Basal procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and presepsin for prediction of mortality in critically ill septic patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Numerous biomarkers have been proposed for diagnosis, therapeutic, and prognosis in sepsis. Previous evaluations of the value of biomarkers for predicting mortality due to this life-threatening condition fail to address the complexity of this condition and the risk of bias associated with prognostic studies. We evaluate the predictive performance of four of these biomarkers in the prognosis of mortality through a methodologically sound evaluation. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine, in critically ill adults with sepsis, whether procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and presepsin (sCD14) are independent prognostic factors for mortality. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials up to March 2023. Only Phase-2 confirmatory prognostic factor studies among critically ill septic adults were included. Random effects meta-analyses pooled the prognostic association estimates. RESULTS: We included 60 studies (15,681 patients) with 99 biomarker assessments. Quality of the statistical analysis and reporting domains using the QUIPS tool showed high risk of bias in > 60% assessments. The biomarker measurement as a continuous variable in models adjusted by key covariates (age and severity score) for predicting mortality at 28-30 days showed a null or near to null association for basal PCT (pooled OR = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.99-1.003), CRP (OR = 1.01, 95% CI = 0.87 to 1.17), and IL-6 (OR = 1.02, 95% CI = 1.01-1.03) and sCD14 (pooled HR = 1.003, 95% CI = 1.000 to 1.006). Additional meta-analyses accounting for other prognostic covariates had similarly null findings. CONCLUSION: Baseline, isolated measurement of PCT, CRP, IL-6, and sCD14 has not been shown to help predict mortality in critically ill patients with sepsis. The role of these biomarkers should be evaluated in new studies where the patient selection would be standardized and the measurement of biomarker results. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO (CRD42019128790).

[Diagnostic accuracy of salivary biomarkers for oral cancer and potentially malignant disorders: A systematic review protocol]. / Precisión diagnóstica de biomarcadores salivales para cáncer oral y desórdenes potencialmente malignos: protocolo de revisión sistemática.

INTRODUCTION: Oral cancer has a 5-year survival rate of 50% because diagnosis is commonly performed at an advanced stage of the disease, so new diagnostic tools are needed. Nowadays, there is a vast number of publications suggesting the use of salivary biomarkers for oral cancer and potentially malignant disorders diagnosis, but their diagnostic accuracy is unclear. Thus, the goal of this systematic review is to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of salivary biomarkers for oral cancer and potentially malignant disorders. METHODS: This protocol is reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols (PRISMA-P). We will include primary studies assessing the diagnostic accuracy of salivary biomarkers for oral cancer and potentially malignant disorders. Studies must report data about sensitivity and specificity; gold standard must be the histopathology diagnosis. We will search MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and gray literature. Two authors will independently select the studies and extract the data. The methodology quality of studies will be determined using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2). EXPECTED RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Our findings will provide information about the diagnostic accuracy of salivary biomarkers for oral cancer and potentially malignant disorders.

INTRODUCCIÓN: El cáncer oral tiene una tasa de supervivencia a los cinco años de 50%, debido a que frecuentemente su diagnóstico es realizado en estadios avanzados. Por lo tanto, son necesarias nuevas ayudas diagnósticas. Actualmente, existe un número significativo de publicaciones científicas sugiriendo el uso de biomarcadores salivales para el diagnóstico de cáncer oral. Sin embargo, son desconocidas las propiedades diagnósticas de estos biomarcadores. El objetivo de esta revisión sistemática es evaluar la evidencia sobre la precisión diagnóstica de biomarcadores salivales usados en la identificación de cáncer oral y desórdenes potencialmente malignos. MÉTODOS: Este protocolo es reportado en concordancia con el Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols (PRISMA-P). Se incluirán estudios evaluando la precisión diagnóstica de biomarcadores salivales para cáncer oral y desórdenes potencialmente malignos. Estos deberán reportar sensibilidad y especificidad, y utilizar como estándar de referencia un diagnóstico histopatológico. Se realizará una búsqueda en MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library y literatura gris. Dos autores independientemente seleccionarán los estudios y extraerán los datos. La calidad metodológica de los estudios será determinada usando The Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2). RESULTADOS ESPERADOS Y CONCLUSIÓN: Los hallazgos de esta revisión sistemática proporcionarán información acerca de la precisión diagnóstica de los biomarcadores salivales para diagnóstico de cáncer oral y desórdenes potencialmente malignos.

Currículos de salud sexual y reproductiva en programas de educación superior para América Latina / Sexual and reproductive health curricula in higher education programs for Latin America / Grades curriculares de saúde sexual e reprodutiva nos programas de ensino superior para a América Latina

Objetivo: identificar la inclusión de la propuesta temática curricular de la Federación Latinoamericana de Obstetricia y Ginecología (FLASOG) sobre salud sexual y reproductiva en programas de pregrado (Medicina) y posgrado (Obstetricia y Ginecología) en un grupo de universidades e instituciones de educación superior de Latinoamérica y el Caribe. Método: estudio descriptivo de corte transversal en el cual se aplicó una encuesta a universidades de Latinoamérica y El Caribe durante el año 2017 para determinar si los contenidos de los programas con relación a salud sexual y reproductiva corresponden a la propuesta temática de la FLASOG, tanto en pregrado (Medicina) como en posgrado (Obstetricia y Ginecología). Resultados: todos los programas de pregrado evaluados incluyen dentro del currículo los siguientes temas: m étodos anticonceptivos, aborto y morbimortalidad materna y el 36,4 % contemplan salud sexual en la tercera edad. Todos los programas de posgrado evaluados estudian métodos anticonceptivos, anticoncepci ón en posparto y posaborto, morbimortalidad materna, aborto, y maternidad saludable. Solo el 55,6 % de ellos tienen temáticas relacionadas con interrupción voluntaria del embarazo y salud sexual en la tercera edad. Conclusiones: los programas evaluados cuentan con docentes dedicados a educación en salud sexual y reproductiva en sus programas, aunque en la mayoría de las instituciones (76,9 % ) no existe un proceso formal de evaluación y retroalimentación. Todas las universidades que respondieron la encuesta trabajan tres temas en sus contenidos curriculares de pregrado: aborto, anticoncepción y morbimortalidad materna, t ópicos que han sido considerados de alto impacto en la salud sexual y reproductiva de las mujeres. La interrupción voluntaria del embarazo se discute en dos de cada tres universidades que respondieron la encuesta. El tema de salud sexual en la tercera edad no se incluye en los programas.

Objective: to identify if Latin American and Caribbean higher education institutions include in their curriculum the sexual and reproductive health topics proposed by the Latin American Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology (FLASOG for its acronym in Spanish) in undergraduate and graduate programs. Methods: descriptive, cross sectional study developed in the year 2017. A survey was sent to universities in Latin America and the Caribbean to evaluate if the sexual and reproductive health contents in the curriculum of undergraduate (medicine) and graduate schools (obstetrics and gynecology) correspond to the ones proposed by FLASOG. Results: 100 % of assessed undergraduate programs include the following topics in their curriculum: birth control methods, abortion, maternal morbidity and mortality, and 36.4 % include sexual health in the elderly. 100 % of graduate programs evaluated include: birth control methods, maternal morbidity and mortality, abortion, and healthy maternity, and 55.6 % include legal pregnancy termination and sexual health in the elderly. Conclusions: All the higher education programs evaluated have faculty for sexual and reproductive health, but most institutions (76 .9 % ) do not have a formal process for evaluation and feedback. All the universities include in their undergraduate programs the following topics: abortion, birth control methods and maternal morbidity and mortality, all of which have been considered of high impact in sexual and reproductive health of women. However, topics such as legal termination of pregnancy are only included in two out of three universities evaluated, and sexual health in the elderly is rarely included in the curriculum.

Objetivo: identificar a inclusão da proposta temática da Federação Latino-Americana de Obstetrícia e Ginecologia (FLASOG) em saúde sexual e reprodutiva nos programas de graduação (Medicina) e pós-graduação (Obstetrícia e Ginecologia) em um grupo de universidades e instituições de ensino superior da América Latina e do Caribe. Método: estudo descritivo transversal. Foi aplicado um questionário em programas de cursos de graduação e pós-graduação de universidades da América Latina e do Caribe em 2017, para determinar se o conteúdo dos programas relacionados à saúde sexual e reprodutiva correspondem à proposta temática da FLASOG no nível de graduação (Medicina) e de pós-graduação (Obstetrícia e Ginecologia). Resultados: todos os programas de graduação avaliados incluíram os seguintes tópicos no currículo: métodos contraceptivos, aborto e morbimortalidade materna; ainda, 36,4% dos programas abrangem temas relacionados à saúde sexual nos idosos. Todos os programas de pós-graduação avaliados estudam métodos contraceptivos, contracepção no pós-parto e pós-aborto, morbimortalidade materna, aborto e maternidade saudável. Apenas 55,6% desses programas têm tópicos relacionados à interrupção voluntária da gravidez e sobre a saúde sexual em idosos. Conclusões: os programas avaliados têm professores enfocados na educação da saúde sexual e reprodutiva, embora na maioria das instituições (76,9%) não exista um processo formal de avaliação e feedback. Todas as universidades que responderam à pesquisa trabalham com três tópicos em seu conteúdo curricular de graduação: aborto, contracepção e morbimortalidade materna, considerados de alto impacto na saúde sexual e reprodutiva das mulheres. A interrupção voluntária da gravidez é discutida em uma proporção de duas em cada três universidades que responderam ao questionário. A saúde sexual em idosos não está incluída nos programas

Therapeutic use of cannabis and cannabinoids: an evidence mapping and appraisal of systematic reviews.

BACKGROUND: Although cannabis and cannabinoids are widely used with therapeutic purposes, their claimed efficacy is highly controversial. For this reason, medical cannabis use is a broad field of research that is rapidly expanding. Our objectives are to identify, characterize, appraise, and organize the current available evidence surrounding therapeutic use of cannabis and cannabinoids, using evidence maps. METHODS: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library and CINAHL, to identify systematic reviews (SRs) published from their inception up to December 2017. Two authors assessed eligibility and extracted data independently. We assessed methodological quality of the included SRs using the AMSTAR tool. To illustrate the extent of use of medical cannabis, we organized the results according to identified PICO questions using bubble plots corresponding to different clinical scenarios. RESULTS: A total of 44 SRs published between 2001 and 2017 were included in this evidence mapping with data from 158 individual studies. We extracted 96 PICO questions in the following medical conditions: multiple sclerosis, movement disorders (e.g. Tourette Syndrome, Parkinson Disease), psychiatry conditions, Alzheimer disease, epilepsy, acute and chronic pain, cancer, neuropathic pain, symptoms related to cancer (e.g. emesis and anorexia related with chemotherapy), rheumatic disorders, HIV-related symptoms, glaucoma, and COPD. The evidence about these conditions is heterogeneous regarding the conclusions and the quality of the individual primary studies. The quality of the SRs was moderate to high according to AMSTAR scores. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence on medical uses of cannabis is broad. However, due to methodological limitations, conclusions were weak in most of the assessed comparisons. Evidence mapping methodology is useful to perform an overview of available research, since it is possible to systematically describe the extent and distribution of evidence, and to organize scattered data.

Precisión diagnóstica de biomarcadores salivales para cáncer oral y desórdenes potencialmente malignos: protocolo de revisión sistemática / Diagnostic accuracy of salivary biomarkers for oral cancer and potentially malignant disorders: a systematic review protocol

INTRODUCCIÓN: El cáncer oral tiene una tasa de supervivencia a los cinco años de 50%, debido a que frecuentemente su diagnóstico es realizado en estadios avanzados. Por lo tanto, son necesarias nuevas ayudas diagnósticas. Actualmente, existe un número significativo de publicaciones científicas sugiriendo el uso de biomarcadores salivales para el diagnóstico de cáncer oral. Sin embargo, son desconocidas las propiedades diagnósticas de estos biomarcadores. El objetivo de esta revisión sistemática es evaluar la evidencia sobre la precisión diagnóstica de biomarcadores salivales usados en la identificación de cáncer oral y desórdenes potencialmente malignos. MÉTODOS: Este protocolo es reportado en concordancia con el Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols (PRISMA-P). Se incluirán estudios evaluando la precisión diagnóstica de biomarcadores salivales para cáncer oral y desórdenes potencialmente malignos. Estos deberán reportar sensibilidad y especificidad, y utilizar como estándar de referencia un diagnóstico histopatológico. Se realizará una búsqueda en MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library y literatura gris. Dos autores independientemente seleccionarán los estudios y extraerán los datos. La calidad metodológica de los estudios será determinada usando The Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2). RESULTADOS ESPERADOS Y CONCLUSIÓN: Los hallazgos de esta revisión sistemática proporcionarán información acerca de la precisión diagnóstica de los biomarcadores salivales para diagnóstico de cáncer oral y desórdenes potencialmente malignos.

INTRODUCTION: Oral cancer has a 5-year survival rate of 50% because diagnosis is commonly performed at an advanced stage of the disease, so new diagnostic tools are needed. Nowadays, there is a vast number of publications suggesting the use of salivary biomarkers for oral cancer and potentially malignant disorders diagnosis, but their diagnostic accuracy is unclear. Thus, the goal of this systematic review is to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of salivary biomarkers for oral cancer and potentially malignant disorders. METHODS: This protocol is reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols (PRISMA-P). We will include primary studies assessing the diagnostic accuracy of salivary biomarkers for oral cancer and potentially malignant disorders. Studies must report data about sensitivity and specificity; gold standard must be the histopathology diagnosis. We will search MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and gray literature. Two authors will independently select the studies and extract the data. The methodology quality of studies will be determined using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2). EXPECTED RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Our findings will provide information about the diagnostic accuracy of salivary biomarkers for oral cancer and potentially malignant disorders.

Leukodepleted Packed Red Blood Cells Transfusion in Patients Undergoing Major Cardiovascular Surgical Procedure: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Leukocytes contained in the allogeneic packed red blood cell (PRBC) are the cause of certain adverse reactions associated with blood transfusion. Leukoreduction consists of eliminating leukocytes in all blood products below the established safety levels for any patient type. In this systematic review, we appraise the clinical effectiveness of allogeneic leukodepleted (LD) PRBC transfusion for preventing infections and death in patients undergoing major cardiovascular surgical procedures. METHODS: We searched randomized controlled trials (RCT), enrolling patients undergoing a major cardiovascular surgical procedure and transfused with LD-PRBC. Data were extracted, and risk of bias was assessed according to Cochrane guidelines. In addition, trial sequential analysis (TSA) was used to assess the need of conducting additional trials. Quality of the evidence was assessed using the GRADE approach. RESULTS: Seven studies met the eligibility criteria. Quality of the evidence was rated as moderate for both outcomes. The risk ratio for death from any cause comparing the LD-PRBC versus non-LD-PRBC group was 0.69 (CI 95% = 0.53 to 0.90; I 2 = 0%). The risk ratio for infection in the same comparison groups was 0.77 (CI 95% = 0.66 to 0.91; I 2 = 0%). TSA showed a conclusive result in this outcome. CONCLUSIONS: We found evidence that supports the routine use of leukodepletion in patients undergoing a major cardiovascular surgical procedure requiring PRBC transfusion to prevent death and infection. In the case of infection, the evidence should be considered sufficient and conclusive and hence indicated that further trials would not be required.

Acetyl-L-carnitine for patients with hepatic encephalopathy.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic encephalopathy is a common and devastating neuropsychiatric complication of acute liver failure or chronic liver disease. Ammonia content in the blood seems to play a role in the development of hepatic encephalopathy. Treatment for hepatic encephalopathy is complex. Acetyl-L-carnitine is a substance that may reduce ammonia toxicity. This review assessed the benefits and harms of acetyl-L-carnitine for patients with hepatic encephalopathy. OBJECTIVES: To assess the benefits and harms of acetyl-L-carnitine for patients with hepatic encephalopathy. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Hepato-Biliary Group Controlled Trials Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE Ovid, Embase Ovid, LILACS, and Science Citation Index Expanded for randomised clinical trials. We sought additional randomised clinical trials from the World Health Organization Clinical Trials Search Portal and ClinicalTrials.gov. We performed all electronic searches until 10 September 2018. We looked through the reference lists of retrieved publications and review articles, and we searched the FDA and EMA websites. SELECTION CRITERIA: We searched for randomised clinical trials in any setting, recruiting people with hepatic encephalopathy. Trials were eligible for inclusion if they compared acetyl-L-carnitine plus standard care (e.g. antibiotics, lactulose) versus placebo or no acetyl-L-carnitine plus standard care. We are well aware that by selecting randomised clinical trials, we placed greater focus on potential benefits than on potential harms. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We selected randomised clinical trials, assessed risk of bias in eight domains, and extracted data in a duplicate and independent fashion. We estimated risk ratios (RRs) for dichotomous outcomes and mean differences (MDs) for continuous outcomes. We measured statistical heterogeneity using I² and D² statistics. We subjected our analyses to fixed-effect and random-effects model meta-analyses. We assessed bias risk domains to control systematic errors. We assessed overall quality of the data for each individual outcome by using the GRADE approach. MAIN RESULTS: We identified five randomised clinical trials involving 398 participants. All trials included only participants with cirrhosis as the underlying cause of hepatic encephalopathy. Trials included participants with covert or overt hepatic encephalopathy. All trials were conducted in Italy by a single team and assessed acetyl-L-carnitine compared with placebo. Oral intervention was the most frequent route of administration. All trials were at high risk of bias and were underpowered. None of the trials were sponsored by the pharmaceutical industry.None of the identified trials reported information on all-cause mortality, serious adverse events, or days of hospitalisation. Only one trial assessed quality of life using the Short Form (SF)-36 scale (67 participants; very low-quality evidence). The effects of acetyl-L-carnitine compared with placebo on general health at 90 days are uncertain (MD -6.20 points, 95% confidence interval (CI) -9.51 to -2.89). Results for additional domains of the SF-36 are also uncertain. One trial assessed fatigue using the Wessely and Powell test (121 participants; very low-quality evidence). The effects are uncertain in people with moderate-grade hepatic encephalopathy (mental fatigue: MD 0.40 points, 95% CI -0.21 to 1.01; physical fatigue: MD -0.20 points, 95% CI -0.92 to 0.52) and mild-grade hepatic encephalopathy (mental fatigue: -0.80 points, 95% CI -1.48 to -0.12; physical fatigue: 0.20 points, 95% CI -0.72 to 1.12). Meta-analysis showed a reduction in blood ammonium levels favouring acetyl-L-carnitine versus placebo (MD -13.06 mg/dL, 95% CI -17.24 to -8.99; 387 participants; 5 trials; very low-quality evidence). It is unclear whether acetyl-L-carnitine versus placebo increases the risk of non-serious adverse events (8/126 (6.34%) vs 3/120 (2.50%); RR 2.51, 95% CI 0.68 to 9.22; 2 trials; very low-quality evidence). Overall, adverse events data were poorly reported and harms may have been underestimated. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: This Cochrane systematic review analysed a heterogeneous group of five trials at high risk of bias and with high risk of random errors conducted by only one research team. We assessed acetyl-L-carnitine versus placebo in participants with cirrhosis with covert or overt hepatic encephalopathy. Hence, we have no data on the drug for hepatic encephalopathy in acute liver failure. We found no information about all-cause mortality, serious adverse events, or days of hospitalisation. We found no clear differences in effect between acetyl-L-carnitine and placebo regarding quality of life, fatigue, and non-serious adverse events. Acetyl-L-carnitine reduces blood ammonium levels compared with placebo. We rated all evidence as of very low quality due to pitfalls in design and execution, inconsistency, small sample sizes, and very few events. The harms profile for acetyl-L-carnitine is presently unclear. Accordingly, we need further randomised clinical trials to assess acetyl-L-carnitine versus placebo conducted according to the SPIRIT statements and reported according to the CONSORT statements.

Quality of clinical practice guidelines about red blood cell transfusion.

BACKGROUND: Red blood cell (RBC) transfusions are essential in health care. The quality of recommendations included in clinical practice guidelines (CPG), regarding this intervention, has not been systematically evaluated. This paper systematically assessed CPGs for RBC-transfusion, to appraise their methodological quality, to explore changes in quality over time, and to assess the consistency of the hemoglobin threshold (HT) recommendations. METHODS: We searched for CPGs that included recommendations of RBC-transfusion in generic databases, compiler entities, registries, clearinghouses and guideline developers. Three reviewers extracted data on CPGs characteristics and HT recommendations, independently appraised the quality of the studies using AGREE II and resolved disagreements by consensus. RESULTS: We examined 16 CPGs. Mean scores (mean ± SD) were: scope and purpose (59.4% ± 19.8%), stakeholder involvement (43.2% ± 22.6%), rigor of development (50% ± 25%), clarity of presentation (74.4% ± 12.6%), applicability (19.4% ± 18.8%), and editorial independence (41% ± 30%). Seven CPGs recommended a restrictive strategy for RBC transfusion; four CPGs gave a guarded statement considering an HT of 7 g/dL, as safe to prescribe an RBC transfusion. Eight CPGs did not provide an HT stating that RBC transfusions should not be prescribed by HT alone. CONCLUSIONS: Only 3 out of the 16 evaluated CPGs were "recommended" by the independent evaluators. Four domains "stakeholder involvement," "rigor of development," applicability," and "editorial independence" had serious shortcomings. Recommendations about the use of an HT for RBC-transfusion were heterogeneous among guidelines. Greater efforts are needed to provide high-quality CPGs in the RBC-transfusion practice.

Quality assessment of controlled clinical trials published in Orthopaedics and Traumatology journals in Spanish: An observational study through handsearching and evidence mapping.

Few Orthopaedics and Traumatology journals from Latin America and Spain are indexed in major databases; controlled clinical trials published in these journals cannot be exhaustively retrieved using electronic literature searches. We aimed to identify, describe and assess the quality of controlled clinical trials published in Orthopaedics and Traumatology journals from Latin America and Spain through handsearching and evidence mapping methods. We identified controlled clinical trials published in eligible Orthopaedics/Traumatology journals in Spanish until July 2017 by handsearching. Data were extracted for controlled clinical trials main characteristics and the Cochrane risk of bias tool was used to assess the controlled clinical trials methodological quality. In addition, we mapped the main findings of these trials. As a result, we assessed 5631 references in 29 eligible journals of which 57 were controlled clinical trials (1.0%). Controlled clinical trials were published between 1995 and 2017 at a rate of 2.5 per year. Journals from Spain and Mexico published around 63% of the controlled clinical trials identified. The median sample size of patients enrolled was 60 (range = 30-300 participants). About conditions assessed, 38.5% of controlled clinical trials assessed issues related to knee conditions, 15.7% about hip and 10.5% about trauma or spine. The risk of bias domains most affected was selective reporting bias and random sequence generation. In addition, only two and seven trials had low risk of bias in all items related to participant/personnel and outcome assessment blindings, respectively. More than 40% of studies did not report differences on benefits/harms between the interventions assessed. As a conclusion, the number of controlled clinical trials published in Orthopaedics/Traumatology journals from Latin America and Spain is low. These controlled clinical trials had important methodological shortcomings and were judged as unclear or high risk of bias. These trials are now available in CENTRAL for their potential inclusion in systematic reviews and other documents of synthesis.

Interventions for treating acute high altitude illness.

BACKGROUND: Acute high altitude illness is defined as a group of cerebral and pulmonary syndromes that can occur during travel to high altitudes. It is more common above 2500 metres, but can be seen at lower elevations, especially in susceptible people. Acute high altitude illness includes a wide spectrum of syndromes defined under the terms 'acute mountain sickness' (AMS), 'high altitude cerebral oedema' and 'high altitude pulmonary oedema'. There are several interventions available to treat this condition, both pharmacological and non-pharmacological; however, there is a great uncertainty regarding their benefits and harms. OBJECTIVES: To assess the clinical effectiveness, and safety of interventions (non-pharmacological and pharmacological), as monotherapy or in any combination, for treating acute high altitude illness. SEARCH METHODS: We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, LILACS, ISI Web of Science, CINAHL, Wanfang database and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform for ongoing studies on 10 August 2017. We did not apply any language restriction. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomized controlled trials evaluating the effects of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for individuals suffering from acute high altitude illness: acute mountain sickness, high altitude pulmonary oedema or high altitude cerebral oedema. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently assessed the eligibility of study reports, the risk of bias for each and performed the data extraction. We resolved disagreements through discussion with a third author. We assessed the quality of evidence with GRADE. MAIN RESULTS: We included 13 studies enrolling a total of 468 participants. We identified two ongoing studies. All studies included adults, and two studies included both teenagers and adults. The 13 studies took place in high altitude areas, mostly in the European Alps. Twelve studies included participants with acute mountain sickness, and one study included participants with high altitude pulmonary oedema. Follow-up was usually less than one day. We downgraded the quality of the evidence in most cases due to risk of bias and imprecision. We report results for the main comparisons as follows.Non-pharmacological interventions (3 studies, 124 participants)All-cause mortality and complete relief of AMS symptoms were not reported in the three included trials. One study in 64 participants found that a simulated descent of 193 millibars versus 20 millibars may reduce the average of symptoms to 2.5 vs 3.1 units after 12 hours of treatment (clinical score ranged from 0 to 11 ‒ worse; reduction of 0.6 points on average with the intervention; low quality of evidence). In addition, no complications were found with use of hyperbaric chambers versus supplementary oxygen (one study; 29 participants; low-quality evidence).Pharmacological interventions (11 trials, 375 participants)All-cause mortality was not reported in the 11 included trials. One trial found a greater proportion of participants with complete relief of AMS symptoms after 12 and 16 hours when dexamethasone was administered in comparison with placebo (47.1% versus 0%, respectively; one study; 35 participants; low quality of evidence). Likewise, when acetazolamide was compared with placebo, the effects on symptom severity was uncertain (standardized mean difference (SMD) -1.15, 95% CI -2.56 to 0.27; 2 studies, 25 participants; low-quality evidence). One trial of dexamethasone in comparison with placebo in 35 participants found a reduction in symptom severity (difference on change in the AMS score: 3.7 units reported by authors; moderate quality of evidence). The effects from two additional trials comparing gabapentin with placebo and magnesium with placebo on symptom severity at the end of treatment were uncertain. For gabapentin versus placebo: mean visual analogue scale (VAS) score of 2.92 versus 4.75, respectively; 24 participants; low quality of evidence. For magnesium versus placebo: mean scores of 9 and 10.3 units, respectively; 25 participants; low quality of evidence). The trials did not find adverse events from either treatment (low quality of evidence). One trial comparing magnesium sulphate versus placebo found that flushing was a frequent event in the magnesium sulphate arm (percentage of flushing: 75% versus 7.7%, respectively; one study; 25 participants; low quality of evidence). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There is limited available evidence to determine the effects of non-pharmacological and pharmacological interventions in treating acute high altitude illness. Low-quality evidence suggests that dexamethasone and acetazolamide might reduce AMS score compared to placebo. However, the clinical benefits and harms related to these potential interventions remain unclear. Overall, the evidence is of limited practical significance in the clinical field. High-quality research in this field is needed, since most trials were poorly conducted and reported.

Interventions for infantile haemangiomas of the skin.

BACKGROUND: Infantile haemangiomas (previously known as strawberry birthmarks) are soft, raised swellings of the skin that occur in 3% to 10% of infants. These benign vascular tumours are usually uncomplicated and tend to regress spontaneously. However, when haemangiomas occur in high-risk areas, such as near the eyes, throat, or nose, impairing their function, or when complications develop, intervention may be necessary. This is an update of a Cochrane Review first published in 2011. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of interventions for the management of infantile haemangiomas in children. SEARCH METHODS: We updated our searches of the following databases to February 2017: the Cochrane Skin Group Specialised Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, AMED, LILACS, and CINAHL. We also searched five trials registries and checked the reference lists of included studies for further references to relevant trials. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of all types of interventions, versus placebo, active monitoring, or other interventions, in any child with single or multiple infantile haemangiomas (IHs) located on the skin. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We used standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. The primary outcome measures were clearance, a subjective measure of improvement, and adverse events. Secondary outcomes were other measures of resolution; proportion of parents or children who consider there is still a problem; aesthetic appearance; and requirement for surgical correction. We used GRADE to assess the quality of the evidence for each outcome; this is indicated in italics. MAIN RESULTS: We included 28 RCTs, with a total of 1728 participants, assessing 12 different interventions, including lasers, beta blockers (e.g. propranolol, timolol maleate), radiation therapy, and steroids. Comparators included placebo, an active monitoring approach, sham radiation, and interventions given alone or in combination.Studies were conducted in a number of countries, including China, Egypt, France, and Australia. Participant age ranged from 12 weeks to 13.4 years. Most studies (23/28) included a majority of females and different types of IHs. Duration of follow-up ranged from 7 days to 72 months.We considered most of the trials as at low risk of random sequence generation, attrition bias, and selective reporting bias. Domains such as allocation concealment and blinding were not clearly reported in general. We downgraded evidence for issues related to risk of bias and imprecision.We report results for the three most important comparisons, which we chose on the basis of current use. Outcome measurement of these comparisons was at 24 weeks' follow-up.Oral propranolol versus placeboCompared with placebo, oral propranolol 3 mg/kg/day probably improves clinician-assessed clearance (risk ratio (RR) 16.61, 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.22 to 65.34; 1 study; 156 children; moderate-quality evidence) and probably leads to a clinician-assessed reduction in mean haemangioma volume of 45.9% (95% CI 11.60 to 80.20; 1 study; 40 children; moderate-quality evidence). We found no evidence of a difference in terms of short- or long-term serious adverse events (RR 1.05, 95% CI 0.33 to 3.39; 3 studies; 509 children; low-quality evidence), nor in terms of bronchospasm, hypoglycaemia, or serious cardiovascular adverse events. The results relating to clearance and resolution for this comparison were based on one industry-sponsored study.Topical timolol maleate versus placeboThe chance of reduction of redness, as a measure of clinician-assessed resolution, may be improved with topical timolol maleate 0.5% gel applied twice daily when compared with placebo (RR 8.11, 95% CI 1.09 to 60.09; 1 study; 41 children;low-quality evidence). Regarding short- or long-term serious cardiovascular events, we found no instances of bradycardia (slower than normal heart rate) or hypotension in either group (1 study; 41 children; low-quality evidence). No other safety data were assessed, and clearance was not measured.Oral propranolol versus topical timolol maleateWhen topical timolol maleate (0.5% eye drops applied twice daily) was compared with oral propranolol (via a tablet taken once per day, at a 1.0 mg/kg dose), there was no evidence of a difference in haemangioma size (as a measure of resolution) when measured by the proportion of patients with a clinician-assessed reduction of 50% or greater (RR 1.13, 95% CI 0.64 to 1.97; 1 study; 26 participants; low-quality evidence). Although there were more short- or long-term general adverse effects (such as severe diarrhoea, lethargy, and loss of appetite) in the oral propranolol group, there was no evidence of a difference between groups (RR 7.00, 95% CI 0.40 to 123.35; 1 study; 26 participants; very low-quality evidence). This comparison did not measure clearance.None of our key comparisons evaluated, at any follow-up, a subjective measure of improvement assessed by the parent or child; proportion of parents or children who consider there is still a problem; or physician-, child-, or parent-assessed aesthetic appearance. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: We found there to be a limited evidence base for the treatment of infantile haemangiomas: a large number of interventions and outcomes have not been assessed in RCTs.Our key results indicate that in the management of IH in children, oral propranolol and topical timolol maleate are more beneficial than placebo in terms of clearance or other measures of resolution, or both, without an increase in harms. We found no evidence of a difference between oral propranolol and topical timolol maleate with regard to reducing haemangioma size, but we are uncertain if there is a difference in safety. Oral propranolol is currently the standard treatment for this condition, and our review has not found evidence to challenge this. However, these results are based on moderate- to very low-quality evidence.The included studies were limited by small sample sizes and risk of bias in some domains. Future trials should blind personnel and participants; describe trials thoroughly in publications; and recruit a sufficient number of children to deduce meaningful results. Future trials should assess patient-reported outcomes, as well as objective outcomes of benefit, and should report adverse events comprehensively. Propranolol and timolol maleate require further assessment in RCTs of all types of IH, including those considered problematic, as do other lesser-used interventions and new interventions. All treatments should be compared against propranolol and timolol maleate, as beta blockers are approved as standard care.

Interventions for preventing high altitude illness: Part 1. Commonly-used classes of drugs.

BACKGROUND: High altitude illness (HAI) is a term used to describe a group of cerebral and pulmonary syndromes that can occur during travel to elevations above 2500 metres (8202 feet). Acute hypoxia, acute mountain sickness (AMS), high altitude cerebral oedema (HACE) and high altitude pulmonary oedema (HAPE) are reported as potential medical problems associated with high altitude. In this review, the first in a series of three about preventive strategies for HAI, we assess the effectiveness of six of the most recommended classes of pharmacological interventions. OBJECTIVES: To assess the clinical effectiveness and adverse events of commonly-used pharmacological interventions for preventing acute HAI. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE (OVID), Embase (OVID), LILACS and trial registries in January 2017. We adapted the MEDLINE strategy for searching the other databases. We used a combination of thesaurus-based and free-text terms to search. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomized-controlled and cross-over trials conducted in any setting where commonly-used classes of drugs were used to prevent acute HAI. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We used standard methodological procedures as expected by Cochrane. MAIN RESULTS: We included 64 studies (78 references) and 4547 participants in this review, and classified 12 additional studies as ongoing. A further 12 studies await classification, as we were unable to obtain the full texts. Most of the studies were conducted in high altitude mountain areas, while the rest used low pressure (hypobaric) chambers to simulate altitude exposure. Twenty-four trials provided the intervention between three and five days prior to the ascent, and 23 trials, between one and two days beforehand. Most of the included studies reached a final altitude of between 4001 and 5000 metres above sea level. Risks of bias were unclear for several domains, and a considerable number of studies did not report adverse events of the evaluated interventions. We found 26 comparisons, 15 of them comparing commonly-used drugs versus placebo. We report results for the three most important comparisons: Acetazolamide versus placebo (28 parallel studies; 2345 participants)The risk of AMS was reduced with acetazolamide (risk ratio (RR) 0.47, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.39 to 0.56; I2 = 0%; 16 studies; 2301 participants; moderate quality of evidence). No events of HAPE were reported and only one event of HACE (RR 0.32, 95% CI 0.01 to 7.48; 6 parallel studies; 1126 participants; moderate quality of evidence). Few studies reported side effects for this comparison, and they showed an increase in the risk of paraesthesia with the intake of acetazolamide (RR 5.53, 95% CI 2.81 to 10.88, I2 = 60%; 5 studies, 789 participants; low quality of evidence). Budenoside versus placebo (2 parallel studies; 132 participants)Data on budenoside showed a reduction in the incidence of AMS compared with placebo (RR 0.37, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.61; I2 = 0%; 2 studies, 132 participants; low quality of evidence). Studies included did not report events of HAPE or HACE, and they did not find side effects (low quality of evidence). Dexamethasone versus placebo (7 parallel studies; 205 participants)For dexamethasone, the data did not show benefits at any dosage (RR 0.60, 95% CI 0.36 to 1.00; I2 = 39%; 4 trials, 176 participants; low quality of evidence). Included studies did not report events of HAPE or HACE, and we rated the evidence about adverse events as of very low quality. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Our assessment of the most commonly-used pharmacological interventions suggests that acetazolamide is an effective pharmacological agent to prevent acute HAI in dosages of 250 to 750 mg/day. This information is based on evidence of moderate quality. Acetazolamide is associated with an increased risk of paraesthesia, although there are few reports about other adverse events from the available evidence. The clinical benefits and harms of other pharmacological interventions such as ibuprofen, budenoside and dexamethasone are unclear. Large multicentre studies are needed for most of the pharmacological agents evaluated in this review, to evaluate their effectiveness and safety.

Needle gauge and tip designs for preventing post-dural puncture headache (PDPH).

BACKGROUND: Post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) is one of the most common complications of diagnostic and therapeutic lumbar punctures. PDPH is defined as any headache occurring after a lumbar puncture that worsens within 15 minutes of sitting or standing and is relieved within 15 minutes of the patient lying down. Researchers have suggested many types of interventions to help prevent PDPH. It has been suggested that aspects such as needle tip and gauge can be modified to decrease the incidence of PDPH. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of needle tip design (traumatic versus atraumatic) and diameter (gauge) on the prevention of PDPH in participants who have undergone dural puncture for diagnostic or therapeutic causes. SEARCH METHODS: We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL and LILACS, as well as trial registries via the World Health Organization (WHO) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) search portal in September 2016. We adopted the MEDLINE strategy for searching the other databases. The search terms we used were a combination of thesaurus-based and free-text terms for both interventions (lumbar puncture in neurological, anaesthesia or myelography settings) and headache. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted in any clinical/research setting where dural puncture had been used in participants of all ages and both genders, which compared different tip designs or diameters for prevention of PDPH DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We used the standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. MAIN RESULTS: We included 70 studies in the review; 66 studies with 17,067 participants were included in the quantitative analysis. An additional 18 studies are awaiting classification and 12 are ongoing. Fifteen of the 18 studies awaiting classification mainly correspond to congress summaries published before 2010, in which the available information does not allow the complete evaluation of all their risks of bias and characteristics. Our main outcome was prevention of PDPH, but we also assessed the onset of severe PDPH, headache in general and adverse events. The quality of evidence was moderate for most of the outcomes mainly due to risk of bias issues. For the analysis, we undertook three main comparisons: 1) traumatic needles versus atraumatic needles; 2) larger gauge traumatic needles versus smaller gauge traumatic needles; and 3) larger gauge atraumatic needles versus smaller gauge atraumatic needles. For each main comparison, if data were available, we performed a subgroup analysis evaluating lumbar puncture indication, age and posture.For the first comparison, the use of traumatic needles showed a higher risk of onset of PDPH compared to atraumatic needles (36 studies, 9378 participants, risk ratio (RR) 2.14, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.72 to 2.67, I2 = 9%).In the second comparison of traumatic needles, studies comparing various sizes of large and small gauges showed no significant difference in effects in terms of risk of PDPH, with the exception of one study comparing 26 and 27 gauge needles (one study, 658 participants, RR 6.47, 95% CI 2.55 to 16.43).In the third comparison of atraumatic needles, studies comparing various sizes of large and small gauges showed no significant difference in effects in terms of risk of PDPH.We observed no significant difference in the risk of paraesthesia, backache, severe PDPH and any headache between traumatic and atraumatic needles. Sensitivity analyses of PDPH results between traumatic and atraumatic needles omitting high risk of bias studies showed similar results regarding the benefit of atraumatic needles in the prevention of PDPH (three studies, RR 2.78, 95% CI 1.26 to 6.15; I2 = 51%). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There is moderate-quality evidence that atraumatic needles reduce the risk of post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) without increasing adverse events such as paraesthesia or backache. The studies did not report very clearly on aspects related to randomization, such as random sequence generation and allocation concealment, making it difficult to interpret the risk of bias in the included studies. The moderate quality of the evidence for traumatic versus atraumatic needles suggests that further research is likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect.

Sun protection for preventing basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers.

BACKGROUND: 'Keratinocyte cancer' is now the preferred term for the most commonly identified skin cancers basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), which were previously commonly categorised as non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC). Keratinocyte cancer (KC) represents about 95% of malignant skin tumours. Lifestyle changes have led to increased exposure to the sun, which has, in turn, led to a significant increase of new cases of KC, with a worldwide annual incidence of between 3% and 8%. The successful use of preventive measures could mean a significant reduction in the resources used by health systems, compared with the high cost of the treatment of these conditions. At present, there is no information about the quality of the evidence for the use of these sun protection strategies with an assessment of their benefits and risks. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of sun protection strategies (i.e. sunscreen and barrier methods) for preventing keratinocyte cancer (that is, basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) of the skin) in the general population. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the following databases up to May 2016: the Cochrane Skin Group Specialised Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, and LILACS. We also searched five trial registries and the bibliographies of included studies for further references to relevant trials. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomised controlled clinical trials (RCTs) of preventive strategies for keratinocyte cancer, such as physical barriers and sunscreens, in the general population (children and adults), which may provide information about benefits and adverse events related to the use of solar protection measures. We did not include trials focused on educational strategies to prevent KC or preventive strategies in high-risk groups. Our prespecified primary outcomes were BCC or cSCC confirmed clinically or by histopathology at any follow-up and adverse events. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently selected studies for eligibility using Early Review Organizing Software (EROS). Similarly, two review authors independently used predesigned data collection forms to extract information from the original study reports about the participants, methods of randomisation, blinding, comparisons of interest, number of participants originally randomised by arm, follow-up losses, and outcomes, and they assessed the risk of bias. We resolved any disagreement by consulting a third author and contacted trial investigators of identified trials to obtain additional information. We used standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. MAIN RESULTS: We included one RCT (factorial design) that randomised 1621 participants.This study compared the daily application of sunscreen compared with discretionary use of sunscreen, with or without beta-carotene administration, in the general population. The study was undertaken in Australia; 55.2% of participants had fair skin, and they were monitored for 4.5 years for new cases of BCC or cSCC assessed by histopathology. We found this study to be at low risk of bias for domains such as allocation, blinding, and incomplete outcome data. However, we found multiple unclear risks related to other biases, including an unclear assessment of possible interactions between the effects of the different interventions evaluated (that is, sunscreen and beta-carotene). We found no difference in terms of the number of participants developing BCC (n = 1621; risk ratio (RR) 1.03, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.74 to 1.43) or cSCC (n = 1621; RR 0.88, 95% CI 0.50 to 1.54) when comparing daily application of sunscreen with discretionary use, even when analyses were restricted to groups without beta-carotene supplementation. This evidence was of low quality, which means that there is some certainty that future studies may alter our confidence in this evidence.We reported adverse events in a narrative way and included skin irritation or contact allergy.We identified no studies that evaluated other sun protection measures, such as the use of sun-protective clothing, sunglasses, or hats, or seeking the shade when outdoors. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: In this review, we assessed the effect of solar protection in preventing the occurrence of new cases of keratinocyte cancer. We only found one study that was suitable for inclusion. This was a study of sunscreens, so we were unable to assess any other forms of sun protection. The study addressed our prespecified primary outcomes, but not most of our secondary outcomes. We were unable to demonstrate from the available evidence whether sunscreen was effective for the prevention of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) or cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC).Our certainty in the evidence was low because there was a lack of histopathological confirmation of BCC or cSCC in a significant percentage of cases. Amongst other sources of bias, it was not clear whether the study authors had assessed any interaction effects between the sunscreen and beta-carotene interventions. We think that further research is very likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and is likely to change the estimate.

Identification and description of controlled clinical trials published in Spanish Gynaecology and Obstetrics journals and risk of bias assessment of trials on assisted reproductive techniques.

OBJECTIVES: To identify and describe controlled clinical trials (CCTs) published in Spanish Gynaecology and Obstetrics journals. In addition, to assess the quality of the CCTs on Assisted Reproduction Techniques (ART) identified in this project. STUDY DESIGN: In order to identify eligible CCTs, all Spanish Gynaecology and Obstetrics journals were handsearched. Handsearching was conducted following the guidelines provided by the Cochrane Collaboration, which state that each journal article must be carefully reviewed, including original articles and other types of studies, letters to the editor, abstracts, and conference presentations. The results of the handsearching process were compared with an electronic search conducted in MEDLINE (PubMed). A descriptive analysis of the main characteristics of the identified CCTs was performed, as well as a methodological assessment of CCTs on ART. RESULTS: Sixteen Gynaecology and Obstetrics journals were identified, four of which have been indexed in MEDLINE at some point, although not currently. The journal with the most CCTs was "Progresos de Obstetricia y Ginecología". A total of 235 CCTs were published in these journals, of which 29 were on ART. Most CCTs (216, 91.9%) were carried out in a hospital setting; 201 (89.4%) were unicentric. Obstetrics was the most studied subspecialty (46.4%). Among CCTs on ART, the risk of bias was predominantly high. CONCLUSIONS: The number of CCTs published in Spanish Gynaecology and Obstetrics journals is limited. CCTs on ART present deficiencies in the report of results and low methodological quality. It is advised that authors and journals adhere to the CONSORT statement and to the Cochrane Collaboration recommendations to reduce risk of bias when designing and disseminating research projects.

Conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas sobre salud sexual y reproductiva en estudiantes de pregrado de una Universidad de Colombia / Knowledge, attitudes and practices on sexual and reproductive health in undergraduate from a University of Colombia

Introducción: Los conocimientos sobre salud sexual y reproductiva con que ingresan los jóvenes a la Universidad es diverso y hay cambios drásticos al ingresar al medio universitario donde comparten con diversos grupos etáreos. Objetivos: describir conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas en Salud Sexual y Reproductiva de estudiantes de pregrado de todas las carreras...

Validez diagnóstica de antígenos leucocitarios humanos para el diagnóstico de la enfermedad de Behcet / Diagnostic validity of human leukocyte antigens for the diagnosis of Behcet's disease

INTRODUCCIÓN: La enfermedad de Behcet (EB) es una vasculitis sistémica de etiología desconocida, caracterizada por ulceraciones orales y genitales recurrentes asociadas y compromiso ocular. En la actualidad, el diagnóstico se realiza por medio de grupos de criterios diagnósticos. Aunque existe una asociación entre HLA-B51 y EB, no se ha considerado aún el uso de los HLA como prueba diagnóstica. OBJETIVO: Evaluar si existe un papel para los antígenos leucocitarios humanos, en particular los denominados HLA 15, 108, 105, 109 y 119, en el diagnóstico de pacientes con EB. MÉTODOS: Se realizó una búsqueda de revisiones sistemáticas de estudios de validez diagnóstica publicadas en los últimos cinco años en Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, DARE y MEDLINE, así como una búsqueda de estudios primarios sobre validez diagnóstica en MEDLINE (1966 a la fecha), EMBASE (1982 a la fecha), LILACS (1982 a la fecha), de referencias entre los estudios encontrados y consulta a expertos temáticos, productores y comercializadores de la tecnología; la tecnología de interés fue el uso de HLA para el diagnóstico de EB; como estándar de referencia se consideraron diferentes criterios clínicos (International Study Group (ISG), International Criteria For Behcet Disease (ICBD), entre otros). Dos evaluadores de manera independiente, tamizaron las referencias obtenidas, resolviendo las discrepancias por medio de un tercer autor. RESULTADOS: No es posible establecer conclusiones acerca del papel de los antígenos leucocitarios humanos en el diagnóstico de EB dado que, hasta la fecha, no se han publicado estudios sobre sus características operativas. En Colombia se requieren estimaciones de la frecuencia de alelos HLA y su asociación con EB que puedan sugerir su posible valor diagnóstico.(AU)

Puntuaciones del MoCA y el MMSE en pacientes con deterioro cognitivo leve y demencia en una clínica de memoria en Bogotá / MoCA and MMSE scores in patients with mild cognitive impairment and dementia in a memory clinic in Bogotá

Introducción. Diferentes pruebas neuropsicológicas permiten explorar las funciones cognitivas del adulto mayor, en un tiempo corto. En Colombia se dispone de pocos estudios sobre puntuaciones y puntos de corte para el MMSE y para el MoCA en relación al diagnóstico de deterioro cognitivo. Objetivo. Describir la distribución de las puntuaciones del MMSE y el MoCA y los puntos de corte con mejor discriminación, para el diagnóstico de deterioro cognitivo leve y demencia, en una muestra de pacientes de Bogotá. Material y métodos. Se evaluaron 248 pacientes por un equipo multidisciplinario, que consultaron a la Clínica de Memoria del HIUSJ entre 2009-2012, siguiendo un protocolo establecido. Se identificaron las puntuaciones del MoCA y MMSE, que permitieron obtener el mayor porcentaje de pacientes correctamente clasificados. Resultados. En el 70% de los pacientes con DCL y en el 69 % de los sujetos normales, se encontraron puntuaciones del MMSE inferiores o iguales a 28. En 91% de pacientes con DCL y 84% de los sujetos normales, se presentaron puntuaciones del MoCA inferiores o iguales a 25. Los pacientes con cualquier tipo de demencia, presentaron puntuaciones del MMSE inferiores o iguales a 27 e inferiores o iguales a 24 en el MoCA. Conclusión. Según el presente estudio, el tamizaje de funciones cognitivas, utilizando el MoCA, clasifica de manera más acertada que el MMSE, a los sujetos con deterioro cognitivo. Creemos que en atención primaria, estos puntos de corte del MoCA, pueden ser considerados por ahora, cuando se trate especialmente de sujetos con alta escolaridad.

Introduction. Some cognitive tests allow the evaluation of cognitive functions on the elderly in a short period of time. There are few studies in Colombia about cut-off point for the MMSE and the MoCA test. Objectives. To describe the distribution on scores on MMSE and MoCA test and the cut-off point with a better discrimination criteria for the diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment and dementia, in a sample of patients from Bogotá. Materials and methods. Two hundred forty eight patients were included in this study, being evaluated by a multidisciplinary team that followed an established protocol, on patients who attended to the Memory Clinic of HIUSJ between 2009-2012. MoCA test and MMSE scores that allow higher percentages of correctly classified patients were identified. Results. Seventy percent of patients with mild cognitive impairment and 69% of normal individuals had scores on MMSE below or equal to 28. Ninety-one percent of patients with MCI and 89% of normal patients, had scores below or equal to 25. Patients with any type of dementia had scores on MMSE below or equal to 27 and below or equal to 24 in MoCA test. Conclusion. According to the study, the screening of cognitive functions, using MoCA test, is more accurate than MMSE in patients with cognitive decline. The cut-off points, identified in our study, can be considered useful until now in primary attention, in patients with a high level of education.

Guía de práctica clínica para la detección temprana de las anomalías durante el trabajo de parto, atención del parto normal y distócico / Clinical practice guidelines for early detection of abnormalities during labor, care for normal and dystocic delivery

Objetivo: realizar recomendaciones para detección temprana de las anomalías durante el trabajo de parto, atención del parto normal y distócico. Materiales y métodos: el grupo desarrollador de la Guía (GDG) elaboró esta GPC durante 2011-2012 acorde con la Guía Metodológica para la elaboración de Guías de Atención Integral en el Sistema General de Seguridad Social en Salud colombiano, basándose en la evidencia científica disponible y sumando la participación activa de grupos de pacientes, sociedades científicas y grupos de interés. En particular, la evidencia de esta Guía fue adaptada de la “Guía de práctica clínica sobre la atención del parto normal” (País Vasco - 2010) y actualizada por procedimientos sistemáticos, tanto para la búsqueda y valoración de la evidencia como para la generación de recomendaciones. El nivel de evidencia y la fuerza de las recomendaciones fueron expresados por medio del sistema del Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN). Esta guía y sus secciones hacen parte de un grupo de 25 GAI basadas en la evidencia que incorporan consideraciones económicas y de implementabilidad en el contexto del Sistema General de Seguridad Social en Salud colombiano, y que se desarrollaron por iniciativa del Ministerio de Salud y Protección Social y el Departamento de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación (Colciencias) en temas prioritarios y de alta prevalencia en el país mediante contrato otorgado a la Universidad Nacional de Colombia en el año 2010. Resultados: se presentan las recomendaciones para la asistencia del trabajo de parto y el parto asociadas con mayor probabilidad de obtener un resultado materno fetal exitoso durante la atención del parto. Conclusiones: se espera que las recomendaciones de esta GPC sean utilizadas por los profesionales de la salud de los programas de atención de la gestación con el fin de disminuir la morbilidad y mortalidad atribuibles a complicaciones del trabajo de parto y el parto.

Objective: To make recommendations for early detection of abnormalities during labor, and care of normal and dystocic delivery. Materials and methods: The Guideline Developer Group (GDG) prepared this CPG during 2011-2012 in accordance with the Methodology Guideline for the development of Comprehensive Care Guidelines of the Colombian General System of Social Security, on the basis of the available scientific evidence, and with the active participation of patient groups, scientific societies and stakeholders. In particular, the evidence for this section was adapted from the “Clinical practice guideline for normal delivery care” (País Vasco – 2010) and adapted through systematic procedures for the search and assessment of the evidence as well as for the generation of recommendations. The level of evidence and the power of the recommendations were expressed using the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) system. Results: We present the recommendations for labor and delivery care associated with the highest probability of a successful outcome for the mother and the baby. Conclusions: It is expected that the recommendations contained in this CPG will be used by practitioners in pregnancy care programs in order to reduce morbidity and mortality attributable to labor and delivery complications.