Validity of the ROX index in predicting invasive mechanical ventilation requirement in pneumonia.

Background: The ROX index (espiratory rate-ygenation) has been described as a prediction tool to identify the need for invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) with acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure treated with high-flow nasal cannula in order to avoid delay of a necessary intubation. However, its use in predicting the need for ventilatory support in hospitalised patients with CAP has not been validated.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study including subjects with CAP treated in the general ward, emergency service or intensive care unit of a third-level centre in Cundinamarca, Colombia, between January 2001 and February 2020.

A hybrid approach for composing groups in collaborative learning contexts.

Considering that there are many alternatives in the literature for composing groups in collaborative learning contexts, we present a proposal that exhibits several features. First, and from the operational point of view, our proposal is highly flexible because i) it allows for several group sizes and an arbitrary array of grouping attributes, and ii) it may be easily adapted to consider several homogeneity/heterogeneity criteria. Second, and from the algorithmic point of view, it combines the best of two apparently opposite worlds: it uses a local brute-force search within an iterative process guided by a randomized heuristic criterion.

Superficial peroneal and sural nerve transfer to tibial nerve for restoration of plantar sensation after complex injuries of the tibial nerve: cadaver feasibility study.

Background: Nerve reconstruction following lower-extremity nerve injuries usually leads to worse outcomes in comparison with upper-extremity injuries due to the long distances of nerve regeneration. This study was performed to consider the clinical application of distal nerve transfer for the treatment of long gaps of the tibial nerve (TN) and in established compartment syndrome. It aimed to determine the anatomic suitability of transferring the sural nerve (SN) in combination with the superficial peroneal nerve (SPN) to the TN at the level of the tarsal tunnel for restoration of plantar sensation.