Search

Optical fiber–based sensing technology can drastically improve Earth observations by enabling the use of existing submarine communication cables as seafloor sensors. Previous interferometric and polarization-based techniques demonstrated environmental sensing over cable lengths up to 10,500 kilometers. However, measurements were limited to the integrated changes over the entire length of the cable. We demonstrate the detection of earthquakes and ocean signals on individual spans between repeaters of a 5860-kilometer-long transatlantic cable rather than the whole cable. By applying this technique to the existing undersea communication cables, which have a repeater-to-repeater span length of 45 to 90 kilometers, the largely unmonitored ocean floor could be instrumented with thousands of permanent real-time environmental sensors without changes to the underwater infrastructure.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most frequent sleep-disorder breathing in the world. The apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) is used for diagnosis and severity of OSA and to make decisions about treatment. However, OSA is a heterogeneous disorder due to its pathogenesis and several clinical expressions. Objective: To compare the precision of comorbidities, oxygen saturation and arousals as predictors of presence and severity of OSA. Methods: Electronic Health records of 7,924 patients from high altitude (2600m above sea level) with polysomnography were selected to perform the analysis through logistic regression, random forest, and neural network. The variable “comorbidity” included cardiovascular disease, Diabetes, Obesity, asthma and Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The methodology used for data analysis was CRISP-DM including the following phases: problem understanding, data understanding, data preparation, modeling, evaluation, and deployment. A multiclass confusion matrix was made (none, mild, moderate, and severe). Precision, recall and f1-scores were calculated for each test. Results: Oxygen saturation showed the best f1-score to distinguish between absence and severe OSA for the three tests. The values obtained for f1-score in logistic regression were 0.60 and 0.53 (absence and severe OSA); in Random forest were 0.60 and 0.54 (absence and severe OSA), and in neuronal network were 0.60 and 0.53 (absence and severe OSA. (Figure 1). Conclusion: Precision medicine in OSA has identified the necessity to research new strategies for accuracy diagnosis and treatment in OSA. The results of this investigation suggest that oxygen saturation could be a good tool for diagnosis of OSA.

Rectal prolapse is defined as a falling out of place of the rectum through anus. Surgery is the treatment of choice to reverse abnormal anatomy and to improve anorectal function.To review the experience in recent years of surgical management of rectal prolapse in the Hospital Central Militar and Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Medicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubiran.All patients with rectal prolapse who underwent surgical treatment between January 1993 through December 2008 at two institutions in Mexico City were included. Clinical information was obtained of the clinical files in both hospitals. Main study variables were age, sex, degree of prolapse, morbility and type of surgery performed.Fifty seven patients were included, predominantly female (59.6%) with a mean age of 45 years. The most frequent diagnosis was complete rectal prolapse. Fifteen patients (26%) were treated by perineal procedure and 42 (74%) through abdomen: 17 (40%) open and 25 (60%) laparoscopic. Morbidity rate was lower in the laparoscopic group with less length of hospital stay and a lower blood loss, but with higher recurrence rate.Although the laparoscopic surgery showed advantage related with a less morbility, blood loss and hospital stay, it showed higher recurrence rates."

The role of laparoscopic surgery in the management of colorectal pathologies is steal unclear. Some new evidence has shown some advantages over open procedures. Because it is a technically demanding procedure, the progress is very low, and used among few colorectal surgeons.To describe the experience of laparoscopic colorectal surgery in a third level referral center, in a fourth year period. We analyzed short and median outcomes, for benign and malignant diseases.A retrospective review of all colorectal laparoscopic procedures was analyzed in a period between June 2003 and July 2007. Procedures for benign and malignant diseases were included.One hundred and seventy cases were included, 52 (30%) for malignant and 118 (70%)for benign diseases. The main indication for surgery was diverticular disease followed by colorectal cancer and the most common procedure was sigmoidectomy followed by right colectomy. Conversion rate was 8.8% (15 patients) and overall morbidity and mortality were 12%, and less than 1% respectively.Oncologic results were evaluated with a median follow up of 2 years, for a loco regional recurrence rate of 6%. Mean number of nodes retrieved in the pathologic specimen were 15.69 (+/- 3.53). All malignant cases had negative margins.Laparoscopic colorectal procedures are safe and feasible, in large volume centers showing equivalent results when comparing with open procedures evidenced in world literature,about results of oncologic cases, due to the short follow up period we can t conclude about oncologic outcomes.

The surgical literature contains few reports about effects of hypothyroidism in patients with acute abdomen; has been reported that a glycoprotein infiltrate the lining of the bowel leading to denervation. We report the case of a woman with acute abdomen secondary to pyosalpynx with uncontrolled hypothyroidism postoperative complications.Hypothyroidism is called "big mimicker"because its clinic spectrum ranges from anasymptomatic subclinical condition to the rare,life-threatening myxedema coma, and thus can bea challenging diagnosis to make. Unrecognized hypothyroidism may lead to unnecessary surgery or even a potentially fatal outcome. A heightened awareness of this not so uncommon entity is mandatory