Analysis of the virtual healthcare model in Latin America: a systematic review of current challenges and barriers.

Background: The virtual care model can be used in all aspects of healthcare, such as prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of most medical and surgical conditions. The objective of this study was to identify the current barriers to implementing and consolidating the virtual healthcare model, of "telemedicine", in Latin American countries.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted through four databases: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Virtual Health, including articles in Spanish, Portuguese, and English.

[The genetics of epilepsy in the clinical practice].

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures. It is known that genetics play an important etiology roll. During the last decades it has been possible to find specific genes involved in the pathogenesis of this condition.

Immunogenicity, effectiveness and safety of COVID-19 vaccine in older adults living in nursing homes: A real-life study.

Introduction: BNT162b2 (BioNTech and Pfizer) is a nucleoside-modified mRNA vaccine that provides protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection and is generally well tolerated. However, data about its efficacy, immunogenicity and safety in people of old age or with underlying chronic conditions are scarce.

Purpose: To describe BNT162b2 (BioNTech and Pfizer) COVID-19 vaccine immunogenicity, effectiveness and reactogenicity after complete vaccination (two doses), and immunogenicity and reactogenicity after one booster, in elders residing in nursing homes (NH) and healthy NH workers in real-life conditions.

Meteorological Approach in the Identification of Local and Remote Potential Sources of Radon: An Example in Northern Iberian Peninsula.

This paper presents a meteorological approach to identify local and remote sources driving the variability of surface daily radon concentrations. To this purpose, hourly Rn concentration and surface meteorological measurements, and air mass trajectories at Bilbao station (northern Iberian Peninsula) during the period 2017-2018 have been taken as reference. To investigate the potential transport pathways and potential Rn sources, the backward trajectory cluster analysis, trajectory sector analysis (TSA), and potential source contribution function (PSCF) are applied.

Factors associated with parents' willingness to vaccinate their children against COVID-19: The LA pandemic surveillance cohort study.

Background: Children age 5-11 became eligible for COVID-19 vaccination in November 2021 in the United States, but vaccine uptake in this age group remains low. Understanding reasons why parents are hesitant to vaccinate their children may provide critical insights to help protect children from COVID-19 infection. This study examines factors associated with parents' willingness to vaccinate their children.

[Implementation of diagnosis related groups in a high-complexity health institution in Colombia].

Background: One of the greatest challenges for health care institutions is to know the hospital product (HP), defined as patients, diagnoses and resources used in health care. Proper measurement of HP allows an effective resource management. The Diagnosis Related Groups (DRG) system facilitates the measurement of HP, classifying patients according to their characteristics, complexity, and resource consumption.

Perception of the healthcare accreditation system in Colombia.

Introduction: Accreditation is an external, systematic, periodic, and voluntary evaluation process to which health care institutions submit themselves in order to demonstrate compliance with superior levels of quality of care. The Icontec, through an evaluative model, accredits the quality of health institutions in Colombia.

Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study following the recommendations of the survey study report.

Moderate to Intense Physical Activity Is Associated With Improved Clinical, CD4/CD8 Ratio, and Immune Activation Status in HIV-Infected Patients on ART.

Background: Physical activity has anti-inflammatory effects and reduces morbidity and mortality in the general population, but its role in the clinical, CD4/CD8 ratio, and immune activation status of HIV-infected patients has been poorly studied.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in a cohort of 155 HIV-infected patients on stable antiretroviral therapy (ART) to compare clinical, biochemical, CD4/CD8 ratio, and immune activation status according to their physical activity in the last 2 years (sedentary/low vs moderate/intense) assessed by the iPAQ. A binary logistic regression and mixed analysis of variance were performed to evaluate the impact of levels of physical activity on CD4/CD8 ratio.

Subclinical atherosclerosis and immune activation in young HIV-infected patients with telomere shortening.

Background: To date, available data on premature aging in young HIV-infected adults are scarce and no reports offer comprehensive assessment of telomere shortening (TS) in relation to subclinical atherosclerosis (SCA). In this study, we investigate if telomere shortening and immune activation markers are associated with SCA, which is one of the main degenerative diseases in young HIV-infected adults.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in 149 HIV-infected patients on stable antiretroviral regimen (ART).

Coronavirus (COVID 19) Infection in Pregnancy.

Coronavirus illness 2019 (COVID-19) is an airways infection caused by the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) which has been quickly disseminated all over the world, affecting to the general population including women in pregnancy time. As being a recent infection, the evidence that supports the best practices for the management of the infection during pregnancy is limited, and most of the questions have not been completely solved yet. This publication offers general guidelines focused on decision-making people, managers, and health's teams related to pregnant women attention and newborn babies during COVID-19 pandemic.

Extreme Maternal Morbidity: a tracer event to improve the quality of obstetric care in Latin America.

This article reviews critical aspects that have had an impact on the implementation of epidemiological surveillance of extreme maternal morbidity, as a tracer event of quality maternal care at population and institutional level; taking into account that maternal mortality has been usually monitored, and its analysis allows interventions to avoid maternal death. Until 2015, very few countries had been able to meet the goals established in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), especially MDG 5 - improving maternal health. As of today, it is observed that maternal mortality rate is quite heterogeneous, with rates from 1 case per 100,000 live births in developed countries, to more than 100 cases per 100,000 live births in developing countries.

Usability, Acceptability, and Usefulness of an mHealth App for Diagnosing and Monitoring Patients With Breakthrough Cancer Pain.

Background: Breakthrough pain is a major problem and a source of distress in patients with cancer. We hypothesized that health care professionals may benefit from a real-time mobile app to assist in the diagnosis and monitoring of breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP).

Objective: This study aimed to test the usability, acceptability, and usefulness in real-world practice of the mobile App INES·DIO developed for the management of patients with BTcP.

A Multidisciplinary Consensus for Clinical Care and Research Needs for Sturge-Weber Syndrome.

Background: Sturge-Weber syndrome is a neurocutaneous disorder associated with port-wine birthmark, leptomeningeal capillary malformations, and glaucoma. It is associated with an unpredictable clinical course. Because of its rarity and complexity, many physicians are unaware of the disease and its complications.

The Prevalence of Dyslipidemia and Other Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Youth with Diabetes.

Background: Individuals diagnosed with diabetes mellitus have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, often leading to premature morbidity and mortality. As the number of youth developing T1D and T2D continues to grow, early onset predisposes patients to a longer burden of disease and earlier onset of cardiovascular complications. Early identification and effective management and treatment of risk factors can lead to decreased cardiovascular events and improved quality of life.

Incidence of human papillomavirus-related oropharyngeal cancer and outcomes after chemoradiation in a population of heavy smokers.

Background: Incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV)-related oropharyngeal carcinomas is increasing worldwide. The purpose of this study was to report the incidence in our region, and to determine the influence of HPV status on survival among a heavy smoking population.

Methods: p16 expression was analyzed in 102 patients with stage II to IV treated with chemoradiation.

Epidemiology and prevalence of oropharyngeal candidiasis in Spanish patients with head and neck tumors undergoing radiotherapy treatment alone or in combination with chemotherapy.

Objective: To describe the oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) prevalence in Spanish patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy, alone or combined with chemotherapy. Secondary objectives were to determine the prevalence of Candida species colonization, and to explore whether different Candida species colonizing the oral cavity and the treatment were associated with a higher prevalence of OPC.

Methods: This is an observational, cross-sectional, multicentre study, conducted in Spanish radiation oncology units.

P53 and cellular glucose uptake.

Objectives: Tumor protein p53 is a transcription factor involved with cellular responses to stressors including limited glucose availability. We hypothesized that modulating p53 levels would affect cellular glucose uptake.

Methods And Results: Transfecting cultured primary mouse hepatocytes with p53 siRNA suppressed p53 mRNA expression >90%.