The spatial extent and the dispersal strategy of species shape the occupancy frequency distribution of stream insect assemblages.

Several theoretical models have been proposed as the underlying mechanisms behind occupancy frequency distribution (OFD) patterns. For instance, the metapopulation dynamic model predicts bimodal OFD pattern indicating the dominance of dispersal processes in structuring the assemblages, while the niche-based model predicts unimodal right-skewed OFD pattern, and thus assemblages are driven mostly by niche processes. However, it is well known that the observed OFD pattern reflects the interplay of several other factors (e.g. habitat heterogeneity, species specificity and sampling protocol parameters). It follows that the individual contribution of each factor to the OFD pattern is rather complicated to explore. Our main objective was to examine the role of the spatial extent of the sampling and the dispersal strategies of species in shaping OFD pattern. For this, we collected samples of stream insect assemblages inhabiting near-natural streams in the Pannon Ecoregion. We formed groups of species representing contrasting dispersal strategies (referred to as dispersal groups). Applying a computer program algorithm, we produced samples with different spatial extent. We found that with increasing spatial extent, the OFD pattern changed from bimodal to unimodal for active dispersers. Insect groups with different dispersal strategies differed in the strength of support for OFD patterns within all spatial extent. Furthermore, the strength of support for OFD patterns varied across dispersal groups differently as the spatial extent increased. Our results reflected underlying changes in mechanisms structuring assemblages along an increasing spatial extent. We also assumed that the stream insect dispersal strategy influences the relative role of dispersal and niche processes particularly as spatial extent increases from stream reaches to the extent of adjacent valleys. We could define spatial extents and dispersal strategies within which unique metacommunity processes could underlie the organisation of assemblages.

Large shallow lake response to anthropogenic stressors and climate change: Missing macroinvertebrate recovery after oligotrophication (Lake Balaton, East-Central Europe).

East-Central Europe's largest shallow lake, Balaton, experienced strong eutrophication in the 1970-80s, followed by water quality improvement and oligotrophication by 2010 CE. Recently however, repeated cyanobacterial blooms occurred and warned that internal P-recycling can act similarly to external P load, therefore we need a better understanding of past water level (WL) and trophic changes in the lake. In this study we discuss the last 500-yr trophic, WL and habitat changes of the lake using paleoecological (chironomids, pollen) and geochemical (sediment chlorophyll, TOC, TS, TN, C/H ratio, major and trace element) methods. We demonstrate that the most intensive and irreversible change in the macroinvertebrate fauna occurred during the period of economic boom between the First and Second World War (∼1925-1940 CE), when large-scale built-in and leisure use of the lake has intensified. At that time, the Procladius-Microchironomus-Stempellina dominated community transformed to Procladius-Chironomus plumosus-type-Microchironomus community that coincided with land use changes, intensified erosion and water-level regulation in the lake with the maintenance of year-round high WL. This was followed by the impoverishment and population size decrease of the chironomid fauna and Procladius dominance since 1940 CE, without any recovery after 1994 CE despite the ongoing oligotrophication. Accelerated rate of change and turnover of the fauna was connected to an increase in the benthivorous fish biomass and eutrophication. The basin lost almost completely its once characteristic Stempellina species between 1927 and 1940 CE due to trophic level increase and seasonal anoxia in the Szemes Basin. Reference conditions for ecosystem improvement were assigned to 1740-1900 CE. We conclude that in spite of the ongoing oligotrophication, the re-establishment of the Procladius-Microchironomus-Stempellina assemblage is hampered, and requires fish population regulation.

Se Habla Español: The role of ethnic centrality in the effect of providing Spanish-language services in health clinics among Latinx Americans.

The present work experimentally examines whether a Spanish-speaking healthcare provider (an identity safety cue) increases the anticipated quality of care and healthcare utilization intentions of Latinx Americans (N = 180) and whether this effect is moderated by ethnic centrality. We find that providing Spanish-language services, versus not, on a healthcare facility's webpage significantly increases both anticipated quality of care and healthcare utilization intentions-but only for Latinx Americans who perceive their ethnicity as highly central to their self-concept. Likewise, we find that anticipated quality of care mediates the effect that identity safety cues have on healthcare utilization intentions only for Latinx Americans high on ethnic centrality. These findings demonstrate that members of minoritized ethnic groups shown to be the most susceptible to experiencing concerns of discrimination (people high on ethnic centrality) are also the most likely to benefit from identity safety cues that are designed to mitigate these very concerns.

Resección no planificada en sarcomas de partes blandas del aparato locomotor / Unplanned excision of soft tissue sarcomas of the musculoskeletal system

Introducción: El proceso diagnóstico de los sarcomas de partes blandas del aparato locomotor (SPBAL) sigue siendo comprometido, con casos de resecciones no planificadas (cirugías «whoops»). Este estudio evalúa la frecuencia de este tipo de procedimientos, tratando de identificar características de los pacientes, tumores, tratamiento quirúrgico y resultados. Material y métodos: Se revisan de forma retrospectiva 131 pacientes tratados de forma quirúrgica en nuestro centro entre octubre de 2018 y diciembre de 2021 de un SPBAL. Se excluyen los pacientes con SPBAL localizados en vísceras, mediastino, corazón, retroperitoneo, peritoneo y aparato genital. Las diferencias entre pacientes con resecciones planificadas y no planificadas fueron evaluadas con pruebas χ2 y un modelo de regresión multivariado de Cox. Resultados: Las resecciones no planificadas de SPBAL han tenido lugar en 18% de los pacientes de nuestra área, principalmente en tumores menos de 5 cm y localizados superficiales a la fascia; 29,2% de estos pacientes no disponían de una prueba de imagen previa. No se ha demostrado que una cirugía «whoops» pueda suponer una disminución de la supervivencia o una mayor tasa de recidivas. Conclusiones: Recomendamos la realización de una prueba de imagen siempre previa a la extirpación de cualquier tipo de tumoración de tejidos blandos, así como la adherencia a las guías de remisión a centros de referencia.(AU)

Introduction: The diagnosis process of soft tissue sarcomas of the musculoskeletal system (SPBAL) continues to be complex, with cases of unplanned excisions (“whoops” surgeries). This study evaluates the frequency of these type of procedures, trying to indentify patient characteristics, tumors, surgical treatment and final results. Material and methods: 131 patients treated surgically between October 2018 and December 2021 of a SPBAL were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with SPBAL located in the viscera, mediastinum, heart, retroperitoneum, peritoneum and genital tract were excluded. Differences between patients with planned and unplanned excisions were assessed with chi2 tests and a Cox multivariate regression model. Results: Unplanned excisions of SPBAL have taken place in 18% of the patients in our área, mainly in tumors of less than 5 cm and located superficial to the fascia. 29,2% of these patients did not have a previous imaging test. It has not been shown that a “whoops” surgery can lead to a decrease in survival or a higher rate of recurrences. Conclusions: We recommend carrying out an imaging test always prior to the removal of any type of soft tissue tumor, as well as adherence to the referral guidelines to reference centers.(AU)

[Translated article] Unplanned excision of soft tissue sarcomas of the musculoskeletal system / Resección no planificada en sarcomas de partes blandas del aparato locomotor

Introducción: El proceso diagnóstico de los sarcomas de partes blandas del aparato locomotor (SPBAL) sigue siendo comprometido, con casos de resecciones no planificadas (cirugías «whoops»). Este estudio evalúa la frecuencia de este tipo de procedimientos, tratando de identificar características de los pacientes, tumores, tratamiento quirúrgico y resultados. Material y métodos: Se revisan de forma retrospectiva 131 pacientes tratados de forma quirúrgica en nuestro centro entre octubre de 2018 y diciembre de 2021 de un SPBAL. Se excluyen los pacientes con SPBAL localizados en vísceras, mediastino, corazón, retroperitoneo, peritoneo y aparato genital. Las diferencias entre pacientes con resecciones planificadas y no planificadas fueron evaluadas con pruebas χ2 y un modelo de regresión multivariado de Cox. Resultados: Las resecciones no planificadas de SPBAL han tenido lugar en 18% de los pacientes de nuestra área, principalmente en tumores menos de 5 cm y localizados superficiales a la fascia; 29,2% de estos pacientes no disponían de una prueba de imagen previa. No se ha demostrado que una cirugía «whoops» pueda suponer una disminución de la supervivencia o una mayor tasa de recidivas. Conclusiones: Recomendamos la realización de una prueba de imagen siempre previa a la extirpación de cualquier tipo de tumoración de tejidos blandos, así como la adherencia a las guías de remisión a centros de referencia.(AU)

Introduction: The diagnosis process of soft tissue sarcomas of the musculoskeletal system (SPBAL) continues to be complex, with cases of unplanned excisions (“whoops” surgeries). This study evaluates the frequency of these type of procedures, trying to indentify patient characteristics, tumors, surgical treatment and final results. Material and methods: 131 patients treated surgically between October 2018 and December 2021 of a SPBAL were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with SPBAL located in the viscera, mediastinum, heart, retroperitoneum, peritoneum and genital tract were excluded. Differences between patients with planned and unplanned excisions were assessed with chi2 tests and a Cox multivariate regression model. Results: Unplanned excisions of SPBAL have taken place in 18% of the patients in our área, mainly in tumors of less than 5 cm and located superficial to the fascia. 29,2% of these patients did not have a previous imaging test. It has not been shown that a “whoops” surgery can lead to a decrease in survival or a higher rate of recurrences. Conclusions: We recommend carrying out an imaging test always prior to the removal of any type of soft tissue tumor, as well as adherence to the referral guidelines to reference centers.(AU)

Unplanned excision of soft tissue sarcomas of the musculoskeletal system. / Resección no planificada en sarcomas de partes blandas del aparato locomotor.

INTRODUCTION: The diagnosis process of soft tissue sarcomas of the musculoskeletal system (SPBAL) continues to be complex, with cases of unplanned excisions ("whoops" surgeries). This study evaluates the frequency of these type of procedures, trying to indentify patient characteristics, tumors, surgical treatment and final results. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 131 patients treated surgically between October 2018 and December 2021 of a SPBAL were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with SPBAL located in the viscera, mediastinum, heart, retroperitoneum, peritoneum and genital tract were excluded. Differences between patients with planned and unplanned excisions were assessed with chi2 tests and a Cox multivariate regression model. RESULTS: Unplanned excisions of SPBAL have taken place in 18% of the patients in our área, mainly in tumors of less than 5 cm and located superficial to the fascia. 29,2% of these patients did not have a previous imaging test. It has not been shown that a "whoops" surgery can lead to a decrease in survival or a higher rate of recurrences. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend carrying out an imaging test always prior to the removal of any type of soft tissue tumor, as well as adherence to the referral guidelines to reference centers.

[Translated article] Unplanned excision of soft tissue sarcomas of the musculoskeletal system.

INTRODUCTION: The diagnosis process of soft tissue sarcomas of the musculoskeletal system (SPBAL) continues to be complex, with cases of unplanned excisions ("whoops" surgeries). This study evaluates the frequency of these type of procedures, trying to identify patient characteristics, tumours, surgical treatment and final results. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 131 patients treated surgically between October 2018 and December 2021 of a SPBAL were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with SPBAL located in the viscera, mediastinum, heart, retroperitoneum, peritoneum and genital tract were excluded. Differences between patients with planned and unplanned excisions were assessed with Chi2 tests and a Cox multivariate regression model. RESULTS: Unplanned excisions of SPBAL have taken place in 18% of the patients in our area, mainly in tumours of less than 5cm and located superficial to the fascia. 29.2% of these patients did not have a previous imaging test. It has not been shown that a "whoops" surgery can lead to a decrease in survival or a higher rate of recurrences. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend carrying out an imaging test always prior to the removal of any type of soft tissue tumour, as well as adherence to the referral guidelines to reference centres.

Evaluation of persistent COVID and SARS-CoV-2 reinfection in a cohort of patients on the island of Gran Canaria, Spain / Evaluación de la COVID-19 persistente y la reinfección por SARS-CoV-2 en una cohorte de pacientes en la isla de Gran Canaria, España

Introduction This study analyzed the impact of patients’ age, sex, vaccination, immunosuppressive treatment, and previous comorbidities on the risk of developing persistent COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2 virus reinfection. Method Population-based observational retrospective study of a cohort of 110,726 patients aged 12 years or older, who were diagnosed with COVID-19 between June 1st, 2021 and February 28th, 2022 in the island of Gran Canaria. Results 340 patients suffered reinfection. The combination of advanced age, female sex and lack of complete or incomplete vaccination against COVID-19 was strongly predictive of reinfection (p<0.05). In the 188 patients who developed persistent COVID-19, the persistence of symptoms was more frequent in adult patients, women, and patients with a diagnosis of asthma. Complete vaccination was associated with a lower risk of reinfection ([OR] 0.05, 95%CI 0.04–0.07; p<0.05) and of developing persistent COVID-19 ([OR] 0.07, 95%CI 0.05–0.10; p<0.05). None of the patients with reinfection or persistent COVID-19 died during the period of the study Conclusions This study confirmed the link between age, sex, asthma and risk of persistent COVID-19. It was not possible to define the patient's comorbidities as a factor that influences the development of reinfection, but its association with age, sex, type of vaccine and hypertension was demonstrated. Higher vaccination coverage was associated with a lower risk of persistent COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2 reinfection (AU)

Introducción Se analizó el impacto de la edad, el sexo, la vacunación, el tratamiento inmunosupresor y las comorbilidades previas del paciente sobre la condición de riesgo de desarrollar COVID-19 persistente o reinfección por el virus del SARS-CoV-2. Método Estudio retrospectivo observacional de base poblacional en una cohorte de 110.726 pacientes de 12 o más años de edad diagnosticados de COVID-19 entre el 1 de junio de 2021 y el 28 de febrero de 2022 en la isla de Gran Canaria. Resultados Trescientos cuarenta pacientes sufrieron reinfección por COVID-19. La combinación de edad avanzada, sexo femenino y falta de vacunación completa o incompleta contra la COVID-19 fue fuertemente predictiva de reinfección (p<0,05). En los 188 pacientes que desarrollaron COVID-19 persistente, la persistencia de síntomas fue más frecuente en pacientes en edad adulta, mujeres y pacientes con diagnóstico de asma. La vacunación completa se asoció con un menor riesgo de reinfección ([OR] 0,05, IC 95% 0,04-0,07; p <0,05) y de desarrollar COVID-19 persistente ([OR] 0,07, IC 95% 0,05-0,10; p <0,05). Ninguno de los pacientes con reinfección o COVID-19 persistente falleció durante el período del estudio. Conclusiones Este estudio confirmó el vínculo entre la edad, el sexo, el asma y el riesgo de COVID-19 persistente. No se pudo definir las comorbilidades del paciente como factor que influye en el desarrollo de reinfección, pero sí se demostró su asociación con edad, sexo e hipertensión arterial. Una mayor cobertura de vacunación se asoció a un menor riesgo de COVID-19 persistente o reinfección por SARS-CoV-2 (AU)

Evaluation of persistent COVID and SARS-CoV-2 reinfection in a cohort of patients on the island of Gran Canaria, Spain.

INTRODUCTION: This study analyzed the impact of patients' age, sex, vaccination, immunosuppressive treatment, and previous comorbidities on the risk of developing persistent COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2 virus reinfection. METHOD: Population-based observational retrospective study of a cohort of 110,726 patients aged 12 years or older, who were diagnosed with COVID-19 between June 1st, 2021 and February 28th, 2022 in the island of Gran Canaria. RESULTS: 340 patients suffered reinfection. The combination of advanced age, female sex and lack of complete or incomplete vaccination against COVID-19 was strongly predictive of reinfection (p<0.05). In the 188 patients who developed persistent COVID-19, the persistence of symptoms was more frequent in adult patients, women, and patients with a diagnosis of asthma. Complete vaccination was associated with a lower risk of reinfection ([OR] 0.05, 95%CI 0.04-0.07; p<0.05) and of developing persistent COVID-19 ([OR] 0.07, 95%CI 0.05-0.10; p<0.05). None of the patients with reinfection or persistent COVID-19 died during the period of the study. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirmed the link between age, sex, asthma and risk of persistent COVID-19. It was not possible to define the patient's comorbidities as a factor that influences the development of reinfection, but its association with age, sex, type of vaccine and hypertension was demonstrated. Higher vaccination coverage was associated with a lower risk of persistent COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2 reinfection.

[Epidemiological study on the impact of influenza vaccination on the clinical course of patients with COVID-19 and co-infection by both viruses in Gran Canaria, Spain]. / Estudio epidemiológico sobre el impacto de la vacunación antigripal en la evolución clínica de pacientes con COVID-19 y la coinfección por ambos virus en Gran Canaria, España.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the frequency of influenza and SARS-CoV-2 co-infections, as well as the differences in the course of disease (risk of mortality, hospital and intensive care admissions) in patients infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus in relation to flu vaccination status in the 2021-2022 season. METHODS: Population-based observational retrospective study in a cohort of 19,850 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 between June 1, 2021 and February 28, 2022 on the island of Gran Canaria. RESULTS: A total of 1,789 patients (9%) diagnosed with COVID-19 had received flu vaccinations. 13,676 people (68.9%) had a full course of COVID-19 vaccinations. In the period between June 1, 2021 and February 28, 2022, 8 cases of flu and COVID-19 coinfection were recorded. Hypertension (18.5%), asthma (12.8%) and diabetes (7.2%) were the most frequent comorbidities. There were 147 deaths (0.7%). Older patients ([OR] 1.11 95% CI 1.09-1.13) and people with cancer ([OR] 4.21 95% CI 2.58-6.89) had a higher risk of dying from COVID-19 (p<0.05). Female sex was noted as a protective factor ([OR] 0.61 95% CI 0.40-0.92). CONCLUSIONS: Old age, male sex and cancer were independent prognostic factors for mortality. Three doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and influenza vaccines were highly effective in preventing COVID-19-related deaths and hospital admissions. These findings suggest that flu vaccination can help control the pandemic.

Medical avoidance among marginalized groups: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Medical avoidance is common among U.S. adults, and may be emphasized among members of marginalized communities due to discrimination concerns. In the current study, we investigated whether this disparity in avoidance was maintained or exacerbated during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. We assessed the likelihood of avoiding medical care due to general-, discrimination-, and COVID-19-related concerns in an online sample (N = 471). As hypothesized, marginalized groups (i.e., non-White race, Latinx/e ethnicity, non-heterosexual sexual orientation, high BMI) endorsed more general- and discrimination-related medical avoidance than majoritized groups. However, marginalized groups were equally likely to seek COVID-19 treatment as majoritized groups. Implications for reducing medical avoidance among marginalized groups are discussed.

Changes in Utilization of Birth Control and PrEP During COVID-19 in the USA: A Mixed-Method Analysis.

In the USA, the COVID-19 pandemic has created challenges beyond the direct consequences of the infection. Because of shifting resources in response to need, many domains within the healthcare sector unrelated to COVID-19 have had interrupted abilities to provide care. In the current study, we focus on preventative sexual health care during the pandemic. In a sample of 511 (mean age = 27.7) people, we examined quantitative data regarding continuation and discontinuation of birth control and PrEP during the pandemic, along with qualitative data illustrating the underlying reasons for participants' (dis)continuation. Results showed that most (92.5%) of birth control users reported continuation of their birth control, with the predominant reasons reported being use for health reasons, long-acting reversible contraceptive use, access to remote healthcare services, and increased vigilance over pregnancy prevention. Conversely, around half (52.6%) of PrEP-using participants reported already discontinuing or planning to discontinue their PrEP regimen. Temporary abstinence and concerns about accessing in-person health care were the predominant reasons for PrEP discontinuation. These results have implications for both researchers and sexual healthcare providers. Disruptions to preventative sexual health care should be considered in ongoing research about patient needs, and healthcare providers may wish to consider particular challenges faced by PrEP users concerning re-start and continuation.

How Can I Get COVID?: Understanding Differences in American Heterosexual and Sexual Minority Men's Risk Perception.

Men are more vulnerable to COVID-19 infections compared to women, but their risk perceptions around COVID-19 are persistently lower. Further, men often engage in less health promotion behavior because self-care in this capacity is seen as weak or less masculine. This combination has consequences for mortality; thus, a better understanding of men's COVID-19 cognitions and individual difference factors is critical. In a web-based survey conducted during the beginning stages of the pandemic in the U.S., we collected risk perceptions of various sexual and non-sexual behaviors from heterosexual (n = 137) and gay/bisexual men (n = 108). There were no significant sexual orientation differences for perceptions of COVID-19 risk from routine activities or in overall risk estimates. However, gay/bisexual men did report engaging in more precautionary behavior while socializing (i.e., masking, social distancing) and reported higher risk perceptions than did heterosexual men for nearly all intimate and sexual activities. A more nuanced understanding of cognitions around COVID-19 is needed to better understand motivation for-and especially motivation against-pursuing vaccinations and continuing precautionary behavior.

Giant mature cystic teratoma of the mediastinum resected by VATS: a case report.

The incidence of mediastinal teratomas is low, it's important to recognize them between all the differential diagnoses for mediastinal tumors. The treatment is surgical resection. We report a giant mature cystic teratoma of the mediastinum in a 40-year-old woman. She presented with dyspnea, flu-like symptoms during the previous 5 days. An x-ray complemented with a chest CT scan showed a heterogeneous extrapulmonary multiloculated and predominantly fluid density tumor located at the left side of the mediastinum. The patient underwent resection by video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). The tumor was 15 cm in diameter with a predominant cystic component. Histologic examination revealed a mature cystic teratoma. Treatment of these tumors should attempt a complete resection. Open approaches are painful, require a longer recovery and are associated with higher morbidity. VATS has been used to treat these tumors, demonstrating the same effectiveness and advantages over open procedures.

Enhanced diffuse optical tomographic reconstruction using concurrent ultrasound information.

Multimodal imaging is an active branch of research as it has the potential to improve common medical imaging techniques. Diffuse optical tomography (DOT) is an example of a low resolution, functional imaging modality that typically has very low resolution due to the ill-posedness of its underlying inverse problem. Combining the functional information of DOT with a high resolution structural imaging modality has been studied widely. In particular, the combination of DOT with ultrasound (US) could serve as a useful tool for clinicians for the formulation of accurate diagnosis of breast lesions. In this paper, we propose a novel method for US-guided DOT reconstruction using a portable time-domain measurement system. B-mode US imaging is used to retrieve morphological information on the probed tissues by means of a semi-automatical segmentation procedure based on active contour fitting. A two-dimensional to three-dimensional extrapolation procedure, based on the concept of distance transform, is then applied to generate a three-dimensional edge-weighting prior for the regularization of DOT. The reconstruction procedure has been tested on experimental data obtained on specifically designed dual-modality silicon phantoms. Results show a substantial quantification improvement upon the application of the implemented technique. This article is part of the theme issue 'Synergistic tomographic image reconstruction: part 2'.

Examining the relationship between weight controllability beliefs and eating behaviors: The role of internalized weight stigma and BMI.

Body weight is often viewed as personally controllable. This belief, however, ignores the complex etiology of body weight. While such attributions of personal willpower may help some individuals regulate their eating patterns, they have also been associated with increased internalized weight stigma which, itself, is associated with more disinhibited eating. The current investigation aimed to examine how internalized weight stigma, along with BMI, may explain the effect of weight controllability beliefs on disparate dietary behaviors. A community sample of 2702 U.S. adults completed an online survey about their weight controllability beliefs, eating behaviors, and internalized weight stigma, as well as demographic items and self-reported BMI. Results showed that greater weight controllability beliefs were positively related to both more restricted eating, ß = 0.135, p < .001, and more disinhibited eating, ß = 0.123, p < .001. This ironic effect was partially explained by increased internalized weight stigma. Moreover, BMI moderated the relationship, such that individuals with lower weights demonstrated stronger effects for two of the three eating outcomes than those with higher weights. These findings advance our understanding of the relationship between attributions of personal control for body weight and subsequent health behaviors, and further underscore the need to target internalized weight stigma in dietary interventions.

Time-domain diffuse optics with 8.6 mm2 fast-gated SiPM for extreme light harvesting.

Fast time-gated single-photon detectors demonstrated high depth sensitivity in the detection of localized absorption perturbations inside scattering media, but their use for in vivo clinical applications-such as functional imaging of brain activation-was impaired by their small (<0.04mm2) active area. Here, we demonstrate, both on phantoms and in vivo, the performance of a fast-gated digital silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) that features an overall active area of 8.6mm2, overcoming the photon collection capability of established time-gated single-pixel detectors by orders of magnitude, enabling deep investigations within scattering media and high signal-to-noise ratios at late photon arrival times.

Probe-hosted large area silicon photomultiplier and high-throughput timing electronics for enhanced performance time-domain functional near-infrared spectroscopy.

Two main bottlenecks prevent time-domain diffuse optics instruments to reach their maximum performances, namely the limited light harvesting capability of the detection chain and the bounded data throughput of the timing electronics. In this work, for the first time to our knowledge, we overcome both those limitations using a probe-hosted large area silicon photomultiplier detector coupled to high-throughput timing electronics. The system performances were assessed based on international protocols for diffuse optical imagers showing better figures with respect to a state-of-the-art device. As a first step towards applications, proof-of-principle in-vivo brain activation measurements demonstrated superior signal-to-noise ratio as compared to current technologies.

Efecto del Sacubitril / Valsartan sobre las variables clínicas, de laboratorio y ecocardiográficas utilizadas para el control de la insuficiencia cardíaca con fracción de eyección del ventrículo izquierdo reducida (FEVIr) de los pacientes activos del Programa de Insuficiencia Cardíaca (PIC) del Hospital Clínica Bíblica / Effect of Sacubitril / Valsartan on the clinical, laboratory and echocardiographic variables used for the control of heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEFr) in active patients of the Heart Failure Program (HFP) of the Hospital Clínica Bíblica

Resumen Introducción y objetivos: La Insuficiencia Cardíaca (IC) es un síndrome frecuente en la población adulta. Sacubitril / Valsartán (S/V) es un tratamiento novedoso para esta patología. El presente estudio pretende analizar el efecto de este medicamento sobre las variables clínicas, de laboratorio y ecocardiográficas en pacientes con IC con FEVIr. Metodología: Se realizó un estudio observacional retrospectivo de los expedientes de los pacientes del PIC que tuvieran prescrito S/V. De estos, se recopilaron datos basales y de seguimiento de los principales parámetros de relevancia pronóstica, para estos pacientes. Luego se cuantificaron los cambios generados en el tiempo una vez establecido el tratamiento y se hicieron análisis estadísticos para validar si los cambios fueron significativos. Resultados: De la totalidad de pacientes del PIC, 27 cumplieron los criterios de inclusión, con una edad promedio de 70 años y en donde 37.0% se encontraron en la dosis meta después de un seguimiento promedio de 16.4 meses. A través del estudio fue posible encontrar una diferencia estadísticamente significativa para el cambio en la FEVI para 17 pacientes (p=0.016). En los pacientes en los que se pudo recopilar la información se observó que el NT-proBNP mejoró en un 68.75%, por su parte la caminata de 6 minutos mejoró en un 77.8%. Además, solamente 7.4% de los pacientes empeoraron en su escala funcional NYHA, 7.4% fallecieron y 3.7% sufrieron hospitalización durante el estudio. Conclusiones: Basados en los parámetros estudiados y a través de los cambios generados durante el tiempo de seguimiento, fue posible definir una mejoría en los pacientes tras el uso de S/V, asociado también a una baja mortalidad e incidencia de hospitalizaciones.

Abstract Effect of Sacubitril / Valsartan on the clinical, laboratory and echocardiographic variables used for the control of heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEFr) in active patients of the Heart Failure Program (HFP) of the Hospital Clínica Bíblica Introduction and objectives: Heart failure (HF) is a common syndrome in the adult population. Sacubitril /Valsartan (S/V) is a novel treatment for this pathology. This study aims to analyze the effect of this medication on clinical, laboratory and echocardiographic variables in patients with HF and left ventricular eyección fracción reduced (LVEFr). Methodology: A retrospective observational study was conducted on patients records who are enrolled in the Heart Failure Program (HFP) and have been prescribed with S/V. For these patients, baseline and follow-up data was collected for relevant parameters. Changes over time were then quantified once the treatment with S/V was initiated, and a statistical analysis was conducted to validate whether the changes were significant. Results: Of all HFP patients, 27 met the inclusion criteria, with an average age of 70 years and where 37.0% of them were at the target dose after an average follow- up of 16.4 months. Through the study it was possible to find a statistically significant difference in a change for the ejection fraction in 17 patients (p.0.016). In patients with available clinical data, it was observed that NT-proBNP improved by 68.75%, meanwhile the 6-minute walk improved by 77.8%. In addition, only 7.4% of patients worsened their NYHA functional scale, 3.7% were hospitalized and 7.4% died during the time. Conclusions: Based on the studied parameters and throughout all the clinical changes during the follow-up time, it was possible to establish an improvement in patients after the S/V therapy, which is also associated with a low hospitalization incidence and a low mortality rate.