient data were also excluded. Results: As compared to PET/CT, MRI proved to be an alternative to use in evaluation of mediastinal disease of lymphoma. MRI has high sensitivity and specificity for nodal and extranodal involvement in lymphoma and the agreement between MRI with the standard technique was high. The ALARA principle reinforces these findings because it is a radiation-free technique and its use is preferred in young population at risk of being subjected to several studies. Conclusion: MRI seems to be a promising and free-radiation alternative due to its high sensitivity and specificity, as well as its high level of agreement with the standard reference. This suggests that MRI could play a significant role in lymphoma study. Resumen: Objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio es evaluar el valor diagnóstico de la resonancia magnética (RM), sola o combinada con la tomografía por emisión de positrones (PET), para la valoración de la afectación mediastínica en el linfoma en comparación con la tomografía computarizada (TC)/PET. Material y métodos: Se incluyeron en el análisis 18 estudios prospectivos con un tamaño de muestra que oscilaba entre los 17 y los 140 pacientes. Se utilizó la resonancia magnética, independientemente de la secuencia obtenida para la evaluación del linfoma. Los resultados de histopatología y el seguimiento clínico o de imagen se utilizaron como estándar de referencia. Se excluyeron los estudios si el tamaño de la muestra era inferior a 15 casos, o si se presentaron evaluaciones de menos de 15 ganglios linfáticos. Los artículos que no proporcionaban datos suficientes también fueron excluidos. Resultados: En comparación con PET/TC, la RM demostró ser una alternativa útil en la evaluación de la afectación mediastínica del linfoma. La RM tiene una alta sensibilidad y especificidad para detectar afectación nodal y extranodal en el linfoma y la concordancia entre la RMy la técnica estándar fue alta. El principio ALARA refuerza estos hallazgos porque es una técnica libre de radiación y su uso se prefiere en la población joven en peligro de ser sometida a varios estudios. Conclusión: La RM parece ser una alternativa prometedora y libre de radiación debido a su alta sensibilidad y especificidad, así como a su alto nivel de concordancia con la referencia estándar. Esto sugiere que la RM podría desempeñar un papel importante en el estudio del linfoma.

Introduction: In recent years, an important number of studies have emphasized the psychopharmacological actions of cycloleucine (1-aminocyclopentanecarboxylic acid) acting on the NR1 subunit (glycine allosteric site) of NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartic acid) receptor. We studied the effects of its injection in an anxiety test. Methods: The elevated plus maze test was used. Male rats bilaterally cannulated into the nucleus accumbens septi (NAS) were employed. Rats were divided into 5 groups that received either 1 µL injections of saline or cycloleucine (0.5, 1, 2, or 4 µg) 15 min before testing. Results: Time spent in the open arm was significantly increased by cycloleucine treatment with all doses (1 and 2 µg, p < 0.05; 0.5 and 4 µg, p < 0.01), like number of extreme arrivals (0.5 and 1 µg, p < 0.05; 2 µg, p < 0.01; and 4 µg, p < 0.001). Open arm entries were increased by the highest dose only (4 µg, p < 0.01). Discussion/Conclusion: Present results show no difference between all doses in the time spent in the open arm, suggesting an indirect, noncompetitive action of the drug. The increase in extreme arrivals and open arm entries suggests a dose influence in these parameters. We conclude that cycloleucine influence on the NMDA receptors within NAS leads to anxiolytic-like effects and behavioral disinhibition, which once more confirms the involvement of NAS in anxiety processing.

Studies on diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in COVID-19 patients are scarce Infections are a precipitating factor for DKA in adults with diabetes Over a 1-week period, five patients with diabetes presented to our hospital with DKA SARS-CoV-2 infection was diagnosed in all five cases All patients developed acute respiratory distress syndrome and died during this hospitalization In this case series of male patients with diabetes, reluctance to present to the hospital, severe pneumonia, high C-reactive protein (29 35 ± 14 74 mg/dl), high white cell count (14,140 ± 5444 mm3), high D-dimer (2578 ± 1155 ng/ml), high lactate dehydrogenase (656 ± 249 U/L), and BMI >25 kg/m² may have contributed to their poor outcomes Los estudios sobre cetoacidosis diabetica (CAD) en pacientes con enfermedad por coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) son escasos Las infecciones son un factor desencadenante de la CAD en adultos con diabetes Durante un periodo de una semana, cinco pacientes que viven con diabetes se presentaron en nuestro hospital con CAD La infeccion por coronavirus 2 del sindrome respiratorio agudo grave (SARS-CoV-2) se diagnostico en los cinco casos Todos los pacientes desarrollaron sindrome de dificultad respiratoria aguda (SDRA) y murieron durante esta hospitalizacion En esta serie de casos de pacientes de sexo masculino con diabetes, la renuencia a acudir al hospital, neumonia grave, proteina C reactiva alta (29 35 ± 14 74 mg/dl), recuento alto de globulos blancos (14 140 ± 5 444 mm3), dimero D alto (2 578 ± 1 155 ng/ml), deshidrogenasa lactica alta (656 ± 249 U/l) e indice de masa corporal > 25 kg/m² pudieron haber contribuido a su mal pronostico

Distal diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy (DDSP) is the most prevalent form of diabetic neuropathy, and some of the patients develop gradual pain. Specialized sensory structures present in the skin encode different modalities of somatosensitivity such as temperature, touch, and pain. The cutaneous sensory structures responsible for the qualities of mechanosensitivity (fine touch, vibration) are collectively known as cutaneous mechanoreceptors (Meissner corpuscles, Pacinian corpuscles, and Merkel cell–axonal complexes), which results are altered during diabetes. Here, we used immunohistochemistry to analyze the density, localization within the dermis, arrangement of corpuscular components (axons and Schwann-like cells), and expression of putative mechanoproteins (PIEZO2, ASIC2, and TRPV4) in cutaneous mechanoreceptors of subjects suffering clinically diagnosed non-painful and painful distal diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy. The number of Meissner corpuscles, Pacinian corpuscles, and Merkel cells was found to be severely decreased in the non-painful presentation of the disease, and almost disappeared in the painful presentation. Furthermore, there was a marked reduction in the expression of axonal and Schwann-like cell markers (with are characteristics of corpuscular denervation) as well as of all investigated mechanoproteins in the non-painful distal diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy, and these were absent in the painful form. Taken together, these alterations might explain, at least partly, the impairment of mechanosensitivity system associated with distal diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy. Furthermore, our results support that an increasing severity of DDSP may increase the risk of developing painful neuropathic symptoms. However, why the absence of cutaneous mechanoreceptors is associated with pain remains to be elucidated.

This work was partially supported by grant number PR87/19-22587 from Santander Bank/Complutense University of Madrid

Introduction Total pancreatectomy (TP) is an uncommon operation, with indications that have not been clearly defined and non-standardized postoperative results. We present a national multicentric study on TP and a comparison with the existing literature. Methods A prospective observational study using data from the national registry of patients after pancreaticoduodenectomy and TP performed for any indication during the study period: January 1–December 31, 2015. Results 1016 patients were included from 73 hospitals, 112 of whom had undergone TP. The percentage of TP from the total number of cases was 11%. The mean age was 63.5 years, and 57.2% were males. The most frequently suspected radiological diagnosis was pancreatic cancer (58/112 cases). The most common TP technique was “mesentery artery first” (43/112 cases). Venous resections were performed in 23 patients (20.5%). The percentage of postoperative complications within 90 days was 50%, but major complications (>IIIA) were only 20.7%. The overall 90-day mortality was 8% (9 patients). The average stay was 20.7 days. The 3 most frequent definitive histological diagnoses were: adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm and chronic pancreatitis. The R0 rate was 67.8%. Conclusions This study shows that the morbidity and mortality results of TP in Spain are similar or superior to previous publications. More precise TP studies are necessary, focused on specific complications such as endocrine insufficiency.

Resumen Introduccion La pancreatectomia total (PT) es una intervencion infrecuente, con unas indicaciones no claramente definidas y unos resultados postoperatorios no estandarizados. Presentamos un estudio multicentrico nacional sobre PT y una comparacion con la literatura existente. Metodos Estudio prospectivo observacional realizado mediante el registro nacional de pacientes operados de duodenopancreatectomia cefalica y PT realizadas por cualquier indicacion durante el periodo comprendido entre el 1 enero y el 31 diciembre del 2015. Resultados Se incluyo a 1.016 pacientes, pertenecientes a 73 centros; de ellos, 112 correspondian a PT. El porcentaje de PT/numero total de casos es del 11%. La edad media fue 63,5 anos y eran varones un 57,2%. El diagnostico radiologico de sospecha mas frecuente fue cancer de pancreas (58/112 casos). La tecnica de la PT mas habitual fue «arteria mesenterica primero» (43/112 casos). Se efectuaron resecciones venosas en 23 pacientes (20,5%). El porcentaje de complicaciones postoperatorias a 90 dias fue 50%, pero las complicaciones mayores (> IIIA) solo el 20,7%. La mortalidad global a 90 dias fue del 8% (9 pacientes). La estancia media fue 20,7 dias. Los 3 diagnosticos histologicos definitivos mas frecuentes fueron: adenocarcinoma de pancreas, neoplasia mucinosa papilar intraductal y pancreatitis cronica. La tasa de R0 fue del 67,8%. Conclusiones Este estudio demuestra que los resultados de morbimortalidad de la PT en Espana son similares o superiores a los publicados previamente. Es necesario un estudio mas especifico sobre PT centrado en complicaciones especificas, como la insuficiencia endocrina.

This study sought to evaluate the efficacy of a brief version of the Happy Classrooms Programme in psychological well-being, school aggression, and positive classroom climate. Likewise, this study also aimed to identify which intervention effects could be attributed to the development of mindfulness. Finally, the last target of this study was to evaluate the implementation fidelity and the acceptability of the programme. Multiple linear regression and longitudinal mediation analyses were performed with a sample of 524 students (49.8% boys and 50.2% girls) with a mean age of 13.6 years. Results provided evidence of the efficacy of the intervention in the majority of variables. For Mindfulness, Depressive Symptomatology, Perceived Stress, Competence, Emotional Attention, Identified Regulation, External Regulation, and Amotivation, the intervention proved efficacious only when pre-treatment levels of mindfulness were high, and sometimes also medium. For Self-esteem, Satisfaction with Life, Relatedness, Emotional Repair, Physical Aggression, Relational Aggression, Affiliation, and Teacher Support, intervention effects were irrespective of pre-treatment levels of mindfulness. Mediation analyses found evidence of longitudinal mediation effect of mindfulness on the relation between the intervention and most outcome variables. Implementation data showed that total time implemented by the teachers varied among them and that the programme was not highly acceptable by most students. Our findings point out that Happy Classrooms Programme may promote psychological well-being and positive classroom climate, and reduce school aggression in students by increasing mindfulness levels.

Background Omalizumab is a fully humanized monoclonal antibody indicated as add-on therapy to improve asthma control in patients with severe persistent allergic asthma. Aims The aim of this study was to evaluate social, healthcare expenditure and clinical outcomes changes after incorporating omalizumab into standard treatment in the control of severe asthma. Methods In this multicentre retrospective study, a total of 220 patients were included from 15 respiratory medicine departments in the regions of Andalusia and Extremadura (Spain). Effectiveness was calculated as a 3-point increase in the Asthma Control Test (ACT) and a reduction in the annual number of exacerbations. The economic evaluation included both direct and indirect costs. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was calculated. Results from the year before and the year after incorporation of omalizumab were compared. Results After adding omalizumab, improvement of lung function, asthma and rhinitis according to patient perception, as well as the number of exacerbations and asthma control measured by the ACT score were observed. Globally, both healthcare resources and pharmacological costs decreased after omalizumab treatment, excluding omalizumab cost. When only direct costs were considered, the ICER was €1712 (95% CI 1487–1995) per avoided exacerbation and €3859 (95% CI 3327–4418) for every 3-point increase in the ACT score. When both direct and indirect costs were considered, the ICER was €1607 (95% CI 1385–1885) for every avoided exacerbation and €3555 (95% CI 3012–4125) for every 3-point increase. Conclusions Omalizumab was shown to be an effective add-on therapy for patients with persistent severe asthma and allowed reducing key drivers of asthma-related costs.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of continuous apical negative ultrasonic irrigation into simulated lateral canals and the apical third in straight and curved root canals. Two simulated lateral canals were created 2, 4 and 6 mm from the working length in 120 single-rooted teeth (6 canals/tooth, n = 360 straight, n = 360 curved). The teeth were randomly divided into 3 experimental groups: positive pressure irrigation (PPI) (n = 20); passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI) (n = 20); continuous apical negative ultrasonic irrigation (CANUI) (n = 20). 20% Chinese ink was added to a 5% sodium hypochlorite solution and delivered into the root canals. The results showed a significantly higher (P

INTRODUCTION: A saturated intensive care unit (ICU) setting and socioeconomic factors such as higher poverty rates have been associated with increased rates of in-hospital mortality of COVID-19 patients. Mexico City has become the national epicenter of the pandemic, with Mexico’s highest death toll. Iztapalapa is the delegation with the highest population density and the most notorious conditions of marginalization in Mexico City. We describe the clinical characteristics and risk factors associated with mortality in 164 patients who received care in a hospital ward setting due to ICU saturation in a hospital in Iztapalapa, Mexico City.MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, data from confirmed COVID-19 patients hospitalized between April 1, 2020 and May 31, 2020 were collected. Patients were categorized into different subgroups: alive vs. deceased and intubated vs. non-intubated for analysis between groups. A p-value RESULTS: In this setting, 67% of the patients required mechanical ventilation, and 32.3% needed vasopressor support, with in-hospital mortality of 68.3%. The most common complications during hospitalization were acute kidney injury (36%) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (34.8%). We observed similar factors associated with death as previous studies: male sex, older age, comorbidities, laboratory values indicating increased inflammatory/organ failure markers, and severe disease at admission. Additionally, we found that routine use of intravenous antibiotics was associated with a higher rate of in-hospital mortality (RR 3.45, 95% CI 1.69-7.06, p CONCLUSIONS: Patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 in a saturated ICU setting had higher mortality than the rates in other studies reported globally.

Background Surgical wait list time is a major problem in many health-care systems and its influence on survival is unclear. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of wait list time on long-term disease-free survival in patients scheduled for colorectal cancer resection. Materials and methods A prospective study was carried out in patients with colorectal cancer scheduled for surgery at a tertiary care center. Wait list time was defined as the time from completion of diagnostic workup to definitive surgery and divided into 2-week intervals from 0 to 6 weeks. The outcome variables were 2-year and 5-year disease-free survival. Results A total of 602 patients, 364 (60.5%) male, median age 73 years (range = 71) were defined. The median wait list time was 28 days (range = 99). Two and 5-year disease-free survival rates were 521 (86.5%) and 500 (83.1%) respectively. There were no differences in 2-year or 5-year disease-free survival for the whole cohort or by tumor stage between wait list time intervals except for AJCC stage II tumors which showed a higher 5-year disease-free survival for the 2–4 and 4–6-week wait list time interval (p = 0.021). Conclusions Time from diagnosis to definitive surgery up to 6 weeks is not associated with a decrease in 2-year or 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) in AJCC stage I through III colorectal cancer patients. These are important findings in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic and offer a window of opportunity for preoperative optimization and prehabilitation.

Purpose Determine differences in pathologic outcomes between laparoscopic (LAP) and open surgery (OPEN) for mid and low rectal cancer and its influence in long-term oncological outcomes. Methods Retrospective case matched study at a tertiary institution. Adults with rectal cancer below 12 cm from the anal verge operated between January 2005 and September 2018 were included. Primary outcomes were quality of specimen, overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and local recurrence (LR). Results The study included 311 patients, LAP = 108 (34.7%), OPEN = 203 (65,3%). A successful resection was accomplished in 81% of the LAP group and in 84.5% of the OPEN (p = 0.505). No differences in free distal margin (LAP = 100%, OPEN = 97.5%; p = 0.156) or circumferential resection margin (LAP = 95.2%, OPEN = 93.2%; p = 0.603) were observed. However, mesorectum quality was incomplete in 16.2% for LAP and in 8.1% for OPEN (p = 0.048). OS was 91.1% for LAP and 81.1% for OPEN (p = 0.360). DFS was 81.4% for LAP and 77.5% for OPEN (p = 0.923). Overall, LR was 2.3% without differences between groups. Conclusions Laparoscopic approach could affect the quality of surgical specimen due to technical aspects. However, if principles of surgical oncology are respected, minor pathologic differences in the quality of the mesorectum may not influence on the long-term oncologic outcomes.

Background Several risk factors for anastomotic leakage (AL) following colorectal surgery have been described. Improvement in devices for performing anastomosis is a modifiable factor that could reduce AL rates. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of technical improvements in the Echelon Circular (TM) powered stapler (ECPS) on the left-sided colorectal AL rate compared to current manual circular staplers (MCS). Methods A cohort study was carried out on consecutive patients between January 2017 and February 2020 in whom left-sided stapled colorectal anastomosis above 5 cm from anal verge was performed. The primary end point was the risk of AL depending on the type of circular stapler used. The ECPS cases were matched to MCS cases by propensity score matching to obtain comparable groups of patients. Results Two hundred seventy-nine patients met the inclusion criteria. A MCS anastomosis was performed in 218 patients and ECPS anastomosis in 61 (21.9%). Overall, AL was observed in 25 (9%) cases. Factors significantly associated with AL were American Society of Anesthesiologists score (p = 0.025) and type of circular stapler used (p = 0.021). After adjusting the cases with propensity score matching (119 cases MCS versus 60 ECPS), AL was observed in 14 (11.8%) patients in MCS group and in 1 (1.7%) patient in the ECPS group (p = 0.022). AL in the MCS group required reoperation in seven cases (5.8%), the remaining seven patients were treated conservatively. The patient in the ECSP group required an urgent Hartmann's procedure Conclusions The ECPS device could have a positive impact by reducing AL rates in left-sided colorectal anastomosis. Multicenter controlled trials are needed for stronger evidence to change practice.

Objective To determine the psychometric properties of the Person-Centered Therapeutic Relationship in Physiotherapy Scale (PCTR-PT) in order to find the most appropriate fit for the tool. Methods Patients who had received treatment at the physiotherapy service of nine hospitals in Spain were invited to complete the 31 items of the PCTR-PT scale. To select the most appropriate items of the PCTR-PT, an exploratory factorial analysis (EFA) was performed using the maximum likelihood and oblique rotation (promin) methods. Factor validity, goodness-of-fit and psychometric properties were analyzed by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Convergent (CFA) and discriminant validity were calculated. Internal consistency was verified using the Cronbach's alpha coefficient. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to examine temporal stability. Results 366 patients over 18 years old who had received, at least, 15 physiotherapy treatment sessions completed the questionnaire. The results of the exploratory factor analysis revealed a tool with 15 items in four factors [Relational Bond (N items = 4); Individualized Partnership (N items = 4); Professional Empowerment (N items = 3) and Therapeutic Communication (N items = 4)], explaining 78.4% of the variance of the total variables of this tool. The confirmatory factor analysis further confirmed the four-structure model. Reliability of the tool was approved by Cronbach's alpha in all four dimensions, as all were above .70, ranging from .84 (Individualized Partnership) to .91 (Professional Empowerment). = 0.94. Test-retest was performed with two-week intervals, indicating an appropriate stability for the scale (ICC = 0.900). Conclusion The Person-Centered Therapeutic Relationship in Physiotherapy Scale (PCTR-PT) is a useful, valid and applicable instrument to evaluate the person-centered therapeutic relationship during physiotherapy interventions. It would be interesting to investigate the predictive capacity (sensitivity and specificity) of the PCTR-PT scale.

A resurgence of COVID-19 infections is occurring in Spain, with some of the worst figures in Europe.1, 2 In August, 2020, we urged the Spanish Central Government and regional governments to independently evaluate their COVID-19 response to identify areas where public health and the health and social care system need to be improved.3 Although we received widespread support from more than 50 scientific societies and associations representing public health, medical, and nursing professional communities; there is now a need to define such an evaluation in terms of its timing, scope, and leadership. Here, we suggest three major requisites and four guiding principles, adapted from McKee and colleagues,4 which we believe would ensure a successful independent evaluation.

Introduction: Usefulness of PET-CT and EBUS-TBNA in the characterization of mediastinal adenopathies in lung cancer is well defined and protocolized, however, there is no consensus on the best diagnostic strategy for mediastinal adenopathies secondary to extrathoracic tumors (MAET). The aim of this study is to assess the usefulness of imaging tests and EBUS-TBNA in the diagnosis of MAET. Methods: Retrospective study of patients with MAET who underwent EBUS-TBNA from May 2016 to July 2019 for initial diagnosis, extension study or follow-up. Results: We analyzed 38 EBUS-TBNA belonging to 36 patients, who underwent the test due to findings of PET-CT and CT. 65 lymph nodes were sampled, being station 7 (38.5%) and 4R (29.2%) the most analyzed. Samples confirmed lymph node metastasis in 52.6% of cases. In 10.5% of cases EBUS-TBNA implied the diagnosis of an unknown extrathoracic tumor. Metastasis produced by breast, renal, hepatic, endometrial and urothelial cancer stood out. In 2 cases of breast cancer and 1 of liver cancer, mediastinoscopy and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) were needed to confirm the diagnosis. A second EBUS-TBNA was needed to confirm diagnosis in 22.2% of the benign cases. For the rest, a radiological follow-up was performed, with no reported cases of false negative. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean SUV between malignant (7.88 ± 1.55) and benign (8.48 ± 3.43) adenopathies. Conclusions: In our setting EBUS-TBNA has been effective and accurate in the diagnosis of MAET. In contrast to lung carcinoma, the predictive potential of SUV for malignancy in MAET is limited and the usefulness of PET-CT as a guide in mediastinal sampling is questionable.

Introduction: The world is currently suffering from the outbreak of a pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which causes the disease called COVID-19. This disease was reported for the first time in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, on December 31, 2019. Hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular disease are common among patients with COVID-19. In Mexico, information on the association between COVID-19 and hypertension is scarce. Methods: This investigation was a descriptive, observational and cross-sectional study that included patients over 18 years of age who had been hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 between April 6, 2020, and May 6, 2020, and exhibited chest X-ray abnormalities (ground-glass opacity, interstitial alterations and/or multilobar infiltrate). Severity of pneumonia (severe vs. nonsevere) at the time of admission was defined using the community-acquired pneumonia guidelines of the American Thoracic Society (ATS). Results: Information was collected from 89 patients with COVID-19 pneumonia, 34 of whom (38.2%) were hypertensive. When studying risk factors in hypertensive patients and their degree of statistical association with risk of mortality, only the severity of pneumonia stood out. The association between severe pneumonia and mortality was statistically significant (OR: 10.9, CI 1.19-99.6, p value = 0.034). Conclusions: Severity of pneumonia upon admission can be regarded as a marker of adverse clinical outcome in hypertensive COVID-19 patients. Among hypertensive COVID-19 patients, in-hospital mortality was high (68%); such mortality was higher in our study than has been reported in other series worldwide.

In the last years, the variety and consumption of cosmetics and personal care products (PCPs) have greatly increased, although the long-term adverse effects to low doses of chemicals used in their production and with proven hormone-mimicking properties have been still poorly addressed. Among these endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), parabens, benzophenones, bisphenols, and phthalates are the most widely found in these products. Given the estrogenic-dependent nature of the endometrium, it has been hypothesized the potential contribution of these EDCs contained in cosmetics and PCPs in the risk of endometriosis. In this book chapter, we have summarized the current evidence supporting this hypothesis, highlighting epidemiological, in vivo, and in vitro studies that have addressed the potential influence of parabens, benzophenones, bisphenols, and phthalates in the origin and progression of this chronic feminine disease.

Introduction. Lung cancer is a major health problem. Mediastinal staging performed with the aid of imaging techniques is essential for appropriate disease treatment and prognosis. Accordingly, this study aimed to ascertain the usefulness of positron emission tomography (PET) in mediastinal staging, establish the best maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) cutoff point, compare its usefulness to that of computed tomography (CT), and determine the influence of histological tumour subtype. Methods. We conducted a retrospective study across a period of 3 years on 128 patients with suspicion of lung cancer and analyzed their demographic and radiological characteristics using CT and PET to perform the mediastinal examination. Histology was regarded as the gold standard. Results. PET displayed a high sensitivity (95%) and negative predictive value (NPV) (92%), outperforming CT (89% and 85%, respectively). Percentage agreement with histology was also higher (0.207 and 0.241 for CT and PET, respectively; p<0.001). Taking an SUVmax value of 0.5 as that which would ensure greatest diagnostic accuracy, S and NPV were 100%, though percentage agreement did not increase (0.189; p<0.001). PET discriminatory power was not affected by histological tumour subtype. Conclusions. The results of our study indicate that PET might be a useful test for examination of the mediastinum in lung cancer patients. Its high NPV suggests that the absence of mediastinal uptake could be used to proceed to surgical treatment without the need for further tests or examinations. Nevertheless, studies directly aimed to answer this specific question are needed.

The differential diagnosis for black ascites include pancreatic ascites (PA). In majority of cases described the ascitic fluid as amber or black-colored. We report the case of a 33-year-old man with a history of alcohol abuse who presented with 24 h of epigastric pain and abdominal distension. Laboratory results showed lipase of 1270 U/l, amylase of 442 U/l and albumin of 2 g/dl. A contrast computed tomography scan of the abdomen showed pancreatic necrosis with atrophy and free abdominal fluid. Paracentesis was performed, yielding opaque black ascitic fluid. An ascitic fluid analysis demonstrated amylase of 2769 U/l, albumin of 1.6 g/dl, was negative for malignant cells and tuberculosis. Serum-Ascites Albumin Gradient was resulted in 0.4. The diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis was suspected, and he received supportive care with pain medication and bowel rest. He was discharged with symptom free on Day 14 after admission.

Aim: The aim of this study was to explore associations of urinary concentrations of bisphenols A (BPA), S (BPS), and F (BPF) and of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) with the risk of endometriosis in women of childbearing age. Methods: This case&ndash, control study enrolled 124 women between January 2018 and July 2019: 35 women with endometriosis (cases) and 89 women without endometriosis undergoing abdominal surgery for other reasons (controls). Endometriosis was diagnosed (cases) or ruled out (controls) by laparoscopic inspection of the pelvis and the biopsy of suspected lesions (histological diagnosis). Fasting urine samples were collected before surgery to determine concentrations of BPA, BPS, BPF, and TBARS. Associations of bisphenol and TBARS concentrations with endometriosis risk were explored with multivariate logistic and linear regression analyses. Results: After adjustment for urinary creatinine, age, BMI, parity, and residence, endometriosis risk was increased with each 1 log unit of BPA [OR 1.5, 95%CI 1.0&ndash, 2.3] and &Sigma, bisphenols [OR 1.5, 95%CI 0.9&ndash, 2.3] but was not associated with the presence of BPS and BPF. Classification of the women by tertiles of exposure revealed statistically significant associations between endometriosis risk and the second tertile of exposure to BPA [OR 3.7, 95%CI 1.3&ndash, 10.3] and &Sigma, bisphenols [OR 5.4, 95%CI 1.9&ndash, 15.6]. In addition, TBARS concentrations showed a close-to-significant relationship with increased endometriosis risk [OR 1.6, 2.8], and classification by TBARS concentration tertile revealed that the association between endometriosis risk and concentrations of BPA [OR 2.0, 4.1] and &Sigma, bisphenols [OR 2.2, 4.6] was only statistically significant for women in the highest TBARS tertile (&gt, 4.23 &mu, M). Conclusion: Exposure to bisphenols may increase the risk of endometriosis, and oxidative stress may play a crucial role in this association. Further studies are warranted to verify these findings.

We present the case of a 69-year-old man with history of prostate carcinoma treated with prostatectomy and subsequently with external beam radiotherapy and hormone therapy because of biochemical recurrences. More than 10 years after the diagnosis, follow-up Tc-HDP bone scans and SPECT/CT images demonstrated an incidental diagnosis of osteoblastic pleural plaques that quickly evolve to mesothelioma. PET/CT achieved the definitive diagnosis by guiding the biopsy to the highest and most accessible focus of glucidic hypermetabolism. Our case report raises the association between prostate cancer patients treated with external beam radiotherapy and the development of pleural mesothelioma despite having no history of exposure to asbestos.

Este artículo se encuentra disponible en la siguiente URL: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0228916 Objectives This study sought to develop a tool for evaluating person-centered therapeutic relationships within physiotherapy services, and to examine the content validity of the same. Methods A mixed qualitative and quantitative study was performed in three distinct phases: 1) the items were generated based on a literature review and a content analysis of focus groups of patients and physiotherapists; 2) an e-Delphi survey process was performed based on three rounds to select and refine the proposed questionnaire; 3) two rounds of cognitive interviews were conducted to evaluate the comprehension of items, the clarity of language and the appropriateness and relevance of content. Results Thirty-one items were generated based on the seven domains identified after the analysis of four focus groups of physiotherapists and four patient focus groups. Nine experts participated in the e-Delphi survey. Fifty-five patients participated in the two rounds of the cognitive pre-tests. Participating patients were from public and private physical therapy services. Based on the participants’ suggestions, four items were removed, and four were added, whereas 16 were reworded. Conclusions The final tool comprised 31 items divided into seven domains. The response format was based on a 5-point Likert frequency scale. The response options ranged from “strongly agree” to “strongly disagree”.

In previous studies, we have observed that specific N-methyl-d-Aspartic acid (NMDA) antagonists and non-NMDA antagonists injected within the nucleus accumbens septi (NAS) induced an anxiolytic-like effect in the plus maze test in rats. In the present study, the effect of intracanalicular blockade of NMDA receptors using dizocilpine in the plus maze was studied in male rats bilaterally cannulated NAS. Rats were divided into five groups that received either 1 μL injections of saline or dizocilpine (MK-801, [5R,10S]-[+]-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo [a,d] cyclohepten-5,10-imine) in different doses (0.5, 1, 2, or 4 μg) 15 min before testing. Time spent in the open arm increased under dizocilpine treatment with the two higher doses (2 and 4 μg, p

Objective To evaluate the reproducibility of the sentinel lymph node (SLN) technique in male breast cancer. Material and methods We retrospectively analyzed 21 male patients diagnosed with breast cancer in our hospital from 2008 to 2016 with, at least, 18 months follow-up. Fifteen patients underwent selective sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) following the usual protocols with peritumoral injection of 18.5–111 MBq of 99mTc-nanocoloides and acquisition of planar images 2 h after the injection. In 2 cases it was necessary to perform a SPECT/CT to locate the SLN. Immunohistochemistry and molecular techniques (OSNA) were used for their analysis. Six patients did not undergo SLNB because they had pathological nodes or distant disease at the time of diagnosis. Results SLNB was performed in 15 patients. The SLN was negative in 6 patients and positive in the remaining 9. Three patients with positive SLNB did not need axillary lymphadenectomy because of the low number of copies by molecular analysis OSNA. Axillary lymphadenectomy was performed in the remaining 6 patients with the result of 4 positive axillary lymphadenectomies and 2 that did not show further extension of the disease. Conclusions According to our experience, SLNB in males is a reproducible, useful, safe and reliable technique which avoids unnecessary axillary lymphadenectomy and prevents the appearance of undesirable effects.

Background: Cases of patients with combined DKA and HHS associated to COVID-19 are scarce but showed Hispanics patients tended to be associated with higher mortality. Clinical Case: A 51-year-old Mexican man with past medical history of T2DM presented to our hospital with 1-week history of fever, dyspnea, polydipsia, and nausea. Initial vital signs were notable for fever (axillary temperature 39°C) and low oxygen saturation (90% on room air). His examination was notable for a BMI of 31.2 kg/m2. Blood tests showed hyperglycemia (663 mg/dl, n 70–100 mg/dL), hypernatremia (146 mEq/L, n 135–145 mEq/L), hyperchloremia (113 mEq/L, n 95–110 mEq/L), elevated C-Reactive Protein [CRP] (18.7 mg/dl, n < 0.7 mg/dl), elevated lactate dehydrogenase [LDH] (672 U/L, n 100–170 U/L), high D-dimer (3420 ng/ml, n

Introduction: There is limited information analyzing the utility of different prognostic scores in predicting in-hospital mortality among patients with COVID-19. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of PORT/PSI and SOFA scores in predicting the in-hospital mortality of patients with COVID-19. Material and methods: This was an observational, analytical, and retrospective study that included consecutive patients hospitalized for COVID-19 from April 1, 2020, to May 31, 2020. The study population was characterized, and ROC analysis was performed and used to calculate the area under the curve of PORT/PSI and SOFA scores as well as the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values. Results: A total of 151 patients were included, with a median age of 52 years (IQR 45-64); 69.5% were men, with a median BMI of 29.3 kg/m2 (IQR 25.5-34.7). Of the total, 102 patients died during hospitalization (67.5%). The areas under the ROC curves for predicting in-hospital mortality were 0.74 (95% CI 0.67-0.81) for the SOFA score and 0.85 (95% CI 0.78-0.90) for the PORT/PSI score. When compared, the PORT/PSI score predicted mortality significantly better than the SOFA score (p: 0.01). Conclusions: The PORT/PSI score is a good tool to predict in-hospital mortality in patients with COVID-19.

espanolIntroduccion: Un alto porcentaje de pacientes registrados en la base de datos de la farmacia mostraron sobrepeso asociado a malas practicas alimentarias. Por ello, nos propusimos instaurar un servicio de nutricion para contribuir a mejorar sus habitos nutricionales. Material y metodos: Durante noviembre-diciembre 2014, se impartieron charlas explicativas y se publicito el servicio entre los usuarios. En enero de 2015 se inauguro la consulta. Con los datos registrados durante el primer ano, a traves de entrevistas personalizadas, se realizo un estudio observacional-descriptivo y longitudinal, analizando los habitos alimentarios del paciente, sus parametros antropometricos: indice de masa corporal (IMC) y perimetro de la cintura (PC) y clinicos: presion arterial (PA), asi como su evolucion en controles sucesivos. Resultados: La muestra (n=77, 25-64 anos), 66 mujeres (85,7%) y 11 varones (14,3%), presentaba un IMC=33,2±5,6 kg/m2 y un PC=97,2±13,9 cm. El 24,1% mostro sobrepeso, el 57,5% algun tipo de obesidad (I o II) y el 11,5% obesidad morbida (IMC>40). Ansiedad, estrenimiento y enfermedades del tiroides predominaron entre las mujeres (56,6%, 38,2% y 19,7%) y la HTA en los varones (54,5% p Se registraron 8,6±5,5 visitas/paciente consiguiendose una perdida de 4,5±3,8 kg de peso, 1,7±1,5 kg/m2 de IMC (p Conclusiones: Despues de un ano, el servicio esta claramente instaurado, ha beneficiado a gran parte de sus usuarios y ha permitido algunas derivaciones a otros servicios farmaceuticos. EnglishIntroduction: A high percentage of patients registered in the database of a pharmacy in Seville (Spain) were overweight, in association with poor dietary practices. In order to help improving their health status, we undertook the implementation of a nutrition service. Materials and methods: During the months of November-December 2014, the service was publicized, and explanatory talks were given. The service was inaugurated in January 2015. With the data recorded between January 2015 and January 2016, based on personalized interviews, we made an observational-descriptive and longitudinal study, analyzing the nutritional habits of the patient, their anthropometric parameters (Body Mass Index, BMI and waist circumference, WC) and clinical parameters (Blood Pressure, BP), controlling them in successive visits.Results: The sample (n = 77, 25-64 years), 66 women (85.7%) and 11 men (14.3%) had a BMI= 33.2 ±5.6 kg/m2 and a BW = 97.2±13.9 cm. 24.1% were overweight, 57.5% presented some type of obesity (I or II), and 11.5% were morbidly obese (BMI> 40). Anxiety, constipation and thyroid diseases predominated among women (56.6%, 38.2% and 19.7%) and HTA in males (54.5% p We registered 8.6±5.5 visits/year/patient, achieving a loss of 4.5±3.8 kg of weight, 1.7±1.5 kg/m2 of BMI (p Conclusions: After a year, the service is clearly established, has benefited a large part of its users and has allowed some referrals to other pharmaceutical services.

Background Gallstone ileus is caused by the exit of a gallstone from the gallbladder or bile duct into the small intestine, resulting in bowel obstruction if this stone becomes lodged in a small bowel loop. Clinical case The case is presented of a 78 year-old woman with an episode of intestinal obstruction. After studying the main cause of the obstruction, it was decided to perform a laparotomy where a gallstone located in the terminal ileum was causing the obstruction. No fistula was observed between the gallbladder and the bile duct and the intestinal tract. It is important to note the history of an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography performed a few months earlier, as it would probably be the cause of the passage of the gallstone to the small bowel. Conclusion Few reports of gallstone ileus have been described in the literature after performing an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. In these cases, the intestinal obstruction usually occurs several months after the endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, so the diagnosis is often delayed. Surgery is usually the definitive treatment and it consists of the removal the stone by enterotomy and performing a cholecystectomy. Biliary enteric fistula repair is not necessary since this does not form.

Objective To assess the degree of compliance with the recommendations of the 2009 and 2015 versions of the Spanish guidelines for managing asthma (Guia Espanola para el Manejo del Asma [GEMA]) and the effect of this compliance on controlling the disease. Material and methods We conducted an observational ambispective study between September 2015 and April 2016 in which 314 primary care physicians and 2864 patients participated. Results Using retrospective data, we found that 81 of the 314 physicians (25.8%; 95% CI 21.3–30.9) stated that they complied with the GEMA2009 recommendations. At the start of the study, 88 of the 314 physicians (28.0%; 95% CI 23.4–33.2) complied with the GEMA2015 recommendations. Poorly controlled asthma (OR, 0.19; 95% CI 0.13–0.28) and persistent severe asthma at the start of the study (OR, 0.20; 95% CI 0.12–0.34) were negatively associated with having well-controlled asthma by the end of the follow-up. In contrast, compliance with the GEMA2015 recommendations was positively associated with a greater likelihood that the patient would have well-controlled asthma by the end of the follow-up (OR, 1.70; 95% CI 1.40–2.06). Conclusions Low compliance with the clinical guidelines for managing asthma is a common problem among primary care physicians. Compliance with these guidelines is associated with a better asthma control. Actions need to be taken to improve primary care physician compliance with the asthma management guidelines.

The objective of this research was to evaluate a possible corrective measure against negative metabolic states, as occurs in the advanced stage of gestation in ewes, and that sometimes produces a disease called pregnancy toxaemia. In the present research, we found that the joint administration of i.v. lysine-vasopressin (0.08 IU/kg body weight, BW) and an oral glucose solution (50 g) produces an increase in blood glucose, which persists for some time (up to 6 h); therefore, it could be used in the treatment of pregnancy toxaemia. This therapy is based on the fact that lysine-vasopressin induces gastric groove closure in adult ruminants, enabling orally administered glucose to reach the abomasum directly, from where it rapidly passes into the intestine and is immediately absorbed. We can say that the tested treatment causes a significant increase in blood glucose in ewes affected by toxaemia caused by fasting, which, although less marked than conventional therapy with intravenous drip glucose, remains longer, regularizing other parameters indicative of energy metabolism in fasting ewes.

Background Aim of the study was to describe characteristics and outcomes of Hartmann's procedure (HP) and subsequent intestinal restoration. Methods Retrospective study including all patients who underwent HP over a period of 16 consecutive years. We propose a classification and regression tree for a more accurate view of the relationship between the variables related to intestinal restoration and their weighting in the decision to reverse HP. Results 533 patients were included. Overall morbidity rate of HP was 53.5% and mortality 21.0%. Overall morbidity of the intestinal continuity reconstruction was 47.3% and mortality 0.9%. Patients with a benign disease, aged under 69 years and with low comorbidity, had an 84.4% probability of undergoing intestinal reconstruction. Conclusions HP is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Restoration of intestinal continuity involves minor, but frequent, morbidity and a low mortality rate. Age and comorbidities can decrease, and even override, the decision to reverse HP.

espanolIntroduccion: la lesion yatrogenica de la via biliar (LYVB) es una complicacion con elevada morbilidad tras la colecistectomia. En los ultimos anos la endoscopia ha adquirido un papel fundamental en el manejo de esta patologia. Metodos: estudio retrospectivo de LYVB tras colecistectomia abierta (CA) o colecistectomia laparoscopica (CL) tratadas en nuestro centro entre 1993 y 2017. Se analizaron los datos referentes a las caracteristicas clinicas, tipo de lesion segun la clasificacion de Strasberg-Bismuth, diagnostico, tecnica de reparacion y seguimiento. Resultados: se estudian 46 pacientes. La incidencia LYVB fue de 0,48%, 0,61% para las CL y 0,24% para las CA. El diagnostico se realizo de forma intraoperatoria en 12 casos (26%) y mediante colangiopancreatografia retrograda endoscopica (CPRE) en 10 (21,7%). Las caracteristicas mas comunes a todos los pacientes con LYVB fueron la colecistitis aguda (20/46, 43,5%), ingreso previo por patologia biliar (16/46, 43,2%) y realizacion de CPRE previa a la colecistectomia (7/46, 18,9%). Los tipos de LYVB mas frecuentes fueron el D (17/46, 36,9%) y el A (15/46, 32,6%). El tratamiento mas empleado fue sutura primaria (13/46, 28,3%) seguido de CPRE (11/46, 23,9%) con esfinterotomia y/o endoprotesis. Ademas, la CPRE se utilizo en el postoperatorio inmediato de 6 pacientes (13%) con reparacion quirurgica de la LYVB para solucionar complicaciones inmediatas. Conclusion: la CPRE es util en el manejo de la LYVB no diagnosticada intraoperatoriamente. Permite localizar la zona lesionada de la via biliar, realizar maniobras terapeuticas y tratar de manera satisfactoria algunas complicaciones postoperatorias. EnglishIntroduction: iatrogenic bile duct injury (IBDI) is a complication with a high morbidity after cholecystectomy. In recent years, endoscopy has acquired a fundamental role in the management of this pathology. Methods: a retrospective study of IBDI after open cholecystectomy (OC) or laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) of patients treated in our center between 1993 and 2017 was performed. Clinical characteristics, type of injury according to the Strasberg-Bismuth classification, diagnosis, repair techniques and follow-up were analyzed. Results: 46 patients were studied and IBDI incidence was 0.48%, 0.61% for LC and 0.24% for OC. A diagnosis was made intraoperatively in 12 cases (26%) and by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in 10 (21.7%) cases. The most common IBDI patient characteristics were acute cholecystitis (20/46, 43.5%), previous admission due to biliary pathology (16/46, 43.2%) and ERCP prior to cholecystectomy (7/46, 18.9%). The most frequent types of IBDI were D (17/46, 36.9%) and A (15/46, 32.6%). The most commonly used treatment was primary suture (13/46, 28.3%) followed by ERCP (11/46, 23.9%) with sphincterotomy and/or stents. In addition, ERCP was performed during the immediate postoperative period in 6 (13%) patients with a surgical IBDI repair in order to resolve immediate complications. Conclusion: ERCP is useful in the management of IBDI that is not diagnosed intraoperatively. This procedure facilitates the localization of the injured area of the bile duct, therapeutic maneuvers and successful outcomes in postoperative complications.

To explore the relationship of urinary concentrations of different congeners of benzophenones and parabens with the utilization of cosmetics and personal care products (PCPs) and their impact on the risk of endometriosis, and to evaluate the influence of oxidative stress on associations found.This case-control study comprised a subsample of 124 women (35 cases; 89 controls). Endometriosis was confirmed (cases) or ruled out (controls) by laparoscopy, with visual inspection of the pelvis and biopsy of suspected lesions (histological diagnosis). Urinary concentrations of benzophenone-1 (BP-1), benzophenone-3 (BP-3), 4-hydroxibenzophenone (4-OH-BP), methyl- (MeP), ethyl- (EtP), propyl- (PrP), and butyl-paraben (BuP), and biomarkers of oxidative stress [lipid peroxidation (TBARS) and total antioxidant power (TAP)] were quantified. Information was gathered on the frequency of use of cosmetics and PCPs. Associations between the frequency of cosmetics/PCP use, urinary concentrations of benzophenones and parabens, oxidative stress, and endometriosis risk were explored in logistic and linear multivariable regression analyses.The frequency of utilization of certain cosmetics and PCPs was significantly associated with urinary concentrations of benzophenones and parabens. After adjustment for potential confounders, the risk of endometriosis was increased in women in the second versus first terciles of MeP (OR = 5.63; p-value0.001), BP-1 (OR = 5.12; p-value = 0.011), BP-3 (OR = 4.98; p-value = 0.008), and ƩBPs (OR = 3.34; p-value = 0.032). A close-to-significant relationship was observed between TBARS concentrations and increased endometriosis risk (OR = 1.60, p-value = 0.070) and an inverse association between TAP concentrations and this risk (OR = 0.15; p-value = 0.048). Oxidative stress results did not modify associations observed between benzophenone/paraben exposure and endometriosis risk.Our findings indicate that the frequency of cosmetics and PCP utilization is a strong predictor of exposure to certain benzophenone and paraben congeners. These compounds may increase the risk of endometriosis in an oxidative stress-independent manner. Further studies are warranted to corroborate these findings.

Background: Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in both men and women. Mediastinal lymph node involvement in these patients, determined by imaging tests, indicates prognosis and modifies therapeutic attitude. Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze the diagnostic capacity of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the study of the mediastinum in comparison with conventional tests (computed tomography [CT] and positron-emission tomography [PET] or PET/CT scans), taking histology as the gold standard. Materials and Methods: An observational study was conducted on 16 patients with suspicion of primary lung cancer (June 2016 through December 2018). We studied their demographic characteristics and used CT, PET, or PET/CT scans and MRI (diffusion-weighted imaging-MRI sequence) to examine mediastinal disease and compare MRIs diagnostic yield and percentage agreement to that of conventional tests. Results: As compared to CT and PET scanning, MRI displayed a very low sensitivity and a specificity of 90 and 88%, respectively; positive predictive value was 0.67 (both) and negative predictive value (NPV) was 0.28 and 0.22, respectively. MRI showed a high degree of agreement in lymph node diagnosis when compared with histology (91.2%; P = 0.001): specificity in this case was high (E = 0.94), as was the NPV (NPV = 0.97). Conclusions: The results of this study would appear to indicate that MRI could play a relevant role in mediastinal staging of lung cancer. More prospective, multicenter studies are, however, needed to be able to draw up firm recommendations about the role of MRI and its place in lung cancer staging.