Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) to determine cut-off points of clinical and biomolecular markers to discriminate mortality in severe COVID-19 living at high altitude.

Background: In 2020, Ecuador had one of the highest death rates because of COVID-19. The role of clinical and biomolecular markers in COVID disease prognosis, is still not well supported by available data. In order for these markers to have practical application in clinical decision-making regarding patient treatment and prognosis, it is necessary to know an optimal cut-off point, taking into consideration ethnic differences and geographic conditions.

The diversity and coexistence of extracellular mitochondria in circulation: A friend or foe of the immune system.

The diversity and coexistence of extracellular mitochondria may have a key role in the maintenance of health and progression of disease. Studies report that active mitochondria can be found physiologically outside of cells and circulating in the blood without inducing an inflammatory response. In addition, inactive or harmed mitochondria have been recognized as activators of immune cells, as they play an essential role in diseases characterized by the metabolic deregulation of these cells, such as sepsis.

Safety concerns of Piezoelectric Units in Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator.

Purpose: Evidence-based research appears to conflict on the potential risk of electromagnetic interference (EMI) between piezoelectric units (Pzs) and implantable cardioverters and defibrillators (ICDs). The purpose of this study was to observe whether the EMI produced by Pzs is hazardous for ICDs.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional study of 6 Pzs was conducted in vitro for EMI using an ICD system.

Effects of piezoelectric units on pacemaker function: an in vitro study.

Introduction: The use of piezoelectric units on patients with pacemakers is generally discouraged, although there is no empirical evidence of the effects of current piezoelectric units on pacemaker activity in vitro.

Methods: Four piezoelectric units (Piezosurgery3, Piezotome, Piezotome2, and Variosurg) and 2 magnetostriction units (Piezotome and Piezotome2) were tested for electromagnetic interference (EMI) with the SENSIA SESR01 pacemaker from Medtronic. The pacemaker, with a single electrode, was immersed in a saline-solution bath and adjusted between 400 and 800 ohms to simulate the electrical resistance of the human body and to register and to produce electrographic recordings.

Victims of bullying in the emergency department with behavioral issues.

Background: Bullying has become one of the most significant school problems experienced by our children. Victims of bullying are prone to a variety of psychological and behavioral symptoms. We noted that many children referred to the Emergency Department (ED) with behavioral symptoms provided a history of bullying.

Lipemic serum in a toddler with new-onset diabetes mellitus presenting with diabetic ketoacidosis.

Context: Significant hyperlipidemia causing lipemic serum in patients with poorly controlled diabetes is under-reported in children. The recognition of the severe hyperlipidemia is important for proper management and to prevent associated morbidities. Severe hyperlipidemia in patients with diabetic ketoacidosis should be considered.

Spontaneous resolution of a large traumatic pneumothorax.

The aim of this study was to describe a case of a large traumatic pneumothorax (>55%) that resolved completely without intervention. A pneumothorax is the accumulation of air between the visceral and parietal pleura. It can occur spontaneously or be traumatic.

An adolescent with lower-extremity swelling.

Lower-extremity swelling is an uncommon presentation in a pediatric emergency department. Deep venous thrombosis is one of the common differential diagnoses in a patient with an underlying predisposing factor. We report a case of a previously healthy adolescent without any risk factor for thromboembolism presented with deep venous thrombosis.

Neuropsychiatric manifestations in late-onset urea cycle disorder patients.

Inherited urea cycle disorders represent one of the most common groups of inborn errors of metabolism. Late-onset urea cycle disorders caused by partial enzyme deficiencies may present with unexpected clinical phenotypes. We report 9 patients followed up in our hospital presenting late-onset urea cycle disorders who initially manifested neuropsychiatric/neurodevelopmental symptoms (the most prevalent neuropsychiatric/neurodevelopmental diagnoses were mental retardation, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD], language disorder, and delirium).

Maximum FIO2 in minimum time depending on the kind of resuscitation bag and oxygen flow.

Objective: To analyze what FIO2 can be reached, and how long it takes using the different autoinflated resuscitation bags and increasing oxygen flows.

Design: Experimental analysis on the effect of three different models of autoinflated resuscitation bag and increasing oxygen flows in the final FIO2, and time spent to reach it.

Setting: Laboratory, with a gas analyzer and a lung simulator to measure inspired FIO2.

[A competitive fund of development to improve the quality of university education in Chile. Area of health care].

In 1997, the Chilean Government and the International Bank for Development convened on a strategy to improve Chilean university education. It was based on quality improvement, effectiveness, relevancy and innovation on university education programs. A US$ 245 millions fund was afforded, for a five years competitive grants program, among certain traditional Universities and Technical Education Institutes.

Electron beam coronary angiography to assess patency in the off-pump coronary bypass graft.

Background: Off-pump coronary artery bypass is widely practiced today, with critics questioning patency rates. This study was conducted to determine the feasibility of using electron beam coronary angiography to determine patency in this group of patients.

Methods: A total of 27 patients from a series of 653 off-pump coronary artery bypass patients were selected at random and, after informed consent, underwent electron beam coronary angiography with an Imatron C150 single slide mode using loversol as contrast material injected in an antecubital vein.