[Intentional search and reclassification of maternal deaths: quality information and its analysis to reduce maternal mortalityBusca intencional e reclassificação de mortes maternas: informação de qualidade e sua análise para reduzir a mortalidade materna].

Objective: To describe the methodology of the intentional search and reclassification of maternal deaths (BIRMM, acronym in Spanish), which allows the identification and correction of misclassification and underreporting of maternal deaths.

Methods: The BIRMM methodology, initially developed in Mexico in 2003 and disseminated in other Latin American countries since 2012, was used. BIRMM consists of four key components: i) reclassification of confirmed maternal deaths; ii) identification and investigation of suspected cases of maternal death; iii) cross-referencing with other information sources; and iv) publication of results and statistical analysis.

Post-FEC performance evaluation of optical SDM systems with mode-dependent loss.

This work is focused on the bit error rate (BER) performance of spatial division multiplexing (SDM) systems over an optical channel with mode-dependent loss or gain (collectively referred to in this paper as MDL). When the latter is non-negligible, the BER has a random nature that introduces the outage probability as an important performance metric for the system design and also impacts on the selection of a forward-error correction (FEC) scheme. In MDL-impaired SDM systems, the pre-FEC BER is a random variable whose probability density function (PDF) and coding gain depend on the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at the receiver input.

BER analysis of an optimum MIMO linear receiver in optical SDM systems with mode-dependent loss.

Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) receivers designed to optimize the minimum mean square error (MMSE) are a common choice in coherent optical communication systems based on spatial division multiplexing (SDM). This kind of receivers naturally integrate both MIMO equalization and matched filtering functions. However, when the optical channel exhibits significant mode-dependent loss (MDL) and/or mode-dependent gain (MDG), the impact of inter-symbol interference (ISI) and crosstalk that arise, even using an ideal MIMO MMSE linear receiver, is barely analyzed.

Coronary laser with simultaneous contrast injection for the treatment of stent underexpansion.

Background: Stent underexpansion is a challenge in interventional cardiology. Some off-label treatments, such as rotational atherectomy, intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) and coronary lasing, have been used to overcome the problem. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of coronary laser atherectomy with simultaneous contrast injection and subsequent balloon dilation to optimize stent expansion.

Matched Filtering for MIMO Coherent Optical Communications with Mode-Dependent Loss Channels.

The use of digital signal processors (DSP) to equalize coherent optical communication systems based on spatial division multiplexing (SDM) techniques is widespread in current optical receivers. However, most of DSP implementation approaches found in the literature assume a negligible mode-dependent loss (MDL). This paper is focused on the linear multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) receiver designed to optimize the minimum mean square error (MMSE) for a coherent SDM optical communication system, without previous assumptions on receiver oversampling or analog front-end realizations.

A Patient-Based National Survey and Prospective Evaluation of Postoperative Pain Management in Spain: Prevalent but Possibly Preventable.

Objective: To evaluate the national general prevalence of postoperative pain and the associated organizational/structural factors related to the provision of health care services.

Design And Setting: Observational prospective cohort study performed in 46 tertiary hospitals that were randomly selected from the Spanish National Inventory of Hospitals through a two-stage balanced and stratified procedure.

Subjects And Methods: Nine-hundred surgical patients representing a wide spectrum of surgical procedures and anesthetic methods were recruited.

Prevalence and Characterization of Breakthrough Pain Associated with Chronic Low Back Pain in the South of Spain: A Cross-Sectional, Multicenter, Observational Study.

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is highly prevalent in industrialized countries, where it is one of the main causes of disability. Patients with CLBP in treatment with opioids often experience episodes of breakthrough pain (BTP), but data on prevalence and treatment preferences are scarce. The objectives of this study were, first, the evaluation of the prevalence of BTP in patients with CLBP in the South of Spain ( = 1,868) and, second, the characterization of BTP in these patients ( = 295).

Evaluation of the quality of care of elderly patients with chronic and breakthrough pain treated with opioids: SAND study.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of care of elderly patients with treatment for chronic pain (CP) and breakthrough pain (BTP).

Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in 20 pain units, selecting patients aged 70 years or older with baseline controlled CP in treatment with opioids and a diagnosis of BTP. Patients were classified as first episode of BTP or patient in follow-up.

Factors Influencing Cognitive Impairment in Neuropathic and Musculoskeletal Pain and Fibromyalgia.

Objective: To assess cognitive performance of chronic pain (CP) patients diagnosed with three types of pain-neuropathic pain (NP), musculoskeletal (MSK), and fibromyalgia (FM)-and to analyze the factors influencing cognitive difficulties in each group.

Methods: Two hundred fifty-four CP patients-104 NP, 99 MSK, 51 FM-and 72 pain-free subjects were included in the study. The "Test Your Memory" (TYM) scale was used to assess cognitive performance.

Magnesium sulfate in pediatric anesthesia: the Super Adjuvant.

Magnesium is an essential chemical element in all organisms, intervening in most cellular enzymatic reactions; thus, its importance in homeostasis and as a therapeutic tool in highly challenging patients such as pediatrics. The primary purpose of this paper was to review the role of magnesium sulfate as an adjuvant drug in pediatric anesthesia. This compound already has the scientific backing in certain aspects such as analgesia or muscle relaxation, but only theoretical or empirical backing in others such as organ protection or inflammation, where it seems to be promising.

5% Lidocaine-medicated plaster for the treatment of chronic peripheral neuropathic pain: complex regional pain syndrome and other neuropathic conditions.

Objectives: Chronic neuropathic pain and chronic complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), in particular, are debilitating and difficult-to-treat conditions that have a strong impact on patient's quality of life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of 5% lidocaine-medicated plaster as add-on therapy in patients with chronic peripheral neuropathic pain conditions, including CRPS.

Patients And Methods: This was a single-center, prospective, observational study set in a specialized pain unit of a tertiary hospital in Spain.

Towards an Inclusive and Evidence-Based Definition of the Maternal Mortality Ratio: An Analysis of the Distribution of Time after Delivery of Maternal Deaths in Mexico, 2010-2013.

Progress towards the Millennium Development Goal No. 5 was measured by an indicator that excluded women who died due to pregnancy and childbirth after 42 days from the date of delivery. These women suffered from what are defined as late deaths and sequelae-related deaths (O96 and O97 respectively, according to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision).

Radiofrequency for the Treatment of Lumbar Radicular Pain: Impact on Surgical Indications.

Study Design. Quasiexperimental study. Objective.

[Intentional search and reclassification of maternal deaths in Mexico: The effect on the distribution of causes].

Objective: To correct the misclassification and improve the quality of information on maternal mortality in Mexico.

Materials And Methods: Using clinical records and verbal autopsies, we studied all deaths certified as maternal deaths as well as a selection of deaths of women of childbearing age whose causes were considered as suspected of hiding a maternal death, all of which occurred during 2011 within Mexico.

Results: The deliberate search of maternal deaths and reclassification allowed the rescue of just over 100 deaths that were not originally registered or coded as maternal and confirmed or corrected the causes of death recorded on death certificates as confirmed maternal deaths.

Relationship between onset of pain relief and patient satisfaction with fentanyl pectin nasal spray for breakthrough pain in cancer.

Background: Satisfaction with pain relief in patients with breakthrough pain in cancer (BTPc) has typically been assessed by overall efficacy without consideration of the rapidity of that response.

Objective: To determine the relationship between speed of onset of pain relief and patient satisfaction for treated BTPc episodes overall and for individual treatments.

Design: Pooled data from two randomized, double-blinded crossover studies.

A report on the long-term use of fentanyl pectin nasal spray in patients with recurrent breakthrough pain.

Context: As patients with cancer are living longer, there is a need to ensure that treatments used for palliative care are well tolerated and effective during long-term use.

Objectives: To investigate the long-term use of fentanyl pectin nasal spray (FPNS) for the treatment of breakthrough pain in cancer (BTPc) in patients receiving regular opioid therapy.

Methods: Adult patients (N = 401) taking at least 60 mg/day oral morphine or equivalent, experiencing one to four episodes of BTPc a day, entered an open-label long-term study (NCT00458510).

[Recommendations on use of direct oral anticoagulants in the perioperative period].

Because of the characteristics of direct oral anticoagulants (DOA), the lack of an antidote to completely reverse their anticoagulant effects, the absence of standardization in monitoring of their effects, and limited experience of their use, specific recommendations for their management in the perioperative period or in emergencies are required. In elective surgery, in patients with normal renal function and low hemorrhagic/ thrombotic risk, DOA should be withdrawn 2 days before the intervention; when the hemorrhagic/ thrombotic risk is higher, bridge therapy with a low molecular weight hepatin beginning 5 days before the intervention is proposed as an alternative. In emergency surgery, systematic administration of hemostatic drugs as prophylaxis is not recommended.

[Underreporting of deaths in children and birth certification in a representative sample of the 101 municipalities with lowest human development index in Mexico].

Objective: To measure the underregistry of mortality in children under five years old, and the coverage of the Birth Certificate (BC) in municipalities with very low human development index (HDI) in Mexico.

Materials And Methods: We studied all deaths of children under five years old occurred in 2007 and all births occurred in 2007 and 2008 in a sample of 20 municipalities with very low HDI in Mexico. We conducted an intentional search of births and deaths.