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Therapeutic anticoagulation showed inconsistent results in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and selection of the best patients to use this strategy still a challenge balancing the risk of thrombotic and hemorrhagic outcomes. The present post-hoc analysis of the ACTION trial evaluated the variables independently associated with both bleeding events (major bleeding or clinically relevant non-major bleeding) and the composite outcomes thrombotic events (venous thromboembolism, myocardial infarction, stroke, systemic embolism, or major adverse limb events). Variables were assessed one by one with independent logistic regressions and final models were chosen based on Akaike information criteria. The model for bleeding events showed an area under the curve of 0.63 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.53 to 0.73), while the model for thrombotic events had an area under the curve of 0.72 (95% CI 0.65 to 0.79). Non-invasive respiratory support was associated with thrombotic but not bleeding events, while invasive ventilation was associated with both outcomes (Odds Ratio of 7.03 [95 CI% 1.95 to 25.18] for thrombotic and 3.14 [95% CI 1.11 to 8.84] for bleeding events). Beyond respiratory support, creatinine level (Odds Ratio [OR] 1.01 95% CI 1.00 to 1.02 for every 1.0 mg/dL) and history of coronary disease (OR 3.67; 95% CI 1.32 to 10.29) were also independently associated to the risk of thrombotic events. Non-invasive respiratory support, history of coronary disease, and creatinine level may help to identify hospitalized COVID-19 patients at higher risk of thrombotic complications.ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04394377.

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Obesity and asthma are major global health concerns, particularly in industrialized nations. Obesity has been shown to have detrimental effects on the respiratory system and lung function owing to metabolic issues and immunological consequences. Research has indicated that obese patients with asthma (atopic or T2-high and non-atopic or T2-low) have diminished lung function in terms of functional residual capacity (FRC), residual volume (RV), expiratory reserve volume (ERV), the FEV1/FVC ratio, and FEF 25-75% due to mechanical fat loading on the diaphragm and central adiposity when compared to non-obese asthmatic patients. Therefore, it is plausible that changes in lung function are the result of a combination of mechanical (fat loading on the diaphragm, central adiposity, bronchial hyper-reactivity, and an increase in cholinergic tone), environmental (diet and exercise), and inflammatory factors (local and systemic), which can lead to the obesity-related asthma phenotype characterized by severe asthma symptoms, poor response to corticosteroid treatment, loss of lung function, and poor quality of life from an early age.

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BACKGROUND: COVID-19 is associated with a prothrombotic state leading to adverse clinical outcomes. Whether therapeutic anticoagulation improves outcomes in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 is unknown. We aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of therapeutic versus prophylactic anticoagulation in this population. METHODS: We did a pragmatic, open-label (with blinded adjudication), multicentre, randomised, controlled trial, at 31 sites in Brazil. Patients (aged ≥18 years) hospitalised with COVID-19 and elevated D-dimer concentration, and who had COVID-19 symptoms for up to 14 days before randomisation, were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either therapeutic or prophylactic anticoagulation. Therapeutic anticoagulation was in-hospital oral rivaroxaban (20 mg or 15 mg daily) for stable patients, or initial subcutaneous enoxaparin (1 mg/kg twice per day) or intravenous unfractionated heparin (to achieve a 0·3-0·7 IU/mL anti-Xa concentration) for clinically unstable patients, followed by rivaroxaban to day 30. Prophylactic anticoagulation was standard in-hospital enoxaparin or unfractionated heparin. The primary efficacy outcome was a hierarchical analysis of time to death, duration of hospitalisation, or duration of supplemental oxygen to day 30, analysed with the win ratio method (a ratio >1 reflects a better outcome in the therapeutic anticoagulation group) in the intention-to-treat population. The primary safety outcome was major or clinically relevant non-major bleeding through 30 days. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04394377) and is completed. FINDINGS: From June 24, 2020, to Feb 26, 2021, 3331 patients were screened and 615 were randomly allocated (311 [50%] to the therapeutic anticoagulation group and 304 [50%] to the prophylactic anticoagulation group). 576 (94%) were clinically stable and 39 (6%) clinically unstable. One patient, in the therapeutic group, was lost to follow-up because of withdrawal of consent and was not included in the primary analysis. The primary efficacy outcome was not different between patients assigned therapeutic or prophylactic anticoagulation, with 28 899 (34·8%) wins in the therapeutic group and 34 288 (41·3%) in the prophylactic group (win ratio 0·86 [95% CI 0·59-1·22], p=0·40). Consistent results were seen in clinically stable and clinically unstable patients. The primary safety outcome of major or clinically relevant non-major bleeding occurred in 26 (8%) patients assigned therapeutic anticoagulation and seven (2%) assigned prophylactic anticoagulation (relative risk 3·64 [95% CI 1·61-8·27], p=0·0010). Allergic reaction to the study medication occurred in two (1%) patients in the therapeutic anticoagulation group and three (1%) in the prophylactic anticoagulation group. INTERPRETATION: In patients hospitalised with COVID-19 and elevated D-dimer concentration, in-hospital therapeutic anticoagulation with rivaroxaban or enoxaparin followed by rivaroxaban to day 30 did not improve clinical outcomes and increased bleeding compared with prophylactic anticoagulation. Therefore, use of therapeutic-dose rivaroxaban, and other direct oral anticoagulants, should be avoided in these patients in the absence of an evidence-based indication for oral anticoagulation. FUNDING: Coalition COVID-19 Brazil, Bayer SA.

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BACKGROUND: COVID-19 is associated with a prothrombotic state leading to adverse clinical outcomes. Whether therapeutic anticoagulation improves outcomes in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 is unknown. We aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of therapeutic versus prophylactic anticoagulation in this population. METHODS: We did a pragmatic, open-label (with blinded adjudication), multicentre, randomised, controlled trial, at 31 sites in Brazil. Patients (aged ≥18 years) hospitalised with COVID-19 and elevated D-dimer concentration, and who had COVID-19 symptoms for up to 14 days before randomisation, were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either therapeutic or prophylactic anticoagulation. Therapeutic anticoagulation was in-hospital oral rivaroxaban (20 mg or 15 mg daily) for stable patients, or initial subcutaneous enoxaparin (1 mg/kg twice per day) or intravenous unfractionated heparin (to achieve a 0·3­0·7 IU/mL anti-Xa concentration) for clinically unstable patients, followed by rivaroxaban to day 30. Prophylactic anticoagulation was standard in-hospital enoxaparin or unfractionated heparin. The primary efficacy outcome was a hierarchical analysis of time to death, duration of hospitalisation, or duration of supplemental oxygen to day 30, analysed with the win ratio method (a ratio >1 reflects a better outcome in the therapeutic anticoagulation group) in the intention-to-treat population. The primary safety outcome was major or clinically relevant non-major bleeding through 30 days. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04394377) and is completed. FINDINGS: From June 24, 2020, to Feb 26, 2021, 3331 patients were screened and 615 were randomly allocated (311 [50%] to the therapeutic anticoagulation group and 304 [50%] to the prophylactic anticoagulation group). 576 (94%) were clinically stable and 39 (6%) clinically unstable. One patient, in the therapeutic group, was lost to follow-up because of withdrawal of consent and was not included in the primary analysis. The primary efficacy outcome was not different between patients assigned therapeutic or prophylactic anticoagulation, with 28 899 (34·8%) wins in the therapeutic group and 34 288 (41·3%) in the prophylactic group (win ratio 0·86 [95% CI 0·59­1·22], p=0·40). Consistent results were seen in clinically stable and clinically unstable patients. The primary safety outcome of major or clinically relevant non-major bleeding occurred in 26 (8%) patients assigned therapeutic anticoagulation and seven (2%) assigned prophylactic anticoagulation (relative risk 3·64 [95% CI 1·61­8·27], p=0·0010). Allergic reaction to the study medication occurred in two (1%) patients in the therapeutic anticoagulation group and three (1%) in the prophylactic anticoagulation group. INTERPRETATION: In patients hospitalised with COVID-19 and elevated D-dimer concentration, in-hospital therapeutic anticoagulation with rivaroxaban or enoxaparin followed by rivaroxaban to day 30 did not improve clinical outcomes and increased bleeding compared with prophylactic anticoagulation. Therefore, use of therapeutic-dose rivaroxaban, and other direct oral anticoagulants, should be avoided in these patients in the absence of an evidence-based indication for oral anticoagulation.

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Edible coatings are attractive strategies for blueberries postharvest preservation. In this work, carvacrol/alginate coatings were developed for application on Andean blueberries. Coating formulations were prepared based on blends of sodium alginate (2% w/v), carvacrol (0%, 0.03%, 0.06% or 0.09%), glycerol, and water and applied to the fruits by dip-coating. Then, the fruits were immersed in a calcium batch to induce a crosslink reaction. Changes in the physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of the blueberries were monitored during 21 days of storage at 4 °C. Coated blueberries were better preserved throughout the 21 days of storage because of their lower respiration rate and water loss, in comparison with the uncoated ones. Besides, the coatings enhanced the appearance and the gloss of the fruits. Control fruits showed a significant decrease in the firmness, while, in the coated fruits, this critical postharvest quality was preserved during the entire storage. Coating formulations with 0.09% of carvacrol was the most effective in preventing mesophilic aerobic bacteria and molds/yeasts growth on the fruits during the storage. Edible carvacrol/alginate coatings can be considered as a useful alternative to complement the benefits of refrigerated storage by delaying post-harvest spoilage of Andean blueberries.

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RESUMEN Introducción: Diversos factores pueden estar asociados al desarrollo de hidrocefalia en pacientes operados de aneurismas cerebrales que luego son dependientes de derivación ventrículo peritoneal, pueden estar dados por obstrucción mecánica o inflamatoria con disminución de la absorción del líquido cefalorraquídeo (LCR). Objetivo: Determinar factores asociados al desarrollo de hidrocefalia dependiente de derivación ventrículo peritoneal en pacientes con aneurismas cerebrales que han recibido tratamiento quirúrgico para clipaje. Metodología: Estudio observacional, descriptivo, retrospectivo de corte transversal de expedientes clínicos de 171 pacientes operados de aneurismas cerebrales en el Hospital de Clínicas desde el año 2013 hasta febrero del 2020. Resultados: Se han analizado 171 casos operados de aneurismas cerebrales, la mayoría del sexo femenino (71%), con un rango de edad de 17-77 años (mediana 53 años). El 7,6 % desarrolló hidrocefalia con requerimiento de derivación ventrículo peritoneal. De estos pacientes el 61,5 % tuvieron antecedentes de craniectomía descompresiva (p< 0,001). El 84,6 % presentó vasoespasmo tanto clínico como radiológico (p < 0,001). Las localizaciones más frecuentes fueron en las arterias carótida interna y cerebral media con 38,9 % para ambos. La escala de Fisher IV fue la más frecuente con 76,9%, luego Fisher II con 15,3 % (p= 0,14). El 62,2 % fueron operados durante la fase aguda (p= 0,03). Conclusión: Se ha observado en este estudio factores con asociación estadísticamente significativas con el desarrollo de hidrocefalia como la presencia de vasoespasmo y los operados de craniectomía descompresiva los cuales están acordes a la literatura, respecto a la fase de la enfermedad en la que se realizó la cirugía, en este estudio se observó predominio en la fase aguda, en contraste a lo que se observa en varias fuentes bibliográficas.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Various factors may be associated with the development of hydrocephalus in patients operated on for cerebral aneurysms that are later dependent on peritoneal ventricular shunt, may be due to mechanical or inflammatory obstruction with decreased absorption of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Objective: To determine factors associated with the development of peritoneal ventricular shunt-dependent hydrocephalus in patients with cerebral aneurysms who have received surgical treatment for clipping. Methods: Observational, descriptive, retrospective cross-sectional study of clinical records of 171 patients operated on for cerebral aneurysms at the Hospital de Clínicas from 2013 to February 2020. Results: 171 cases operated on for cerebral aneurysms have been analyzed, most of the female sex (71%), with an age range of 17-77 years (median 53 years). 7.6 % developed hydrocephalus with a peritoneal ventricle shunt requirement. Of these patients, 61.5% had a history of decompressive craniectomy (p <0.001). 84.6% presented both clinical and radiological vasospasm (p <0.001). The most frequent locations were in the internal carotid and middle cerebral arteries with 38.9% for both. The Fisher IV scale was the most frequent with 76.9%, then Fisher II with 15.3% (p = 0.14). 62.2% underwent surgery during the acute phase (p = 0.03). Conclusion: Factors with a statistically significant association with the development of hydrocephalus have been observed in this study, such as the presence of vasospasm and those undergoing decompressive craniectomy, which are in accordance with the literature, unlike what occurs with the phase of the disease in the that surgery was performed, which in our study showed a predominance in the acute phase, in contrast to what is observed in various bibliographic sources.

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RESUMEN Introducción: la hemorragia subaracnoidea por sí misma puede dar lugar a un daño cerebral, por esto, en pacientes sin complicaciones los trastornos cognitivos pueden estar presentes. Objetivos: analizar las alteraciones neuropsicológicos en los pacientes operados de aneurismas cerebrales y los factores que se asocian a su desarrollo. Metodología: estudio analítico, observacional, ambispectivo, 2013-2020, que incluyó pacientes operados de aneurismas cerebrales rotos en el Hospital de Clínicas. La evaluación cognitiva se realizó con el mini examen cognitivo de Lobo. Se consideró alterado cuando la puntuación fue menor a 27. Se analizaron 12 variables asociando las mismas con el tema de estudio. Los datos fueron analizados con Epiinfo 7.2. Resultados: La edad mayor a 60 años se asoció al déficit cognitivo de forma significativa, así como también la lateralidad a izquierda, el uso de clipado temporario durante la cirugía, la ruptura del aneurisma en el intraoperatorio, el vasoespasmo y la hidrocefalia. No se asoció significativamente con el desarrollo de un trastorno cognitivo; el sexo, el nivel de escolaridad, la cantidad de sangre cisternal, la localización del aneurisma, el Glasgow de ingreso ni la fase en la cual se realzó la cirugía. Discusión: en general los hallazgos coinciden con la literatura. Llamó la atención que la escala de Fisher en la muestra estudiada no demostró tener una asociación significativa con el trastorno cognitivo, sin embargo, hay datos en la literatura que sostienen que la cantidad de sangre cisternal al ingreso es un fuerte predictor del estado cognitivo del paciente al alta.

ABSTRACT Introduction: subarachnoid hemorrhage itself can lead to brain damage, so in uncomplicated patient's cognitive disorders may be present. Objective: To analyze the cognitive impairments in patients following clipping of ruptured aneurysms and the factors that are associated with their development. Methodology: analytical, observational, ambispective study, 2013-2020, including patients operated for ruptured aneurysms at the Hospital de Clínicas. The cognitive evaluation was performed with the Lobo mini cognitive exam. It was considered altered when the score was less than 27. Twelve variables were analyzed associating them with the study topic. The data was analyzed with Epiinfo 7.2. Results: Age over 60 years was significantly associated with cognitive deficit, as well as left laterality, the use of temporary clipping during surgery, intraoperative aneurysm rupture, vasospasm, and hydrocephalus. It was not significantly associated with the development of a cognitive disorder; sex, level of education, amount of cisternal blood, location of the aneurysm, admission Glasgow, and the timing in which the surgery was performed. Discussion: In general, the findings coincide with the literature. It was noteworthy that the Fisher scale in the studied sample did not show to have a significant association with cognitive disorder, however, there are data in the literature that maintain that the amount of cisternal blood on admission is a strong predictor of the patient's cognitive state at discharge.

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A commercial ultrafiltration (UF) membrane (HFM-183 de Koch Membrane Systems) made of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), was recovered with a negatively-charged polyelectrolyte (poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate)) (PSS), and the effects on its electric, chemical, and morphological properties were analyzed. Atomic force microscopy (AFM), liquid-liquid displacement porometry, Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy were used to investigate the modifications induced by the deposition of PSS on the PVDF positively-charged membrane and after its treatment by a radio frequency Ar-plasma. These techniques confirmed a real deposition and posterior compaction of PSS with increasing roughness and decreasing pore sizes. The evolution of the electric resistances of the membranes confirmed crosslinking and compaction with shielding of the sulfonated groups from PSS. In this way, a membrane with a negatively-charged active layer and a pore size which was 60% lower than the original membrane was obtained. The composition of the additive used by manufacturers to modify PVDF to make it positively charged was obtained by different procedures, all of which depended upon the results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, leading to fairly consistent results. This polymer, carrying positive charges, contains quaternary nitrogen, as confirmed by XPS. Moreover, Raman spectroscopy confirmed that PVDF changes from mostly the to the α phase, which is more stable as a substrate for the deposited PSS. The aim of the tested modifications was to increase the retention of divalent anions without reducing permeability.

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BACKGROUND: In the study of well-being there are two partially overlapping traditions that have been developed in parallel. Subjective well-being (SWB) has been associated with the hedonistic approach of well-being, and psychological well-being (PWB) with the eudaimonistic one. However, satisfaction with life, the most common SWB indicator, is not strictly a hedonic concept and contains many eudaimonic components. The objective of this research is to examine whether a Eudaimonic Well-being G-Factor of Satisfaction with Life (SWLS) and Psychological Well-being Scales (PWBS) emerges. METHOD: 400 people from the general population of Colombia (Study 1) and 401 from Spain (Study 2), recruited via advertisement, voluntarily participated and filled in a booklet containing, in order of appearance, the PWBS and the SWLS. RESULTS: According to our hypothesis, parallel analysis, eigenvalues, scree plot graphs and exploratory factor analysis (Study 1) suggested the existence of a one-factor structure. Confirmatory factor analysis (Study 2) indicated that this one-factor model provided excellent data fit. Results of a multi-group confirmatory factor analysis confirmed cross-cultural factor invariance. CONCLUSIONS: These results question the view that the satisfaction with life indicator is uniquely hedonic and point to the need for a greater integration between hedonic and eudaimonic traditions.

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Introducción Poner en marcha una institución de salud es una tarea compleja que demanda una buena planificación. Objetivos Identificar los principales problemas para la puesta en marcha del primer Centro Especializado Ambulatorio en Cuba y determinar su orden de prioridad. Métodos Para la identificación de los problemas, se realizó una lluvia de ideas en la que intervinieron miembros del consejo de dirección y jefes de servicios seleccionados. Se aplicaron métodos de ponderación para reducir la lista de problemas y seleccionar un número determinado de ellos. Para la priorización de estos problemas se utilizó el método de ranqueo y para el diagnóstico causal se usó la técnica de Ishikawa o espina de pescado, que permitió definir cuáles de las causas son de carácter interno y cuáles de carácter externo. Resultados Se identificaron cuatro problemas fundamentales con el siguiente orden de prioridad: necesidad de la puesta en marcha de los servicios ingenieros, calculo de insumos médicos y no médicos, incorporación de los recursos humanos y departamentos que trabajarían en el Centro y por último, incorporación de los servicios médicos según objeto social previsto. Conclusiones La planificación realizada y los métodos utilizados garantizaron el cumplimiento de los objetivos propuestos y la puesta en marcha del Centro Especializado Ambulatorio Héroes de Playa Girón anexo al Hospital General Universitario Dr Gustavo Aldereguía Lima, en Cienfuegos

Introduction Putting into operation a health institution is a complex task requiring good planning. Objectives To identify the main problems for the putting into operation the first specialized outpatient service center in Cuba and to determine their order of priority. Methods For the problem identification, a brainstorming activity was performed in which members of the managing board and selected heads of services were involved. Several weighing methods to reduce the listing of problems and to select a certain number of them were used. The ranking method served to prioritize problems followed by the causal diagnosis, based on the Ishikawa or fishbone technique, which allowed defining both the internal and the external causes. Results Four fundamental problems were detected following the order of priority: need for putting engineering services into operation, calculation of the required medical and non-medical inputs, incorporation of the human resources and departments, and finally, the incorporation of the various medical services in line with the agreed social object of the institution. Conclusions The planning and the used methods assured the fulfilment of the objectives and the putting into operation of Heroes de Playa Girón specialized outpatient service center, attached to Dr Gustavo Aldereguía Lima general university hospital in Cienfuegos

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El objetivo de este artículo es analizar, en población hispana, las propiedades psicométricas del Inventario de Cogniciones Postraumáticas (ICPT), un instrumento diseñado por Edna B. Foa para la medición de creencias y pensamientos relacionados con el trauma. El instrumento fue administrado a una muestra de 132 participantes de España, a una muestra de 363 personas de El Salvador, y a una muestra de 47 víctimas directas de los atentados terroristas del 11-M de España. La estructura factorial del ICPT fue analizada mediante Análisis Paralelo de Horn, análisis factorial exploratorio y confirmatorio. Los resultados señalaron la existencia de tres factores que explicaron un 51% de la varianza: Creencias Negativas sobre el Yo (35%), Creencias Negativas sobre el Mundo (10%) y Autoculpa (6%). Los análisis factoriales confirmatorios respaldaron esta estructura tanto con la ausencia (CFI = 0,93) como con la presencia de un factor general de segundo orden (CFI = 0,93). Las tres dimensiones mostraron una buena consistencia interna en todas las muestras con valores generales del α de Cronbach superiores a 0.90. El ICPT correlacionó con la severidad del trauma (r=0.61) así como con otros instrumentos para medir cogniciones postraumáticas. Finalmente el ICPT discriminó con precisión entre las personas que presentaron psicopatología postraumática de aquellas otras que no lo hicieron.

The main purpose of the present article was to analyze in Hispanic population the psychometric properties of Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory (PTCI), a measure of trauma-related thoughts and beliefs developed by Edna B. Foa. The inventory was administered to 132 participants of general population of Spain, 363 participants of El Salvador, and 47 direct victims of 11-M terrorist attacks in Spain. The PTCI factorial structure was analyzed using Parallel Analyses of Horn and exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Results showed three factors that explained 51% of variance: Negative Cognitions About Self (35%), Negative Cognitions About the World (10%), and Self-Blame (6%). CFA confirmed the three factors structure without a second order factor (CFI =0,93) and with this general factor (CFI = 0,93). The three dimensions showed good internal consistency with general Cronbach α levels higher than 0,70. PTCI correlated with trauma severity (r = 0,61) and with other measures of trauma-related cognitions. Finally, the PTCI discriminate with precision between traumatized and not traumatized individuals.