Cancer genetic counseling in Chile: Addressing barriers, confronting challenges, and seizing opportunities in an underserved Latin American Community.

Purpose: Despite the rapid advancements in genomics and the enactment of a new cancer law in Chile, the implementation of cancer genetic counseling continues to face significant challenges because of limited resources and infrastructure.

Methods: We conducted a survey targeting health care providers who offer genetic counseling to patients with cancer and possess training in genetics and counseling. Additionally, we distributed a separate survey to high-risk patients associated with an advocacy group to gather insights on their perceptions of and experiences with cancer genetic counseling.

Elevation of spectral components of electrodermal activity precedes central nervous system oxygen toxicity symptoms in divers.

Background: Oxygen-rich breathing mixtures up to 100% are used in some underwater diving operations for several reasons. Breathing elevated oxygen partial pressures (PO) increases the risk of developing central nervous system oxygen toxicity (CNS-OT) which could impair performance or result in a seizure and subsequent drowning. We aimed to study the dynamics of the electrodermal activity (EDA) and heart rate (HR) while breathing elevated PO in the hyperbaric environment (HBO) as a possible means to predict impending CNS-OT.

An Analysis of the Digestive and Reproductive Tract Microbiota in Infertile Women with Obesity.

Previous studies have linked the microbiome of distinct body habitats to obesity and infertility; however, the often-divergent results observed have left the role of the so-called "second genome" in obese infertile patients incompletely explored. Here, we present a prospective observational multicenter study of oral, gut, endometrial, and vaginal microbiota of infertile patients classified according to BMI. Patients collected saliva/fecal samples, while vaginal/endometrial fluid samples were collected in the clinic.

Analysis of tumoral, stromal and glycolitic markers in the response basal cell carcinoma and Bowen disease to photodynamic therapy in real life.

Background: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a widely-used non-surgical treatment for non-melanoma skin cancers, including basal cell carcinoma (BCC), actinic keratoses (AK), and Bowen's disease (BD). PDT has high success rates, but various factors, can influence treatment response. This study investigates the clinical, histological, and molecular factors that affect the efficacy of methyl aminolevulinate PDT (MAL-PDT) for BCC and BD.

Retrospective cohort study of the economic value of providing microprocessor knees to the population of Medicare fee-for-service K2 beneficiaries with a knee disarticulation/above knee amputation.

Background: Microprocessor knees (MPKs) improve the functional mobility, quality of life, and safety of individuals with a knee disarticulation or above knee amputation and are cost-effective when adjusting for quality-of-life years gained. However, few studies have been conducted on the K2 population, and to this point, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has not covered MPKs for the K2 population.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the extent to which MPK provision to the K2 population is cost effective at the person and population levels.