Vickybot, a Chatbot for Anxiety-Depressive Symptoms and Work-Related Burnout in Primary Care and Health Care Professionals: Development, Feasibility, and Potential Effectiveness Studies.

BACKGROUND: Many people attending primary care (PC) have anxiety-depressive symptoms and work-related burnout compounded by a lack of resources to meet their needs. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this problem, and digital tools have been proposed as a solution. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to present the development, feasibility, and potential effectiveness of Vickybot, a chatbot aimed at screening, monitoring, and reducing anxiety-depressive symptoms and work-related burnout, and detecting suicide risk in patients from PC and health care workers. METHODS: Healthy controls (HCs) tested Vickybot for reliability. For the simulation study, HCs used Vickybot for 2 weeks to simulate different clinical situations. For feasibility and effectiveness study, people consulting PC or health care workers with mental health problems used Vickybot for 1 month. Self-assessments for anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item) and depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) symptoms and work-related burnout (based on the Maslach Burnout Inventory) were administered at baseline and every 2 weeks. Feasibility was determined from both subjective and objective user-engagement indicators (UEIs). Potential effectiveness was measured using paired 2-tailed t tests or Wilcoxon signed-rank test for changes in self-assessment scores. RESULTS: Overall, 40 HCs tested Vickybot simultaneously, and the data were reliably transmitted and registered. For simulation, 17 HCs (n=13, 76% female; mean age 36.5, SD 9.7 years) received 98.8% of the expected modules. Suicidal alerts were received correctly. For the feasibility and potential effectiveness study, 34 patients (15 from PC and 19 health care workers; 76% [26/34] female; mean age 35.3, SD 10.1 years) completed the first self-assessments, with 100% (34/34) presenting anxiety symptoms, 94% (32/34) depressive symptoms, and 65% (22/34) work-related burnout. In addition, 27% (9/34) of patients completed the second self-assessment after 2 weeks of use. No significant differences were found between the first and second self-assessments for anxiety (t8=1.000; P=.34) or depressive (t8=0.40; P=.70) symptoms. However, work-related burnout scores were moderately reduced (z=-2.07, P=.04, r=0.32). There was a nonsignificant trend toward a greater reduction in anxiety-depressive symptoms and work-related burnout with greater use of the chatbot. Furthermore, 9% (3/34) of patients activated the suicide alert, and the research team promptly intervened with successful outcomes. Vickybot showed high subjective UEI (acceptability, usability, and satisfaction), but low objective UEI (completion, adherence, compliance, and engagement). Vickybot was moderately feasible. CONCLUSIONS: The chatbot was useful in screening for the presence and severity of anxiety and depressive symptoms, and for detecting suicidal risk. Potential effectiveness was shown to reduce work-related burnout but not anxiety or depressive symptoms. Subjective perceptions of use contrasted with low objective-use metrics. Our results are promising but suggest the need to adapt and enhance the smartphone-based solution to improve engagement. A consensus on how to report UEIs and validate digital solutions, particularly for chatbots, is required.

SARS-CoV-2 Infection After Vaccination: Kidney Transplant Recipient Profile and Disease Evolution in a Single Center.

BACKGROUND: SARS-CoV-2 infection has had a major impact on kidney transplant patients. Recent evidence suggests that solid organ transplant recipients who received mRNA vaccines reach low immunization rates. There are only few reports about the risk factors and severity of COVID-19 in these patients. Our single center experience describes the patient profile and disease evolution observed in this vulnerable group after inoculation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective cohort study with kidney transplant patients who received a COVID-19 vaccine before testing positive for SARS-CoV-19 using polymerase chain reaction. Demographic characteristics and clinical information are described and compared with our previous series of patients who were infected before the initiation of the vaccination rollout. RESULTS: Sixteen kidney transplant recipients diagnosed with COVID-19 after being vaccinated were included and compared with our previous series of 76 unvaccinated patients who were positive for COVID-19. No differences were found among risk factors such as age, time after transplant, hypertension, and obesity between groups (P value > .05). After COVID-19 diagnosis among inoculated patients, 10 patients were hospitalized, and 4 of who met the criteria for admission to the intensive care unit. Three patients died of COVID-19 complications. Despite this, the incidence of infections has decreased after vaccination rollout (P value < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients' risk profiles remain constant among recipients who were positive for COVID-19 between waves. We did not find significant differences in hospitalization and severity rates in this reduced group of patients. However, the overall incidence in our kidney transplant population has decreased.

Social Networks' Engagement During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Spain: Health Media vs. Healthcare Professionals.

An increased use of social networks is one of the most far-reaching consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Aside from the traditional media, as the main drivers of social communication in crisis situations, individual profiles have emerged supported by social networks, which have had a similar impact to the more specialized communication media. This is the hypothesis of the research presented, which is focused on health communication and based on a virtual ethnography methodology with the use of social metrics. The aim is to understand the relationship established between the population in general and digital media in particular through the measurement of engagement. In this regard, a comparative study was carried out that describes this phenomenon over a period of six months on three social networks: YouTube, Twitter and Instagram, with a sample composed of specialized health media versus healthcare professionals. The results point to a new communications model that opens up a new space for agents whose content has a degree of engagement comparable to and even exceeding that of digital media specialized in health communication. The conclusions show that the crisis of the pandemic has accelerated the transformation of the communication sector, creating new challenges for the communication industry, media professionals, and higher education institutions related to market demands.

MicroRNAs as potential predictors of extreme response to tyrosine kinase inhibitors in renal cell cancer.

BACKGROUND: MicroRNAs play an important role as modulators of gene expression in several biological processes and are closely related to development and cell differentiation regulation. Previous works have revealed a potential predictive role for miRNAs in different tumor types. This study aims to analyze the ability of miRNAs in segregating metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients according to their responses to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). METHODS: Extreme responders were considered in the study and were defined as those patients that either had a long-term response (LR) (progression-free survival ˃11 months) or those that were primary refractory (PR) (progression as best response). The expression of 754 miRNAs was analyzed in tumor tissue of these 2 sets of patients. RESULTS: In a study cohort (n = 15) 4 miRNAs were significantly associated with patient response and differentially expressed in PR vs. LR (up-regulated in PR vs. LR: miR-425-5p, down-regulated in PR vs. LR: miR-139-3p, let-7d and let-7e). Further analysis in a validation cohort (n = 36) revealed similar results. CONCLUSION: The present data strength the potential role of miRNAs as a tool to predict treatment outcomes in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with TKIs.

GROWTH PATTERN OF THE TROPICAL HIGHLAND GYMNOPTHALMID LIZARD Anadia bogotensis IN CAPTIVITY CONDITIONS / Patrón de crecimiento del gimnoftálmido tropical de tierras altas Anadia bogotensis en condiciones de cautiverio

ABSTRACT We estimated growth pattern and growth rate of individuals of Anadia bogotensis in captivity and under climatic conditions similar to those in the wild. We collected eggs of this species from communal nests from a highland locality in the municipality of La Calera, Cundinamarca, in Colombia. The eggs were incubated in outdoors terrariums, and the growth of the hatchlings was recorded until their death. The growth pattern fits a logistic model, in which individuals grow moderately at the beginning, and then their growth rate increases. The growth rate increases even after individuals reach sexual maturity and seems to decrease close to their maximum body size. It is a fast growing species that reaches sexual maturity at around 50 % of its maximum body size and has a lifespan of less than two years. This strategy could be a consequence of high predation pressures, but it is a hypothesis that needs to be tested in the wild.

RESUMEN Estimamos el patrón y tasa de crecimiento de individuos en cautiverio de Anadia bogotensis bajo condiciones y climáticas similares a las que experimentan los individuos en poblaciones silvestres. Obtuvimos huevos de nidos comunales de esta especie provenientes de una localidad del municipio de La Calera, Cundinamarca, los cuales fueron incubados en terrarios a la intemperie; después de la eclosión seguimos el crecimiento de los individuos hasta su muerte. El patrón de crecimiento se ajusta a un modelo logístico; esto indica que los individuos crecen moderadamente al inicio y luego la tasa incrementa. La tasa de crecimiento aumenta aún después que los individuos alcanzan la madurez sexual, y parece decrecer cerca de su máximo tamaño corporal. La especie crece rápido, madura al alcanzar el 50 % de su tamaño máximo y vive menos de dos años. Esta estrategia podría ser consecuencia de fuertes presiones de depredación, una hipótesis que debe evaluarse en condiciones naturales.

Rehabilitación del músculo cuádriceps femoral en pacientes con atrofia luego de posartroscopia de rodilla / Rehabilitation of the quadriceps fe moris muscle in patients with atrophy after knee post-surgery

Introducción: la rehabilitación posartroscopia de rodilla se realiza en la actualidad para el tratamiento de las afecciones de la rodilla, con un máximo de eficacia y un reducido reporte de complicaciones. Objetivo: evaluar la efectividad del tratamiento de rehabilitación posartroscopia, en pacientes adultos con atrofia muscular del cuádriceps femoral, operados por artroscopia de rodilla por múltiples causas que recibieron tratamiento en la sala de rehabilitación. Métodos: estudio prospectivo de evaluación en 56 pacientes mayores de 25 años, que necesitaron tratamiento rehabilitadoren la clínica de especialidades del Hospital Carlos M. de Céspedes de Bayamo, provincia Granma, Cuba, desde mayo hasta diciembre del 2017. Se evaluaron la masa muscular, el diagnóstico artroscópico, la edad, sexo y el índice de masa corporal, se expresan en números absolutos y porcentajes. Resultados: la masa muscular del cuádriceps femoral logró una mejor recuperación al finalizar la III fase del tratamiento rehabilitador, el 53,6 por ciento de los pacientes alcanzó un trofismo normal, con resultados notables en el rango de edad de 25-49 años (80,0 por ciento), en pacientes normopesos (91,6 por ciento) y similar en ambos sexos. La fuerza muscular evolucionó hacia la mejoría al finalizar la III fase del tratamiento, el 91,6 por ciento alcanzó una evaluación máxima, significativa en el rango de edad de 25-49 años (86,7 por ciento), en pacientes normopesos (83,3 por ciento) y similar en ambos sexos. Las enfermedades de mayor incidencia según el diagnóstico artroscópico fueron las causas múltiples (33,9 por ciento), la condromalacia rotuliana (21.4 por ciento) y la plica sinovial (16,0 por ciento) y la recuperación del cuádriceps femoral fue significativa en pacientes diagnosticados con plica sinovial (88,9 por ciento) y causas múltiples (78,9 por ciento). Conclusiones: el tratamiento rehabilitador resultó efectivo, lográndose la recuperación(AU)

Introduction: post-knee reconstruction rehabilitation is currently carried out for the treatment of knee affections, with a maximum of efficacy and a reduced report of complications. Objective: to evaluate the effectiveness of posartroscopy rehabilitation treatment in adult patients with muscle atrophy of the femoral quadriceps, operated by knee arthroscopy for multiple causes who received treatment in the rehabilitation room. Methods: prospective evaluation study in 56 patients older than 25 years, who needed rehabilitation treatment in the specialty clinic of Carlos M. de Céspedes Hospital of Bayamo, Granma province, Cuba, from May to December 2017. Muscle mass was evaluated, arthroscopic diagnosis, age, sex and body mass index are expressed in absolute numbers and percentages. Results: the muscle mass of the femoral quadriceps achieved a better recovery at the end of the III phase of the rehabilitative treatment, 53.6 percent of the patients reached a normal trophism, with remarkable results in the age range of 25-49 years (80 percent), in normal-weight patients (91.6 percent) and similar in both sexes. Muscular strength evolved towards improvement at the end of the III phase of treatment, 91.6 percent reached a maximum, significant evaluation in the age range of 25-49 years (86.7 percent), in normal-weight patients (83.3 percent) and similar in both sexes. The diseases with the highest incidence according to the arthroscopic diagnosis were multiple causes (33.9 percent), chondromalacia patellae (21.4 percent) and synovial plica (16 percent) and the recovery of the femoral quadriceps was significant in patients diagnosed with plica synovial (88.9 percent) and multiple causes (78.9 percent). Conclusion: the rehabilitative treatment was effective, obtaining the recovery of the femoral quadriceps muscle in most of the patients at the end of the III phase(EU)

Advanced sporadic renal epithelioid angiomyolipoma: case report of an extraordinary response to sirolimus linked to TSC2 mutation.

BACKGROUND: Renal epithelioid angiomyolipomas (EAML) are rare tumors with aggressive behavior. EAML can be sporadic or develop within the tuberous sclerosis complex syndrome, where mutations of TSC1 or TSC2 genes (critical negative regulators of mTOR Complex 1) result in an increased activation of mTOR pathway. Optimal EAML treatment, including mTOR inhibitors, remains undetermined. CASE PRESENTATION: Here we present the case of a young adult with a renal EAML that after radical nephrectomy developed metastases, first in liver and then in lumbar vertebrae. After complete surgical resection of these lesions, liver recurrence was detected, this time with incomplete surgical resection. After finding a new liver lesion, systemic treatment with sirolimus started. The patient exhibited a complete and durable response to this drug, being disease free at the time of publication, after 36 months of treatment. Targeted next generation sequencing (NGS) of MTOR, TSC1 and TSC2 genes in the primary tumor, metastasis and blood of the patient, revealed one inactivating TSC2 mutation (c.2739dup; p.K914*) in the tumor cells. Immunohistochemistry revealed decreased TSC2 protein content and increased phospho-S6 in the tumor cells, demonstrating mTOR pathway activation. CONCLUSION: NGS on an EAML patient with an extraordinary response to sirolimus uncovered TSC2 inactivation as the mechanism for the response. This study supports NGS as a useful tool to identify patients sensitive to mTOR inhibitors and supports the treatment of malignant EAML with these drugs.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms as prognostic and predictive biomarkers in renal cell carcinoma.

Despite major advances in the knowledge of the molecular basis of renal cell carcinoma, prognosis is still defined using clinical and pathological parameters. Moreover, no valid predictive biomarkers exist to help us selecting the best treatment for each patient. With these premises, we aimed to analyse the expression and to determine the prognostic and predictive value of 64 key single nucleotide polymorphisms in 18 genes related with angiogenesis or metabolism of antiangiogenics in two cohorts of patients with localized and advanced renal cell cancer treated at our institution. The presence of the selected single nucleotide polymorphisms was correlated with clinical features, disease free survival, overall survival and response rate. In patients with localized renal cell cancer, 5 of these polymorphisms in 3 genes involved in angiogenesis predicted for worse disease free survival (VEGFR2: rs10013228; PDGFRA: rs2228230) or shorter overall survival (VEGFR2: rs10013228; VEGFR3: rs6877011, rs307826) (p < 0.05). Rs2071559 in VEGFR2 showed a protective effect (p = 0.01). In the advanced setting, 5 SNPs determined inferior overall survival (IL8: rs2227543, PRKAR1B: rs9800958, PDGFRB: rs2302273; p = 0.05) or worse response rate (VEGFA: rs699947, rs3025010 p ≤ 0.01)). Additionally 1 single nucleotide polymorphism in VEGFB predicted for better response rate rs594942 (p = 0.03). Genetic analysis of renal cell carcinoma patients might provide valuable prognostic/predictive information. A set of SNPs in genes critical to angiogenesis and metabolism of antiangiogenics drugs seem to determine post-surgical outcomes and treatment response in our series.

Herbarium of vascular plants collection of the university of extremadura (Spain).

The herbarium of University of Extremadura (UNEX Herbarium) is formed by 36451 specimens of vascular plants whose main origin is the autonomous region of Extremadura (Spain) and Portugal, although it also contains a smaller number of specimens from different places, including the rest of peninsular Spain, the Baleares Islands, the Macaronesian region (Canary Islands, Madeira and Azores), northwest of Africa (Morocco) and Brazil. 98% of the total records are georeferenced. It is an active collection in continuous growth. Its data can be accessed through the GBIF data portal at http://data.gbif.org/datasets/resource/255 and http://www.eweb.unex.es/eweb/botanica/herbario/. This paper describes the specimen associated data set of the UNEX Herbarium, with an objective to disseminate the data contained in a data set with potential users, and promote the multiple uses of the data.

Citología Aspirativa con Aguja Fina en el diagnóstico de las neoplasias de mama, Bayamo Granma / Fine –needle aspiration cytology in the diagnostic of breast neoplasias. Bayamo, Granma

Se realizó un estudio de evaluación con un enfoque retrospectivo desde enero del 2007 hasta diciembre del 2009, en el Hospital Universitario Carlos Manuel de Céspedes de Bayamo, provincia Granma, con el objetivo de evaluar la efectividad de la citología aspirativa con aguja fina como método diagnóstico en las neoplasias de mama. En una muestra calculada de 590 pacientes y a las que se les realizó estudio citológico e histológico de las lesiones mamarias, se obtuvo alta correspondencia entre el diagnóstico citológico e histológico en las enfermedades mamarias tanto benignas como malignas; además de elevados índices de sensibilidad, especificidad y eficacia. Los valores predictivos positivos y negativos resultaron altos. La prueba de comparación de proporciones utilizando los diagnósticos positivos de ambos estudios a un nivel de significación del 5 por ciento arrojó que ambos diagnósticos se corresponden. La citología aspirativa con aguja fina es un método efectivo en el diagnóstico de las patologías mamarias(AU)

It was developed an evaluation study with a retrospective approach since January of the 2007 until December of the 2009 at Carlos Manuel de Cespedes university hospital of Bayamo in Granma province, with the aim to evaluate the effectiveness of the fine–needle aspiration cytology like a diagnostic method in the breast neoplasm. In a calculated sample of 590 patients, after a cytological and histological study of the mammary injuries, it was obtained a high correspondence between the cytological and histological diagnosis in the benign and malignant mammary diseases; in addition to the high indexes of sensitivity, specificity and efficiency. The positive and negative predictive values were high. The comparison test of proportions using the positive diagnostics of both studies to a level of significance of 5 percent evidenced that both diagnostics were related. The fine–needle aspiration cytology is an effective method in the diagnostic of the mammary pathologies(EU)

Acupuntura para los estudiantes de Ciencias Médicas: material complementario

Como parte del perfeccionamiento del PDE, teniendo en cuenta la importancia y actualidad de la Medicina Natural y Tradicional se han introducido un grupo de conocimientos básicos esenciales en la formación del educando como futuro profesional de la salud (de acuerdo con el modelo confeccionado por nuestro sistema). Las disciplinas Anatomía Humana y Morfología dentro de las Ciencias Básicas de las diferentes carreras son las que más contenido de estas Ciencias se le ha incorporado. Teniendo en cuenta la escasez de bibliografía básica y complementaria existente de Acupuntura, así como la importancia de la preparación de nuestros estudiantes, nos dimos la tarea de efectuar una revisión de los libros, revistas, artículos científicos e información computarizada para desarrollar los aspectos de mayor interés que satisfaga la demanda de conocimientos de los educandos (a los objetivos de las asignaturas)(AU)

Criterios de conocimientos de fitofarmacos por profesionales de la salud

Se realizó un estudio descriptivo observacional en el Hospital General Provincial Docente Carlos Manuel de Céspedes de Bayamo, Granma en el período comprendido entre julio y septiembre de 1999. Se evaluó el nivel de conocimiento sobre fitofármacos de los profesionales de la salud mediante confección de planilla encuesta, eligiendo las plantas medicinales de mayores indicaciones médicas y consumo poblacional, con sus acciones farmacológicas comprobadas experimentalmente, modo de preparación y contraindicaciones, al azar y de forma anónima, estableciendo una clave de calificación en la que 26 profesionales obtuvieron calificación de regular, 13 médicos calificados de bien y 8 de mal, en 47 planillas útiles de 50 entregadas. Se precisó que 45 profesionales indican fitofármacos sin conocer contraindicaciones (95,74 por ciento), 1 médico las indica conociéndolas bien (2,22 por ciento) y otro facultativo las indica con conocimiento promedio. Se evidenció que el conocimiento de fitofármacos por profesionales de la salud se considera de regular por la calificación obtenida, existiendo desconocimiento de sus contraindicaciones.(AU)