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BACKGROUND: Preterm birth accounts for 60% to 80% of neonatal mortality. Approximately one-third of preterm births are caused by the spontaneous onset of preterm labor. Nevertheless, 70% to 90% of women diagnosed with preterm labor will not deliver within 7 days. Thus, many women will be unnecessarily treated by preterm labor with risk medications. Better tools are needed to categorize women in preterm labor into high or low risk of preterm delivery. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide concentration in the amniotic fluid as a prognostic test to predict the risk of delivery within 48 hours or 7 days and before 34 0/7 or 37 0/7 weeks of gestation in women in preterm labor. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 102 pregnant women presenting signs and symptoms of spontaneous preterm birth (22 0/7 to 34 0/7 weeks of gestation) were included. Amniotic fluid was obtained by amniocentesis, and amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide concentration was measured. Below normal concentration was defined as <0.5 multiples of the median of the standard curve according to gestational age. The risk of preterm delivery was estimated according to normal or lower-than-normal amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide concentrations. The predictive capacity of the test (below normal amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide concentration) was evaluated to identify spontaneous preterm birth at 48 hours or 7 days from amniocentesis and less than 34 0/7 or 37 0/7 weeks at delivery. RESULTS: For the outcome delivery within 48 hours, lower-than-normal amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide concentration had 94.6% sensitivity, 73.8% specificity, 96.0% negative predictive value, 3.61 positive likelihood ratio, and 0.07 negative likelihood ratio. For the outcome delivery within 7 days, the test had 93.9% sensitivity, 88.7% specificity, 94.0% negative predictive value, 8.31 positive likelihood ratio, and 0.07 negative likelihood ratio. For the outcomes of spontaneous preterm birth before 34 0/7 and 37 0/7 weeks of gestation, below normal amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide concentrations had 80.0% sensitivity, 83.0% specificity, 78.0% negative predictive value, 4.70 positive likelihood ratio, and 0.24 negative likelihood ratio and 64.1% sensitivity, 91.7% specificity, 44.0% negative predictive value, 7.70 positive likelihood ratio, and 0.39 negative likelihood ratio, respectively. CONCLUSION: Among patients in spontaneous preterm labor, the detection of lower-than-normal amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide concentrations (<0.5 multiples of the median) in amniotic fluid has an excellent predictive capacity to identify those patients at low risk of preterm delivery within 48 hours or 7 days.

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RESUMEN Antecedentes: los sistemas de salud del mundo se han visto afectados en su lucha contra el COVID-19, generando efectos negativos tanto en la actividad asistencial como en la formación de los residentes. Suspender cirugías electivas, disminuir la participación de residentes en quirófano y otros cambios estructurales de los hospitales determinó que los residentes de cirugía experimenten un marcado déficit educacional en su formación. Material y métodos: modalidad observacional y transversal. Se realizó una encuesta anónima online de 20 preguntas a residentes de cirugía de la Argentina. Se confeccionó una base de datos para el análisis estadístico. Se valoraron variables categóricas y numéricas. Resultados: se recibieron 100 respuestas de la encuesta en la que se identificó predominio de residentes de instituciones públicas. Se calculó un descenso del 63% en la cantidad de cirugías en las que participaron los residentes durante la pandemia. El 77% usó plataformas virtuales para remediar el impacto en las instancias de formación académica. El 57% de los encuestados cuentan con programas de simulación quirúrgica en su hospital. La mayoría experimentó consecuencias negativas en sus habilidades quirúrgicas y en su formación durante la pandemia, pero se identificaron diferencias entre el grupo que dispone de simulación quirúrgica y el que no. Conclusión: para resolver el déficit educativo que generó la pandemia por COVID-19, y como medida para potenciar el aprendizaje de habilidades quirúrgicas en situaciones normales, este estudio recomendaría contar con programas de simulación quirúrgica y fomentar el uso de plataformas virtuales como herramienta de formación académica.

ABSTRACT Background: Health systems worldwide have been affected in their fight against COVID-19, generating negative effects on both healthcare activity and training of residents. Cancellation of elective surgeries, less participation of residents in the operating room and other structural changes in the hospitals resulted in an educational gap in the training of residents in surgery. Material and methods: We conducted an observational and cross-sectional study. A 20-question online survey was conducted among residents in surgery from Argentina. A database was created for statistical analysis of categorical and continuous variables. Results: The survey was responded by 100 residents in surgery; most of them belonged to public institutions. There was a 63% decrease in the number of surgeries in which the residents participated during the pandemic. Seventy-seven percent used virtual platforms to mitigate the impact on academic training and 57% count with surgical simulation programs in their hospitals. Most of them experienced negative consequences on their surgical skills and training during the pandemic, but there were differences identified between the group with and without surgical simulation programs. Conclusion: The availability of surgical simulation programs and the use of virtual platforms as an academic training tool could solve the educational gap generated by the COVID-19 pandemic and enhance the learning of surgical skills under normal conditions.

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Endometrial carcinosarcoma (ECS) is a rare, highly aggressive disease characterised by a biphasic growth of malignant epithelial (carcinomatous) and mesenchymal (sarcomatous) components. Clinically, it cannot be distinguished from endometrial carcinoma or uterine sarcoma. The definitive diagnosis can only be made based on histological examination and immunohistochemistry. To date, there aren't standardised treatment protocols for its management. We report a case of a 73-year-old patient who presented postmenopausal abnormal uterine bleeding and was diagnosed with ECS. A non-conventional treatment approach was conducted with favourable oncological outcomes.

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Introducción: La fibrosis pulmonar idiopática es una enfermedad rara, asociada al envejecimiento, con una alta tasa de mortalidad entre los 2.5 a 3 años. El diagnóstico se realiza con la sospecha clínica y la confirmación del patrón de neumonía intersticial usual, en tomografía del tórax o en biopsia pulmonar; el tratamiento actual se basa en fármacos anti fibróticos. Material y método: Se llevó a cabo un estudio descriptivo y prospectivo tipo registro, de pacientes con fibrosis pulmonar idiopática, que estuviesen en seguimiento por médicos especialistas en neumología en 4 consultorios privados de la ciudad de Panamá entre el 2017 y el 2020. Resultado: Se evaluaron 32 pacientes, edad media de 69 años (rango 53 ­ 91); 18/32 (56.3%) fueron masculinos, y de estos, 16/18 (88.9%) eran fumadores. Los crepitantes tipo velcro subescapulares se encontraron en 29/32 (90.6%). El patrón de neumonía intersticial usual en tomografía se encontró en 30/32 (93.7%), y 2/32 (6.3%) en biopsia. Los medicamentos anti fibróticos fueron usados en 6/32 (18.6%); el 50% usó nintedanib y el 50% pirfenidona. Fallecieron 4/32 (12.5%) pacientes en el periodo de estudio. Conclusión: La fibrosis pulmonar idiopática es frecuente en mayores de 50 años, principalmente varones, con historial de tabaquismo y reflujo gastroesofágico. Los crepitantes tipo velcro subescapulares son un hallazgo frecuente. El diagnóstico se realizó en su mayoría con tomografía de tórax de alta resolución; la difusión de monóxido de carbono y la saturación en la caminata de 6 minutos son las pruebas funcionales más alteradas. Menos de un tercio de los pacientes recibe tratamiento con anti fibróticos. (provisto por Infomedic International)

Introduction: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a rare disease, associated with aging, with a high mortality rate between 2.5 to 3 years. Diagnosis is made with clinical suspicion and confirmation of the usual interstitial pneumonia pattern in chest tomography or lung biopsy; current treatment is based on antifibrotic drugs. Methods: A descriptive and prospective registry-type study was carried out on patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis who were being followed up by pulmonology specialists in 4 private practices in Panama City between 2017 and 2020. Results: 32 patients were evaluated, mean age 69 years (range 53 - 91); 18/32 (56.3%) were male, and of these, 16/18 (88.9%) were smokers. Subscapularis velcro-type crackles were found in 29/32 (90.6%). The usual interstitial pneumonia pattern on CT was found in 30/32 (93.7%), and 2/32 (6.3%) on biopsy. Antifibrotic drugs were used in 6/32 (18.6%); 50% used nintedanib and 50% pirfenidone. Four/32 (12.5%) patients died during the study period. Conclusion: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is frequent in patients older than 50 years, mainly males, with a history of smoking and gastroesophageal reflux. Subscapular Velcro-like crackles are a frequent finding. Diagnosis was mostly made with high-resolution chest CT; carbon monoxide diffusion and 6-minute walk saturation are the most altered functional tests. Less than one third of patients receive treatment with antifibrotic drugs. (provided by Infomedic International)

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Here, we describe the odobenid Nanodobenus arandai gen. et sp. nov., based on a nearly complete left mandible from the mid to late Miocene Tortugas Formation in Baja California Sur. Nanodobenus is distinguished among odobenids by displaying a unique combination of plesiomorphic and derived characters, such as narrow mandibular symphysis, well-developed genial tuberosity, bilobed canine and p2 roots, bulbous post-canine teeth with the paraconid, protoconid and hypoconid, and smooth lingual cingula. Moreover, it is characterized by its small adult body length, which is estimated at about 1.65 m. Throughout the Miocene-Pliocene odobenids are characterized by an increase in body size, especially after the extinction of desmatophocids in the late Miocene. The small size of Nanodobenus departs from this trend, demonstrating that there was greater size disparity among odobenids in the mid-late Miocene than previously thought. It is hypothesized that Nanodobenus occupied a niche that was later on occupied by similar-sized otariids, such as Thalassoleon mexicanus, which occurs sympatrically with large odobenids in the overlying Almejas Formation.

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This work introduces the outcomes of the first process for the identification and evaluation of sites potentially contaminated in the Region of the Bio Bio, Chile. The methodology combined qualitative and quantitative elements from Austrian and German risk assessment procedures, calibrated and adapted to the Chilean reality. The developed process consists of collecting historical and current registers on soil use, effects of materials handling on the population's health, and the description of the site conditions. The first analytical step corresponds to an image algebra analysis, through which the most vulnerable areas of the region are established. The sites identified inside the most vulnerable areas are classified into five priority classes, giving an approximate degree of endangerment from these sites. Through the experience, from a total of 507 sites identified as suspicious of contamination, five sites were classified under the highest priority. The results of this analysis have allowed Chilean authorities to focus their resources on the detailed investigations to be carried out in the five priority locations, whilst planning the future strategy to follow for the practical management of all sites found as currently posing a risk to the environment and to the society.

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