Left Ventricular Chordae Tendinae Myxoma Causing Stroke: A Rare Finding

A 52?year?old woman presented with dysarthria and right?sided weakness in her upper and lower extremities prompting thrombolytic therapy with mild resolution of symptoms. Further work?up revealed (the source) a left ventricular myxoma on the chordae tendinae of the posterior medial papillary muscle, confirmed with transesophageal echocardiography and pathology. Herein, we present a rare case of embolic stroke from a myxoma originating on the chordae tendinae. To the best of our knowledge, the literature on the location and presentation of this tumor as seen in our patient is sparse in contemporary findings.

Applying the RE-AIM conceptual framework for the promotion of physical activity in low- and middle-income countries / Aplicando o modelo RE-AIM para a promoção da atividade física em países de baixa e média renda / Aplicando el marco conceptual RE-AIM para la promoción de la actividad física en países de ingreso bajo y médio

ABSTRACT Objective: the RE-AIM framework has been widely used to evaluate internal and external validity of interventions aimed to promote physical activity, helping to provide comprehensive evaluation of the reach, efficacy, adoption, implementation and maintenance of research and programming. Despite this progress, the RE-AIM framework has not been used widely in Latin America. The purpose of this manuscript is to describe the RE-AIM framework, the process and materials developed for a one-day workshop in Guadalajara, and the acceptability and satisfaction of participants that attended the workshop. Methods: lecture, interactive examples and an agenda were developed for a one-day RE-AIM workshop over a three month period. Results: thirty two health care practitioners (M age = 30.6, SD=9.9 years) attended the workshop. Most (100%) rated the workshop as credible, useful (100%) and intended to apply it in current or future research (95%). Conclusion: results suggest intuitive appeal of the RE-AIM framework, and provide a strategy for introducing the utility and practical application of the framework in practice settings in Mexico and Latin America.

RESUMO Objetivo: o modelo RE-AIM tem sido amplamente utilizado para avaliar a validade interna e externa de intervenções que objetivam promover atividade física, auxiliando a fornecer uma avaliação abrangente do alcance, eficácia, adoção, implementação e manutenção de pesquisas e programas. Apesar deste progresso, o modelo RE-AIM não tem sido amplamente utilizado na América Latina. O objetivo deste artigo é descrever o modelo RE-AIM, o processo e os materiais desenvolvidos para uma oficina de um dia de duração em Guadalajara e a aceitabilidade e satisfação dos participantes que compareceram na oficina. Métodos: durante o período de três meses, palestras e exercícios interativos foram desenvolvidos para uma oficina de um dia sobre o modelo RE-AIM. Resultados: trinta e dois profissionais de saúde (Média de idade=30,6±9,9 anos) participaram da oficina. A maioria dos participantes classificou a oficina como credível (100%), útil (100%) e pretende aplicar o que foi aprendido em investigações atuais ou futuras (95%). Conclusão: os resultados sugerem que o modelo RE-AIM é um recurso intuitivo e fornecem uma estratégia para a apresentação da utilidade e aplicação prática do modelo em cenários práticos no México e na América Latina.

RESUMEN Objetivo: el marco RE-AIM ha sido ampliamente utilizado para evaluar la validez interna y externa de intervenciones destinadas a promover la actividad física, ayudando a proporcionar una evaluación exhaustiva de la cobertura, eficacia/efectividad, adopción, implementación y mantenimiento de programas sobre actividad física. A pesar de este progreso, el marco RE-AIM no se ha utilizado ampliamente en América Latina. El objetivo de este artículo es presentar el marco conceptual RE-AIM, describir el proceso y los materiales desarrollados para un taller en Guadalajara; y reportar la aceptabilidad y satisfacción de los participantes que acudieron al taller. Métodos: durante un período de tres meses, se desarrolló un taller sobre el marco RE-AIM. El taller duró un día e incluyó una conferencia y ejercicios interactivos. Resultados: treinta y dos profesionales de la salud (edad media = 30.6 [±9.9 años]) participaron en el taller. La mayoría calificó el taller como creíble, útil (100%) y manifestó la intención de aplicar lo aprendido en investigaciones actuales o futuras (95%). Conclusión: los resultados sugieren que el marco RE-AIM es intuitivamente atractivo y que el curso es una estrategia adecuada para introducir la utilidad y aplicación práctica del marco en espacios de práctica en América Latina.

Influence of parental perception of school safety and gender on children's physical activity in Mexico: A cross sectional study / Influencia de la percepción de los padres sobre seguridad escolar y del género en la actividad física de niños en México: un estudio transversal

Objective. This cross sectional study aims to determine the effects of gender and parental perception of safety at school on children's physical activity (PA) levels. Materials and methods. Parents of school aged Mexican children residing in Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Puerto Vallarta, completed surveys about their children's PA measures. The physical activity indicators were evaluated using linear and logistical regression models. Results. Analysis did not indicate that gender moderated the relationship between parental perception of safety and PA measures, but significant gender issues exist with girls participating less than boys in the three measures of PA in this study (p<0.001). Conclusion. Results suggest the need for additional interventions promoting physical activity in girls in Mexico.

Objetivo. Determinar los efectos de género y percepción paternal de la seguridad en escuelas, en niveles de actividad física (AF) en los niños. Material y métodos. Padres con hijos escolares residentes en Guadalajara, Ciudad de México, y Puerto Vallarta, completaron encuestas sobre los niveles de AF de sus hijos. Se evaluaron los indicadores de AF usando modelos de regresión lineal y logística. Resultados. El análisis no indica que el género modere la relación entre percepción de seguridad y medidas de AF, pero hay indicadores significativos de que las niñas participan menos que los varones en las medidas de AF de este estudio (p<0.001). Conclusión. Los resultados sugieren la necesidad de intervenciones adicionales que promuevan la AF en niñas mexicanas.

Assessing the physical activity environment in Mexican healthcare settings / Evaluación del entorno de actividad física en el sector salud

Objective. To assess the informational, educational and instrumental environments among Mexican healthcare settings for their potential to promote physical activity (PA). Materials and methods. The Environmental Physical Activity Assessment Tool for Healthcare Settings (EPATHS) was developed to assess the PA environments of 40 clinics/hospitals representing the three Mexican healthcare systems in Guadalajara. The EPATHS assessed the presence and quality of PA enhancing features in the informational (e.g. signage), educational (e.g. pamphlets), and instrumental (e.g. stairs) environments of included clinics/hospitals. Results. 28 (70%) clinics/hospitals had more than one floor with stairs; 60% of these had elevators. Nearly 90% of stairs were visible, accessible and clean compared to fewer than 30% of elevators. Outdoor spaces were observed in just over half (55%) of clinics/hospitals, and most (70%) were of good quality. Only 25% clinics/hospitals had educational PA materials. Conclusions. The PA instrumental environment of Mexican healthcare settings is encouraging. The informational and educational environments could improve.

Objetivo. Evaluar el entorno informacional, educacional e instrumental de clínicas/hospitales en México y determinar su potencial para promover la actividad física (AF). Material y métodos. Se desarrolló una herramienta (Environmental physical activity assessment tool for healthcare settings [EPATHS]) para evaluar los entornos de AF en 40 clínicas/hospitales de Guadalajara afiliados a los tres sistemas de salud de México. Con el EPATHS se evaluó la presencia y calidad del entorno informacional (pe.: letreros), educacional (ep.: panfletos) e instrumental (pe.: escaleras). Resultados. Del total de clínicas/hospitales incluidos, 28 (70%) tuvieron más de un piso y escaleras; de éstos, 60% tuvo elevadores. Cerca de 90% de las escaleras eran visibles, accesibles y limpias, lo que contrasta con menos de 30% para los elevadores. En 55% de las clínicas/hospitales se observaron áreas verdes, la mayoría de éstas (80%) de buena calidad. En sólo 25% de las clínicas/hospitales se observaron materiales educativos sobre AF. Conclusiones. El entorno instrumental en clínicas/hospitales mexicanos es alentador. Los entornos informativos y educativos podrían mejorar.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for stroke recovery

BACKGROUND Stroke is the major cause of adult disability. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been used for many years to manage depression. Recently, small trials have demonstrated that SSRIs might improve recovery after stroke, even in people who are not depressed. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses are the least biased way to bring together data from several trials. Given the promising effect of SSRIs on stroke recovery seen in small trials, a systematic review and meta-analysis is needed. OBJECTIVE To determine whether SSRIs improve recovery after stroke, and whether treatment with SSRIs was associated with adverse effects. METHODS Search methods: We searched the Cochrane Stroke Group Trials Register (August 2011), Cochrane Depression Anxiety and Neurosis Group Trials Register (November 2011), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library 2011, Issue 8), MEDLINE (from 1948 to August 2011), EMBASE (from 1980 to August 2011), CINAHL (from 1982 to August 2011), AMED (Allied and Complementary Medicine) (from 1985 to August 2011), PsycINFO (from 1967 to August 2011) and PsycBITE (Pyschological Database for Brain Impairment Treatment Efficacy) (March 2012). To identify further published, unpublished and ongoing trials we searched trials registers, pharmaceutical websites, reference lists, contacted experts and performed citation tracking of included studies. Selection criteria: We included randomized controlled trials that recruited stroke survivors (ischaemic or haemorrhagic) at any time within the first year. The intervention was any SSRI, given at any dose, for any period. We excluded drugs with mixed pharmacological effects. The comparator was usual care or placebo. In order to be included, trials had to collect data on at least one of our primary (dependence and disability) or secondary (impairments, depression, ...