Long-term chronic joint pain after sleeve gastrectomy and its influence on clinical and psychological outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: Bariatric surgery (BS) is effective in improving chronic joint pain (CJP). However, the long-term effects on this comorbidity are poorly understood. OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of CJP in a sample of patients who had undergone BS with a minimum follow-up of 18 months. To determine whether or not there was any relationship between CJP and clinical or psychological outcomes after BS. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study. The Lattinen index (LI) was used to evaluate CJP, using the cut-off point of 10 to define significant CJP (SCJP). RESULTS: Of the 110 subjects assessed, 31.2% (35/110) had SCJP. The patients with SCJP were older (57.4±13 vs 47.8±11.6 years; p<0.0001) and more time had elapsed since their BS (105.6±54.3 vs 78.5±39 months; p=0.023). The last BMI was higher in subjects with SCJP (35±5 vs 33.3±6.9kg/m2; p=0.05) and the percentage of patients who took significant regular exercise was lower (2.9% vs 68%; p<0.0001). Trauma problems after BS were more common in subjects with SCJP (61.8% vs 22.7%; p<0.0001). More patients with SCJP met depression criteria (47.1% vs 5.3%; p<0.0001) and/or were treated with antidepressants (38.2% vs 17.3%; p=0.003). Patients with SCJP reported fewer hours of sleep (6±1.4 vs 6.8±1.2h; p=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: SCJP is highly prevalent in patients who have had BS once they reach the weight plateau phase. There is an association between having SCJP and worse psychological and functional status, with potential detrimental metabolic effects.

Long-Term Prevalence of Food Addiction Among Bariatric Surgery Patients: Influence on Metabolic and Psychological Outcomes.

Background: We wanted to assess the prevalence of individuals with food addiction (FA) among bariatric surgery (BS) patients at long term and to determine if there was any relationship between FA and both clinical and psychological outcomes at the time of the evaluation. Methods: Participants were evaluated for the presence of FA with the Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0. Results: Of 134 subjects, 32 (23.9%) included met criteria for FA. The frequency of patients with depression at the time of the evaluation was greater among subjects with FA (34.4% vs. 11.8%; P = 0.006). The score obtained with the Beck Depression Inventory at the time of the evaluation was greater among subjects with FA (14.8 ± 11.5 vs. 6 ± 6.5; P < 0.0001). The frequency of subjects with FA who had criteria for binge eating disorder at the time of the evaluation was significantly greater (56.3% vs. 20.5%; P < 0.001). Patients with FA scored higher in the Lattinen index for chronic pain at the time of the evaluation (8.7 ± 5.9 vs. 5.8 ± 5.4; P = 0.014). However, clinical outcomes were similar between the two groups. Conclusions: Routine screening for FA at long term postoperatively should be recommended to improve psychological outcomes of BS.

In Silico Design of a Peptide Receptor for Dopamine Recognition.

Dopamine (DA) is an important neurotransmitter with a fundamental role in regulatory functions related to the central, peripheral, renal, and hormonal nervous systems. Dopaminergic neurotransmission dysfunctions are commonly associated with several diseases; thus, in situ quantification of DA is a major challenge. To achieve this goal, enzyme-based biosensors have been employed for substrate recognition in the past. However, due to their sensitivity to changes in temperature and pH levels, new peptide bioreceptors have been developed. Therefore, in this study, four bioreceptors were designed in silico to exhibit a higher affinity for DA than the DA transporters (DATs). The design was based on the hot spots of the active sites of crystallized enzyme structures that are physiologically related to DA. The affinities between the chosen targets and designed bioreceptors were calculated using AutoDock Vina. Additionally, the binding free energy, ∆G, of the dopamine-4xp1 complex was calculated by molecular dynamics (MD). This value presented a direct relationship with the E_refine value obtained from molecular docking based on the ∆G functions obtained from MOE of the promising bioreceptors. The control variables in the design were amino acids, bond type, steric volume, stereochemistry, affinity, and interaction distances. As part of the results, three out of the four bioreceptor candidates presented promising values in terms of DA affinity and distance.

Performance Analysis of Emergency Room Episodes Through Process Mining.

The performance analysis of Emergency Room episodes is aimed at providing decision makers with knowledge that allows them to decrease waiting times, reduce patient congestion, and improve the quality of care provided. In this case study, Process Mining is used to determine which activities, sub-processes, interactions, and characteristics of episodes explain why some episodes have a longer duration. The employed method and the results obtained are described in detail to serve as a guide for future performance analysis in this domain. It was discovered that the main cause of the increment in the episode duration is the occurrence of a loop between the Examination and Treatment sub-processes. It was also found out that as the episode severity increases, the number of repetitions of the Examination-Treatment loop increases as well. Moreover, the episodes in which this loop is more common are those that lead to Hospitalization as discharge destination. These findings might help to reduce the occurrence of this loop, in turn lowering the episode duration and, consequently, providing faster attention to more patients.

Diseño de exoesqueletos para miembro inferior / Exoskeleton design for lower limb

Introducción: La desarticulación de cadera es realizada por cirujanos para prevenir el crecimiento de enfermedades malignas en casos que no pueden ser tratados en forma conservadora. Existe la posibilidad que la desarticulación pueda ser causada por un accidente traumático que comprometa uno o los dos miembros inferiores. Objetivo: modificar el diseño de una prótesis para personas con problemas de tensión muscular, para cargas pesadas y movimientos repetitivos, para ser usada en personas con desarticulación unilateral o bilateral de cadera, partiendo de la patente de invención. Métodos: El diseño se realizó teniendo en cuenta desplazamiento similar al sistema locomotor humano, el confort, las posibles lesiones en las prominencias óseas, la repetitividad y el bajo costo. Para garantizar el menor impacto en la prominencia ósea disminuyendo el riesgo de ruptura o ulceras se usó un escáner 3D con sensores de presión para una correcta distribución de la presión sobre toda la prominencia de la cadera. Resultados: El sistema propuesto resultó en una alternativa para personas con limitaciones de movilidad en miembro inferior permitiendo un movimiento más natural y así mejorar la calidad de vida de este tipo de pacientes. La técnica permitió al usuario un alto nivel de independencia en situaciones de pérdida de los miembros inferiores. Conclusiones: El estudio se centró en la modificación de una prótesis para miembro inferior usado para personas con baja tonicidad muscular o actividades repetitivas a un sistema para personas con desarticulación bilateral de cadera o pérdida de un solo miembro inferior(AU)

Introduction: Hip disarticulation is performed by surgeons to prevent the growth of malignant diseases in cases that can not be treated conservatively. There is a possibility that the disarticulation may be caused by a traumatic accident involving one or both lower limbs. Objective: to modify the design of a prosthesis for people with muscular tension problems, for heavy loads and repetitive movements, to be used in people with unilateral or bilateral hip disarticulation, starting from the patent of invention. Methods: The design was made taking into account displacement similar to the human locomotor system, comfort, possible lesions in bony prominences, repetitiveness and low cost. To guarantee the least impact on the bone prominence, reducing the risk of rupture or ulcers, a 3D scanner with pressure sensors was used to correctly distribute the pressure over the whole hip prominence. Results: The proposed system resulted in an alternative for people with mobility limitations in the lower limb allowing a more natural movement and thus improving the quality of life of this type of patients. The technique allowed the user a high level of independence in situations of loss of the lower limbs. Conclusions: The study focused on the modification of a lower limb prosthesis used for people with low muscle tone or repetitive activities to a system for people with bilateral hip disarticulation or loss of a single lower limb(AU)

Publicación científica entre los directivos de la Asociación Científica de Estudiantes de Medicina de Colombia: características y factores asociados / Scientific publication of the directors of the Scientific Association of Medical Students of Colombia: Characteristics and associated factors

Resumen Introducción. La publicación científica se debe incentivar desde el pregrado, sobre todo en carreras de ciencias de la salud. Objetivo. Determinar las características y los factores asociados a la publicación científica entre los miembros de la Asociación Científica de Estudiantes de Medicina de Colombia (ASCEMCOL). Materiales y métodos. Se realizó un estudio transversal analítico que se basó en una encuesta presencial aplicada a los miembros de la ASCEMCOL. Se definió como publicación la realizada en una revista científica indexada; la información recolectada se cruzó con variables para obtener estadísticos de asociación. Resultados. Al realizar el análisis multivariado, se asoció a mayor participación en investigaciones científicas el encontrarse en un semestre académico superior (RPa: 1.25; IC95%: 1.01-1.56; p=0.043) y tener más cantidad de investigaciones extracurriculares (RPa: 1.26; IC95%: 1.15-1.38; p<0.001); así mismo, la menor frecuencia de publicación se asoció a la percepción de pobre apoyo por parte de la universidad (RPa: 0.28; IC95%: 0.22-0.34; p<0.001), ajustado por la cantidad de trabajos presentados a congresos y la universidad de procedencia. Conclusión. La frecuencia de publicación fue baja en esta población. Se encontraron factores de gran importancia, como estar en un mayor semestre y tener mayor número de investigaciones realizadas y publicaciones.

Abstract Introduction: The scientific publication should be encouraged from the undergraduates, especially in science health careers. Objective: To determine the features and factors associated with scientific publication among members of the Scientific Association of Medical Students of Colombia (ASCEMCOL). Materials and methods: An analytic cross-sectional study, which was based on a face survey applied to the members of the ASCEMCOL. A publication was defined as a publication made in an indexed scientific journal; and the information collected was crossed with variables to obtain a statistical association. Results: When performing multivariate analysis, it was associated with increased participation in scientific research the fact of being in a superior academic semester (RPA: 1.25; 95% CI: 1.01-1.56; p value: 0.043), more of extracurricular investigations (RPA: 1.26; 95% CI: 1.15-1.38; p value <0.001). Likewise, the lower frequency of publications associated with the perception of poor support from the university (RPA: 0.28; 95% CI: 0.22-0.34; p value <0.001), adjusted to the number of papers presented in congresses and the university of origin. Conclusion: The publication frequency was low in this population; we find important factors like being in a superior academic semester, such as having a greater number of investigations and publications.