Can Dual Infrared-Visual Thermography Provide a More Reliable Diagnosis of Perforator Veins and Reflux Severity?

The accurate identification of perforator veins (PV) in asymptomatic veins that do not meet the criteria established by venous Doppler (VD) is a complex challenge, considered the gold standard in diagnosis, and is operator-dependent. This study explored the potential of dual infrared-visual thermography (IRVT) to identify PV in 99 patients aged 29 to 80 years. IRVT was conducted using a high-definition hyperspectral visual-infrared sensor.

[Clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management chronic infection of hepatitis viral C of the Peruvian Health Social Security (EsSalud)].

Introduction: This article summarizes the clinical practice guidelines (CPG) for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic infection of hepatitis viral C of the Peruvian Health Social Security (EsSalud).

Objective: To provide clinical recommendations based on evidence for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic infection of hepatitis viral C in EsSalud.

Methods: A guideline development group (GDG) was established, including medical specialists and methodologists.

The short-term impacts of COVID-19 on households in developing countries: An overview based on a harmonized dataset of high-frequency surveys.

We combine new data from high-frequency surveys with data on the stringency of containment measures to examine the short-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on households in developing countries. This paper is one of the first to document the impacts of COVID-19 on households across a large number of developing countries and to do so for a comparable time-period, corresponding to the peak of the pandemic-induced drop in human mobility, and the first to systematically analyze the cross- and within-country effects on employment, income, food security and learning. Using representative data from 31 countries, accounting for a combined population of almost 1.

spp. from Clinical Setting in Argentina, with the Proposal of the New Pathogenic Species .

Species of the genus (family Microascaceae, phylum Ascomycota) are responsible for a wide range of opportunistic human infections, and have a low susceptibility to most antifungal drugs. It is well known that the pattern of species distribution varies according to geographic region. To assess the diversity of species in Argentina involved in human infections, we carried out a retrospective study reviewing 49 strains from clinical samples sent for diagnosis to the National Clinical Mycology Reference Laboratory between 1985 and 2019.

Beware: Gastrointestinal symptoms can be a manifestation of COVID-19.

Background: There is an increasing number of reports on the presentation of gastrointestinal symptoms in cases of COVID-19.

Aim: To review the studies reporting gastrointestinal symptoms in COVID-19.

Results: Fifteen articles (2,800 patients) were identified.

Hepatocellular carcinoma in South America: Evaluation of risk factors, demographics and therapy.

Background & Aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Most studies addressing the epidemiology of HCC originate from developed countries. This study reports the preliminary findings of a multinational approach to characterize HCC in South America.

Finding Diagnostic Errors in Children Admitted to the PICU.

Objectives: To determine whether the Safer Dx Instrument, a structured tool for finding diagnostic errors in primary care, can be used to reliably detect diagnostic errors in patients admitted to a PICU.

Design And Setting: The Safer Dx Instrument consists of 11 questions to evaluate the diagnostic process and a final question to determine if diagnostic error occurred. We used the instrument to analyze four "high-risk" patient cohorts admitted to the PICU between June 2013 and December 2013.

Accuracy of the Safer Dx Instrument to Identify Diagnostic Errors in Primary Care.

Importance: Diagnostic errors are common and harmful, but difficult to define and measure. Measurement of diagnostic errors often depends on retrospective medical record reviews, frequently resulting in reviewer disagreement.

Objectives: We aimed to test the accuracy of an instrument to help detect presence or absence of diagnostic error through record reviews.

Profile of idiosyncratic drug induced liver injury in Latin America: an analysis of published reports.

Introduction: Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) remains a major problem for drug development and represents a challenging diagnosis for clinicians. The absence of specific biomarkers for diagnosing DILI precludes the availability of reliable data on the epidemiology of the disease. In this study we aimed to describe the features of idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity reports in Latin American countries.

The use of dynamic orthoses in the treatment of the stiff elbow.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the outcomes of the treatment of stiff elbow with the use of dynamic orthoses. We included 30 patients with stiff elbow with an arc of mobility of 100° or less and a stable and congruent joint without heterotopic ossifications. The dynamic orthosis was designed in our service and consists of an articulated brace with springs.

Cumulative corticosteroid exposure and infection risk after complex pediatric cardiac surgery.

Background: Children undergoing cardiac surgery may receive corticosteroids preoperatively to temper cardiopulmonary bypass-related inflammation, postoperatively for hemodynamic instability, and periextubation to reduce airway edema. Recent data have associated preoperative corticosteroids with infection. We aimed to determine if there is a relationship between cumulative corticosteroid exposure and infection.

Hyponatremia during arginine vasopressin therapy in children following cardiac surgery.

Objective: To describe the incidence and severity of hyponatremia after initiation of arginine vasopressin therapy in children recovering from cardiothoracic surgery, and to compare these patients with a control group with similar disease complexity and severity who did not receive arginine vasopressin.

Design: Retrospective chart review.

Setting: PICU at a tertiary care university hospital.

Clinical response to arginine vasopressin therapy after paediatric cardiac surgery.

Objective: To describe the haemodynamic response of children who receive arginine vasopressin for haemodynamic instability after cardiac surgery and to identify clinical variables associated with a favourable response. Materials and Methods We reviewed patients less than or equal to 6 years undergoing open heart surgery in our institution between January, 2009 and July, 2010 who received arginine vasopressin during the first 7 days post operation. Favourable responders were defined as those in whom blood pressure was increased or maintained and catecholamine score was decreased, or blood pressure was increased by greater than or equal to 10% of baseline and catecholamine score was unchanged at 6 hours following arginine vasopressin initiation.

[Ciprofloxacin vs cefazolin in the prevention of infection in cirrhotic patients with gastrointestinal bleeding].

Aim: To determine if prophylaxis with cefazolin produces a significant reduction in infections in cirrhotic patients with gastrointestinal bleeding when compared with ciprofloxacin.

Methods: Randomized clinical trial. Patients 18 years or older with diagnosis of cirrhosis, gastrointestinal bleeding and no clinical or laboratory evidence of infection who were admitted to the gastrointestinal bleeding unit of HNERM between July 2008 and July 2010 were included.

Easing the pain of an economic downturn: macroeconomic conditions and excessive alcohol consumption.

Individuals can react to financial stress in a variety of ways, such as reducing discretionary spending or engaging in risky behaviors. This article investigates the effect of changing macroeconomic conditions (measured by the unemployment rate in the state of residence) on one type of risky behavior: excessive alcohol consumption. Using unique and recent panel data from waves 1 and 2 of the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) and estimating fixed-effects models, we find that changes in the unemployment rate are positively related to changes in binge drinking, alcohol-involved driving, and alcohol abuse and/or dependence.

This recession is wearing me out! Health-related quality of life and economic downturns.

Background: Health-related quality of life refers to an individual's perceived physical and mental health and goes beyond the presence or absence of illnesses to encompass a multidimensional concept of well being. Previous research on the relationships between macroeconomic conditions and health status reveal improvements in physical health during economic downturns. However, few studies have examined whether mental health status improves or declines during tough economic times.

Oxidative renal cell injury induced by calcium oxalate crystal and renoprotection with antioxidants: a possible role of oxidative stress in nephrolithiasis.

Purpose: Calcium oxalate (CaOx) is one of the key elements for kidney stone formation, but the exact mechanism needs to be defined. CaOx has been shown to cause renal cell injury through oxidative stress, leading to potential crystal deposition in the kidneys. We thus investigated if CaOx crystal would induce such renal cell injury in vitro and also explored how it would be carried out.

Conversion to sirolimus allows preservation of renal function in kidney and kidney-pancreas allograft recipients.

The major causes of graft failure are chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN) and patient mortality. Sirolimus (SRL) is a powerful immunosuppressant with a less nephrotoxic profile as well as a lower incidence of cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of conversion to SRL from calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-based therapy in kidney (KT) and kidney-pancreas (SPK) allograft recipients.

Economic evaluation of telemedicine: review of the literature and research guidelines for benefit-cost analysis.

Telemedicine programs provide specialty health services to remote populations using telecommunications technology. This innovative approach to medical care delivery has been expanding for several years and currently covers various specialty areas such as cardiology, dermatology, and pediatrics. Economic evaluations of telemedicine, however, remain rare, and few of those conducted have accounted for the wide range of economic costs and benefits.

[BK virus nephropathy after renal transplantation. Diagnosis and prognosis by real time PCR].

BK virus nephropathy may lead to kidney transplant failure. BK infection and acute rejection are clinically undistinguishable, therefore diagnosis of these entities is critical to establish the correct treatment. The new molecular methods using PCR and real time PCR have significantly contributed to the rapid and sensitive diagnosis of BK virus.