Effect of ventilation rate on recovery after cardiac arrest in a pediatric animal model.

AIMS: To assess the impact of two different respiratory rates in hemodynamic, perfusion and ventilation parameters in a pediatric animal model of cardiac arrest (CA). METHODS: An experimental randomized controlled trial was carried out in 50 piglets under asphyxial CA. After ROSC, they were randomized into two groups: 20 and 30 respirations per minute (rpm). Hemodynamic, perfusion and ventilation parameters were measured 10 minutes after asphyxia, just before ROSC and at 5, 15, 30 and 60 minutes after ROSC. Independent medians test, Kruskal-Wallis test and χ2 test, were used to compare continuous and categorical variables, respectively. Spearman's Rho was used to assess correlation between continuous variables. A p-value <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) was significantly lower in the 30 rpm group after 15 minutes (41 vs. 54.5 mmHg, p <0.01), 30 minutes (39.5 vs. 51 mmHg, p < 0.01) and 60 minutes (36.5 vs. 48 mmHg, p = 0.02) of ROSC. The percentage of normoventilated subjects (PaCO2 30-50 mmHg) was significantly higher in the 30 rpm group throughout the experiment. pH normalization occurred faster in the 30 rpm group with significant differences at 60 minutes (7.40 vs. 7.34, p = 0.02). Lactic acid levels were high immediately after ROSC in both groups, but were significantly lower in the 20 rpm group at 30 (3.7 vs. 4.7 p = 0.04) and 60 minutes (2.6 vs. 3.6 p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: This animal model of asphyxial CA shows that a respiratory rate of 30 rpm is more effective to reach normoventilation than 20 rpm in piglets after ROSC. This ventilation strategy seems to be safe, as it does not cause hyperventilation and does not affect hemodynamics or cerebral tissue perfusion.

Sex and grade differences in cyberbullying of Spanish students of 5th and 6th grade of Primary Education / Diferencias de sexo y curso en cyberbullying en estudiantes españoles de 5º y 6º de educación primaria

Cyberbullying is a recent phenomenon that has a great impact on the development and well-being of children. The objective of the present study is to analyze the differences in cyberbullying (victims, bullies, and bystanders) according to the sex and grade of the participants. The sample consisted of 548 students from 5th and 6th grade of primary education. The results indicate that girls are significantly more victimized than boys, and score higher on five victimizing behaviors, seven bullying behaviors, and four behaviors of observation of cyberbullying. The students of the two courses present similar scores in being a victim, a bully, and a bystander of cyberbullying. However, 6th-graders are more victimized through manipulated videos and death threats and perform more behaviors related to blackmailing to not reveal secrets through the Internet, whereas 5th-gradersstand out due to more blackmail or threats through calls or messages. In relation to the bystanders, 5th-graders claim they observe more anonymous calls and sexual harassment. The evidence found is discussed, establishing possible directions for future studies, as well as the practical implications for the development of effective intervention programs

El acoso a través de las tecnologías informáticas o cyberbullying es un fenómeno de aparición reciente pero de gran impacto en el bienestar de los menores. El objetivo del presente estudio es analizar las diferencias de cyberbullying (víctimas, acosadores y observadores) atendiendo al sexo y curso. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 548 estudiantes de 5º y 6º de educación primaria con un rango de edad de 10 a 13 años. Los resultados indican que las chicas son significativamente más victimizadas que los chicos, y puntúan más alto en siete conductas de acoso y cinco conductas de observación. Los alumnos de los dos cursos presentan similares puntuaciones para ser víctima, acosador y observador de cyberbullying. No obstante, los alumnos de 5º curso destacan en la difusión de fotos robadas y la realización de chantajes o amenazas, mientras que los de 6º curso lo hacen en conductas relacionadas con chantajes para no desvelar secretos a través de la red. Con relación a los observadores, son los escolares de 5º curso los que afirman en mayor medida observar llamadas anónimas y de acoso sexual. Las evidencias halladas se discuten señalando las implicaciones prácticas para la elaboración de programas de intervención

Mirror-image lymph node in FDG PET/CT and SPECT/CT for sentinel node detection.

We report a case of a patient with presumed stage IB1 squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix in which FDG PET/CT scan revealed 1 hypermetabolic left iliac node suggestive to be malignant. Lymphoscintigraphy and SPECT/CT studies previous to sentinel node (SLN) biopsy revealed unilateral drainage in the right pelvis. Intraoperative pathological assessment of the SLN showed no tumoral involvement, and the hypermetabolic node revealed macrometastasis. Tumor node invasion can lead to a lymphatic blockage and become false-negative for SLN technique. Although FDG PET/CT has lower sensitivity than surgical staging, this case shows its value as a preoperative imaging technique.

Diagnostic cutoff points for ¹²³I-MIBG myocardial scintigraphy in a Caucasian population with Parkinson's disease.

PURPOSE: Molecular imaging with (123)I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) has been used in Parkinson's disease (PD), but there is no consensual index to discriminate between normal and PD patients in the Caucasian population. The purpose of this study was to determine diagnostic cutoff points in the quantification of MIBG cardiac uptake in our population of PD patients. We have also calculated the reproducibility over a range of interpretation expertise. METHODS: The study included 14 PD patients and 14 normal age- and sex-matched controls. Heart to mediastinum ratios (H/M) were calculated at 15 min (H/M15m) and 4 h (H/M4h) post-injection by three observers with different interpretation expertise, one of whom drew the regions of interest at three different times. The intraobserver and interobserver reliability was calculated (interclass correlation coefficient and coefficient of variability). Diagnosis was estimated by maximizing the Youden index for H/M and washout ratios. Discrimination ability was assessed by the area under the curve (AUC). Sensitivity and specificity were reported, using our thresholds. RESULTS: The parameter with the best diagnostic accuracy was the H/M4h ratio, with a major AUC (0.976 area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve). The threshold was 1.43 with a 95% confidence interval of 1.37-1.50. Using this threshold, the sensitivity and specificity were 93 and 100%. The interobserver and intraobserver variabilities measuring this ratio were 3.2 and 3.1%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The diagnostic cutoff point for (123)I-MIBG myocardial scintigraphy in a Caucasian population with PD was 1.43 for the H/M4h index, with a good sensitivity and specificity. The technique is easy to use, with a good reproducibility over a range of interpretation expertise.

Arteriovenous fistula affects bone mineral density measurements in end-stage renal failure patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Hemodialysis needs an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) that may influence the structure and growth of nearby bone and affect bone mass measurement. The study analyzed the effect of AVF in the assessment of forearm bone mineral density (BMD) measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and examined its influence on the final diagnosis of osteoporosis. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS: Forty patients (52 +/- 18 yr) in hemodialysis program (12 +/- 8 yr) with permeable AVF in forearm were included. Patients were divided in two groups (over and under 50 yr). BMD of both forearms(three areas), lumbar spine, and femur was measured by DXA. Forearm measurements in each arm were compared. Patients were diagnosed as normal only if all territories were considered nonpathologic and osteoporosis/osteopenia was determined by the lowest score found. RESULTS: Ten patients were excluded and 30 patients were analyzed. BMD in the forearm with AVF was significantly lower than that observed in the contralateral forearm in both groups of patients and in all forearm areas analyzed. When only lumbar spine and femur measurements were considered, 70% of patients were nonpathologic and 30% were osteoporotic. However, inclusion of AVF forearm classified 63% as osteoporotic and a further 27% as osteopenic, leaving only 10% as nonpathologic. CONCLUSIONS: Forearm AVF affects BMD measurements by decreasing their values in patients with end-stage renal failure. This may produce an overdiagnosis of osteoporosis, which should be taken into account when evaluating patients of this type.

Dual-phase 99mTc-MIBI scintigraphy to assess calcimimetic effect in patients on haemodialysis with secondary hyperparathyroidism.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of calcimimetics with 99mTc-methoxy-isobutyl-isonitrile (MIBI) parathyroid scintigraphy in secondary hyperparathyroidism. METHODS: This prospective study included 30 consecutive haemodialysis patients with inadequately controlled secondary hyperparathyroidism despite standard medical treatment. Patients were given a single daily oral dose of 30 mg of cinacalcet. A baseline and 1-year follow-up dual-phase 99mTc-MIBI scintigraphy were performed. 99mTc-MIBI uptake in each parathyroid gland was graded on a semiquantitative scale (scoring 0-3). RESULTS: Twenty-one of the 30 patients responded to cinacalcet (70%). Abnormal positive glands were identified by 99mTc-MIBI scintigraphy in 27 out of 30 patients (53 glands). The sensitivity and specificity of 99mTc-MIBI in detecting cinacalcet response were 90 and 89%, respectively. The mean baseline and posttreatment grades of 99mTc-MIBI uptake were 2.9 ± 1.8 and 1.1 ± 1.2 (P < 0.0001) in the responder group and 3.1 ± 2.1 and 3.9 ± 2.2 (P = ns) in the nonresponder group. CONCLUSION: 99mTc-MIBI scintigraphy is useful in monitoring the response to calcimimetics in secondary hyperparathyroidism.