Carbon capture from biomass flue gases for CO2 enrichment in greenhouses.

Heating and CO2 enrichment systems can improve yields in intensive greenhouse agriculture Combining both techniques, which are currently applied commercially, can potentially enhance their effect. The CO2 must be separated from the other noxious gases present (such as CO, NOX, and SO2) to avoid them becoming part of the supply. The CO2 is then provided to the greenhouse on demand in the same way as the heating. In this work, we show that an improved food productivity of a pilot-scale greenhouse system combined with CO2 capture by adsorption using activated carbon and heating with alternative fuel. The proposed system's overall performance was evaluated and optimized. The best values were 46.7 g/kg of CO2 storage capacity on the adsorbent bed, 99.99 % removal rate harmful gases from the gas supplied to the greenhouse, CO2 levels of 1851.0 ± 262.8 mg/Nm3 of the CO2 levels in the greenhouse, and an enrichment time of 2.18 ± 0.92 h/day. The system's effective performance over extended periods (November-February) was confirmed and the productivity of a crop species (tomato) was compared to a control, showing an increment of 18 %. The results indicate that this is a valuable option for increasing the crop yield. By integrating this combined system with advanced climate control strategies, it is possible to maximize the CO2 provided per day, leading to higher yields. The system proved to be stable under real pilot-scale conditions over winter periods (four months).

Structure-preserving Gaussian denoising of FIB-SEM volumes.

FIB-SEM (Focused Ion Beam-Scanning Electron Microscopy) is an imaging technique that allows 3D ultrastructural analysis of cells and tissues at the nanoscale. The acquired FIB-SEM data are highly noisy, which makes denoising an essential step prior to volume interpretation. Gaussian filtering is a standard method in the field because it is fast and straightforward. However, it tends to blur the biological features due to its linear nature that ignores the rapid changes of the structures throughout the volume. To address this issue, we have developed a new approach to structure-preserving noise reduction for FIB-SEM. It has abilities to locally adapt the filtering to the biological structures while taking advantage of the simplicity of Gaussian filtering. It uses the Optical Flow (OF) to estimate the variations of the structural features across the volume, so that they are compensated before the subsequent filtering with a Gaussian function. As demonstrated qualitatively and objectively with datasets from different samples and acquired under different conditions, our denoising approach outperforms the standard Gaussian filtering and is competitive with state-of-the-art methods in terms of noise reduction and preservation of the sharpness of the structures.

Hematuria persistente en Pediatría: ¿cuándo hacer algo más que observar? / Persistent hematuria in Pediatrics: When to do more than observe?

El objetivo principal del estudio diagnóstico de la hematuria persistente es descartar la presencia de patología renal potencialmente grave. La asociación de proteinuria requiere llevar a cabo controles periódicos de función renal, tensión arterial y cuantificación de proteinuria ante la sospecha de glomerulopatía subyacente. La biopsia renal, ante la persistencia de hematuria y proteinuria, nos dará en la mayoría de ocasiones el diagnóstico definitivo. Presentamos el caso de una niña con hematuria controlada en consulta de nefrología infantil durante años sin deterioro del filtrado glomerular en la que se decide realizar biopsia renal, que nos da el diagnóstico definitivo. La nefropatía IgA es la enfermedad glomerular primaria más frecuente en el mundo y requiere seguimiento durante toda la vida por el posible deterioro de la función renal a largo plazo. En la actualidad no existen protocolos específicos de tratamiento para niños, y los más empleados siguen las guías KDIGO 2021, dirigidas a adultos.(AU)

The main goal of the diagnostic study of persistent hematuria is to rule out the presence of potentially serious renal pathology. The association with proteinuria requires periodic monitoring of renal function, blood pressure, and quantification of proteinuria in cases of suspected underlying glomerulopathy. The kidney biopsy, in the presence of persistent hematuria and proteinuria, will often provide a definitive diagnosis. We present a girl with hematuria monitored in pediatric nephrology department for years without deterioration of glomerular filtration in whom it was decided to perform a kidney biopsy, which gave us the definitive diagnosis. IgA nephropathy is the most common primary glomerular disease worldwide and requires lifelong monitoring due to possible long-term deterioration of kidney function. Currently, there are no specific treatment protocols for children, and the most commonly used ones follow the KDIGO 2021 guidelines, which are directed at adults.(AU)

Within-subject biological variation estimates using an indirect data mining strategy. Spanish multicenter pilot study (BiVaBiDa).

OBJECTIVES: The estimates of biological variation (BV) have traditionally been determined using direct methods, which present limitations. In response to this issue, two papers have been published addressing these limitations by employing indirect methods. Here, we present a new procedure, based on indirect methods that analyses data collected within a multicenter pilot study. Using this method, we obtain CVI estimates and calculate confidence intervals (CI), using the EFLM-BVD CVI estimates as gold standard for comparison. METHODS: Data were collected over a 18-month period for 7 measurands, from 3 Spanish hospitals; inclusion criteria: patients 18-75 years with more than two determinations. For each measurand, four different strategies were carried out based on the coefficient of variation ratio (rCoeV) and based on the use of the bootstrap method (OS1, RS2 and RS3). RS2 and RS3 use symmetry reference change value (RCV) to clean database. RESULTS: RS2 and RS3 had the best correlation for the CVI estimates with respect to EFLM-BVD. RS2 used the symmetric RCV value without eliminating outliers, while RS3 combined RCV and outliers. When using the rCoeV and OS1 strategies, an overestimation of the CVI value was obtained. CONCLUSIONS: Our study presents a new strategy for obtaining robust CVI estimates using an indirect method together with the value of symmetric RCV to select the target population. The CVI estimates obtained show a good correlation with those published in the EFLM-BVD database. Furthermore, our strategy can resolve some of the limitations encountered when using direct methods such as calculating confidence intervals.

Optical flow driven interpolation for isotropic FIB-SEM reconstructions.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Focused Ion Beam - Scanning Electron Microscopy (FIB-SEM) allows three-dimensional ultrastructural analysis of cells and tissues at the nanoscale. The technique iteratively removes a section of the sample with a FIB and takes an SEM image from the exposed surface. The section thickness is usually higher than the image pixel size to reduce acquisition time, thus resulting in anisotropic resolution. In this work, we explore novel interpolation methods along the sectioning direction to produce isotropic resolution and facilitate proper interpretation of the FIB-SEM 3D volumes. METHODS: Classical interpolation methods are usually applied in this context under the assumption that the changes through successive images are relatively smooth. However, the actual 3D arrangement of the structures in the sample may cause significant changes in the biological features between consecutive images of the FIB-SEM stacks. We have developed a novel interpolation strategy that accounts for this variation by using the Optical Flow (OF) to estimate it. As an intermediate stage, OF-compensated images are produced by aligning the spatial regions of the biological structures. Interpolated images are then generated from these OF-compensated images. The final isotropic stack is assembled by interleaving the interpolated images with the original images of the anisotropic stack. RESULTS: OF-driven and classical interpolation methods were compared using an objective assessment based on Pearson Correlation Coefficient (PCC) and a qualitative evaluation based on visual results, using public datasets and representative anisotropy conditions. The objective assessment demonstrated that the OF-driven interpolation always yields higher PCC values, with interpolated images closer to the ground truth. The qualitative evaluation corroborated those results and confirmed that classical interpolation may blur areas with substantial changes between consecutive images whereas OF-driven interpolation provides sharpness. CONCLUSIONS: We have developed an OF-driven interpolation approach to generating FIB-SEM stacks with isotropic resolution from experimental anisotropic data. It adapts to the rapid variation of the biological structures observed through the images of the FIB-SEM stack. Our approach outperforms classical interpolation and manages to produce sharp interpolated views in cases where there are significant changes between consecutive experimental images.

PAI1 is a Marker of Bad Prognosis in Rectal Cancer but Predicts a Better Response to Treatment with PIM Inhibitor AZD1208.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide. The standard treatment in locally advanced rectal cancer is preoperative radiation alone or in combination with chemotherapy, followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. Rectal cancer is highly lethal, with only 20% of patients showing a complete remission (by RECIST) after standard treatment, although they commonly show local or systemic relapse likely due to its late detection and high chemotherapy resistance, among other reasons. Here, we explored the role of PAI1 (Serpin E1) in rectal cancer through the analyses of public patient databases, our own cohort of locally advanced rectal cancer patients and a panel of CRC cell lines. We showed that PAI1 expression is upregulated in rectal tumors, which is associated with decreased overall survival and increased metastasis and invasion in advanced rectal tumors. Accordingly, PAI1 expression is correlated with the expression of (Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition) EMT-associated genes and genes encoding drug targets, including the tyrosine kinases PDGFRb, PDGFRa and FYN, the serine/threonine kinase PIM1 and BRAF. In addition, we demonstrate that cells expressing PAI1 protein are more sensitive to the PIM inhibitor AZD1208, suggesting that PAI1 could be used to predict response to treatment with PIM inhibitors and to complement radiotherapy in rectal tumors.

Cardiovascular disease and survival in non-small cell lung cancer: a multicenter prospective assessment.

PURPOSE: Chronic inflammation contributes to cancer development via multiple mechanisms. We hypothesized that cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are also an independent risk factor for survival in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective multicenter data from 345 consecutive NSCLC patients treated from January 2013 to January 2017 were assessed. Median follow-up for all patients was 13 months (range 3-60 months). There were 109 patients with baseline heart disease (HD 32%), 149 with arterial hypertension (43%), 85 with diabetes mellitus (25%), 129 with hyperlipidemia (37%) and 45 with venous thromboembolism events (VTE 13%). A total of 289 patients (84%) were treated with platinum-based chemotherapy (CT), 300 patients (87%) received thoracic radiation therapy (RT; median radiation dose: 60 Gy [range 12-70]); and 50 (15%) patients underwent surgery. RESULTS: Our cohort consisted of 305 men (88%) and 40 (12%) women, with a median age of 67 years (range 31-88 years). Seventy percent had a Karnofsky performance status (KPS) ≥ 80. Multivariate analyses showed a lower OS and higher risk of distant metastasis in patients with advanced stages (p = 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively) and HD (HR 1.43, p = 0.019; and HR 1.49, p = 0.025, respectively). Additionally, patients with VTE had lower local control (HR 1.84, p = 0.025), disease-free survival (HR 1.64, p = 0.020) and distant metastasis-free survival (HR 1.73, p = 0.025). CONCLUSIONS: HD and VTE are associated with a higher risk of mortality and distant metastasis in NSCLC patients. Chronic inflammation associated with CVDs could be an additional pathophysiologic factor in the development of distant metastasis.

The neuroprotective transcription factor ATF5 is decreased and sequestered into polyglutamine inclusions in Huntington's disease.

Activating transcription factor-5 (ATF5) is a stress-response transcription factor induced upon different cell stressors like fasting, amino-acid limitation, cadmium or arsenite. ATF5 is also induced, and promotes transcription of anti-apoptotic target genes like MCL1, during the unfolded protein response (UPR) triggered by endoplasmic reticulum stress. In the brain, high ATF5 levels are found in gliomas and also in neural progenitor cells, which need to decrease their ATF5 levels for differentiation into mature neurons or glia. This initially led to believe that ATF5 is not expressed in adult neurons. More recently, we reported basal neuronal ATF5 expression in adult mouse brain and its neuroprotective induction during UPR in a mouse model of status epilepticus. Here we aimed to explore whether ATF5 is also expressed by neurons in human brain both in basal conditions and in Huntington's disease (HD), where UPR has been described to be partially impaired due to defective ATF6 processing. Apart from confirming that ATF5 is present in human adult neurons, here we report accumulation of ATF5 within the characteristic polyglutamine-containing neuronal nuclear inclusions in brains of HD patients and mice. This correlates with decreased levels of soluble ATF5 and of its antiapoptotic target MCL1. We then confirmed the deleterious effect of ATF5 deficiency in a Caenorhabditis elegans model of polyglutamine-induced toxicity. Finally, ATF5 overexpression attenuated polyglutamine-induced apoptosis in a cell model of HD. These results reflect that decreased ATF5 in HD-probably secondary to sequestration into inclusions-renders neurons more vulnerable to mutant huntingtin-induced apoptosis and that ATF5-increasing interventions might have therapeutic potential for HD.

Análisis de las necesidades de la familia del paciente crítico y la opinión de los profesionales de la unidad de cuidados intensivos / Analysis of needs of the critically ill relatives and critical care professional’s opinion

OBJETIVO: Describir las necesidades de la familia del paciente ingresado en la UCI y la opinión de sus profesionales sobre aspectos relativos a la presencia familiar en la unidad. DISEÑO: Estudio descriptivo prospectivo realizado entre marzo y junio de 2015. Ámbito: UCI polivalente del Complejo Asistencial Universitario de León. PARTICIPANTES: Dos muestras de voluntarios. Una compuesta por el familiar más próximo afectivamente a cada paciente ingresado en la unidad más de 48h, no primariamente quirúrgico. Otra de profesionales sanitarios con antigüedad superior a 3 meses en la UCI. Intervención: Se entregó un cuestionario autoadministrado a cada familiar y otro a cada profesional. Variables de interés principales: se recogieron datos sociodemográficos. Las variables del cuestionario para familiares fueron: la información recibida, la proximidad al paciente, la seguridad en los cuidados, el apoyo recibido y la comodidad. La empatía y la relación profesional hacia la familia, la política de visitas y el efecto de la familia sobre el paciente fueron las variables del cuestionario para profesionales. RESULTADOS: Participó el 59% de los familiares (35/61). El 91,4% comprendió la información recibida, aunque un 49,6% no recibió información sobre cuidados de enfermería. El 82,9% (95,2% eran hijos de pacientes, p < 0,05) mostró conformidad con la política de visitas. La participación profesional fue del 76,3% (61/80). Un 59,3% flexibilizaría la política de visitas y para el 78,3% la familia apoya emocionalmente al paciente sin inestabilizarlo. Un 62,3% informaba habitualmente a la familia, estimando necesaria la formación en habilidades de comunicación un 88%. CONCLUSIONES: La información fue adecuada, resultando insuficiente en cuanto a los cuidados de enfermería. Los profesionales reclamaron formación en habilidades de comunicación

OBJECTIVE: To describe the needs of the families of patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the opinion of ICU professionals on aspects related to the presence of patient relatives in the unit. DESIGN: A prospective descriptive study was carried out between March and June 2015. SETTING: Polyvalent ICU of León University Healthcare Complex (Spain). PARTICIPANTS: Two samples of volunteers were studied: one comprising the relatives emotionally closest to the primarily non-surgical patients admitted to the Unit for over 48hours, and the other composed of ICU professionals with over three months of experience in the ICU. Intervention: One self-administered questionnaire was delivered to each relative and another to each professional. Main variables of interest: Sociodemographic data were collected. The variables in the questionnaire for relatives comprised the information received, closeness to the patient, safety of care, the support received, and comfort. In turn, the questionnaire for professionals addressed empathy and professional relationship with the family, visiting policy, and the effect of the family upon the patient. RESULTS: A total of 59% of the relatives (35/61) answered the questionnaire. Of these subjects, 91.4% understood the information received, though 49.6% received no information on nursing care. A total of 82.9% agreed with the visiting policy applied (95.2% were patient offspring; P<.05). Participation on the part of the professionals in turn reached 76.3% (61/80). A total of 59.3% would flexibilize the visiting policy, and 78.3% considered that the family afforded emotional support for the patient, with no destabilizing effect. On the other hand, 62.3% routinely informed the family, and 88% considered training in communication skills to be needed. CONCLUSIONS: Information was adequate, though insufficient in relation to nursing care. The professionals pointed to the need for training in communication skills

Molecular chaperones: functional mechanisms and nanotechnological applications.

Molecular chaperones are a group of proteins that assist in protein homeostasis. They not only prevent protein misfolding and aggregation, but also target misfolded proteins for degradation. Despite differences in structure, all types of chaperones share a common general feature, a surface that recognizes and interacts with the misfolded protein. This and other, more specialized properties can be adapted for various nanotechnological purposes, by modification of the original biomolecules or by de novo design based on artificial structures.

[Efficacy of lisdexamphetamine to improve the behavioural and cognitive symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: treatment monitored by means of the AULA Nesplora virtual reality test]. / Eficacia de la lisdexanfetamina en la mejora sintomatica conductual y cognitiva del trastorno por deficit de atencion/ hiperactividad: tratamiento monitorizado mediante el test AULA Nesplora de realidad virtual.

INTRODUCTION: Lisdexanfetamine (LDX) is the drug for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) undergoing the largest research volume in the latest years. However, no studies certify its usefulness for the improvement of cognitive functioning in ADHD. AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of LDX in the behavioral and cognitive improvement of a group of patients with ADHD. Such efficacy was measured by means of the administration of AULA Nesplora virtual reality test before the prescription of pharmacological treatment and right after the treatment with LDX. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The sample comprised 85 patients between 6 and 16 years, with clinical diagnosis of ADHD, who attended treatment in a neuropediatrics consultation. All patients started pharmacological treatment with the proper dose of LDX after the clinical interview and the first administration of AULA test. After an average treatment of 7.5 months, AULA was administered again and the treatment progress based on cognitive and motor symptomatology was assessed. RESULTS: Results showed highly significant improvements in selective and sustained attention, quality of attention focus and hyperactivity; moderate improvements in impulsivity; and an incidence close to zero in processing speed. CONCLUSIONS: LDX constitutes an adequate treatment for the substantial improvement of attention and hyperactivity; such improvement can be monitored accurately by means of AULA virtual reality test.

TITLE: Eficacia de la lisdexanfetamina en la mejora sintomatica conductual y cognitiva del trastorno por deficit de atencion/ hiperactividad: tratamiento monitorizado mediante el test AULA Nesplora de realidad virtual.Introduccion. La lisdexanfetamina (LDX) es el farmaco para el trastorno por deficit de atencion/hiperactividad (TDAH) con mayor volumen de investigacion de los ultimos años. No obstante, no hay estudios que certifiquen su utilidad para la mejoria del funcionamiento cognitivo en el TDAH. Objetivo. Evaluar la eficacia de la LDX en la mejora sintomatica conductual y cognitiva en un grupo de pacientes con TDAH. Dicha eficacia fue medida mediante la administracion del test AULA Nesplora de realidad virtual antes de la prescripcion del tratamiento farmacologico y despues del tratamiento con LDX. Pacientes y metodos. La muestra estaba compuesta por 85 pacientes de 6-16 años, con diagnostico clinico de TDAH y que asistian a tratamiento en una consulta de neuropediatria. Todos los pacientes iniciaron el tratamiento farmacologico con la correspondiente dosis de LDX tras la entrevista clinica y la primera administracion del test AULA. Tras un tratamiento medio de 7,5 meses, se les administro AULA nuevamente y se valoro el progreso del tratamiento farmacologico sobre la sintomatologia cognitiva y motora. Resultados. Se apreciaron mejorias muy significativas en la atencion selectiva y sostenida, la calidad del foco atencional y la hiperactividad, mejorias moderadas en la impulsividad, y una incidencia casi nula en la velocidad de procesamiento. Conclusiones. La LDX constituye un tratamiento adecuado para la mejora sustancial de la atencion e hiperactividad, y dicha mejora puede monitorizarse de forma precisa mediante el test de realidad virtual AULA.

Analysis of needs of the critically ill relatives and critical care professional's opinion. / Análisis de las necesidades de la familia del paciente crítico y la opinión de los profesionales de la unidad de cuidados intensivos.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the needs of the families of patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the opinion of ICU professionals on aspects related to the presence of patient relatives in the unit. DESIGN: A prospective descriptive study was carried out between March and June 2015. SETTING: Polyvalent ICU of León University Healthcare Complex (Spain). PARTICIPANTS: Two samples of volunteers were studied: one comprising the relatives emotionally closest to the primarily non-surgical patients admitted to the Unit for over 48hours, and the other composed of ICU professionals with over three months of experience in the ICU. INTERVENTION: One self-administered questionnaire was delivered to each relative and another to each professional. MAIN VARIABLES OF INTEREST: Sociodemographic data were collected. The variables in the questionnaire for relatives comprised the information received, closeness to the patient, safety of care, the support received, and comfort. In turn, the questionnaire for professionals addressed empathy and professional relationship with the family, visiting policy, and the effect of the family upon the patient. RESULTS: A total of 59% of the relatives (35/61) answered the questionnaire. Of these subjects, 91.4% understood the information received, though 49.6% received no information on nursing care. A total of 82.9% agreed with the visiting policy applied (95.2% were patient offspring; P<.05). Participation on the part of the professionals in turn reached 76.3% (61/80). A total of 59.3% would flexibilize the visiting policy, and 78.3% considered that the family afforded emotional support for the patient, with no destabilizing effect. On the other hand, 62.3% routinely informed the family, and 88% considered training in communication skills to be needed. CONCLUSIONS: Information was adequate, though insufficient in relation to nursing care. The professionals pointed to the need for training in communication skills.

Reflujo vaginal: no se puede diagnosticar lo que no se conoce / Vaginal reflux: what is not known cannot be diagnosed

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Effects of fire and three fire-fighting chemicals on main soil properties, plant nutrient content and vegetation growth and cover after 10 years.

The study addresses a knowledge-gap in the long-term ecological consequences of fire and fire-fighting chemicals. Ten years after a prescribed fire and the application of three fire-fighting chemicals, their effects on the soil-plant system were evaluated. Five treatments were established: unburnt soils (US) and burnt soils treated with water alone (BS), foaming agent (BS+Fo), Firesorb (BS+Fi) and ammonium polyphosphate (BS+Ap). Soils (0-2 cm depth) and foliar material of shrubs (Erica umbellata, Pterospartum tridentatum and Ulex micranthus) and trees (Pinus pinaster) were analysed for total N, δ(15)N, and soil-available and plant total macronutrients and trace elements. Soil pH, NH4(+)-N and NO3(-)-N; pine basal diameter and height; and shrub cover and height were also measured. Compared with US plots, burnt soils had less nitrates and more Mo. Although differences were not always significant, BS+Ap had the highest levels of soil available P, Na and Al. Plants from BS+Ap plots had higher values of δ(15)N (P. pinaster and E. umbellata), P (all species), Na (P. tridentatum and U. micranthus) and Mg (E. umbellata and P. tridentatum) than other treatments; while K in plants from BS+Ap plots was the highest among treatments for P. pinaster and the lowest for the shrubs. Pines in US plots were higher and wider than in burnt treatments, except for BS+Ap, where the tallest and widest trees were found, although half of them were either dead (the second highest mortality after BS+Fi) or had a distorted trunk. BS+Ap was the treatment with strongest effects on plants, showing E. umbellata the lowest coverage and height, P. tridentatum the highest coverage, U. micranthus one of the lowest coverages and being the only treatment where Genista triacanthos was absent. Consequently, it is concluded that both fire and ammonium polyphosphate application had significant effects on the soil-plant system after 10 years.

Analysis of a global random stratified sample of nurse legislation.

AIM: To identify, compare and contrast the major component parts of heterogeneous stratified sample of nursing legislation. BACKGROUND: Nursing legislation varies from one jurisdiction to another. Up until now no research exists into whether the variations of such legislation are random or if variations are related to a set of key attributes. METHODS: This mixed method study used a random stratified sample of legislation to map through documentary analysis the content of 14 nursing acts and then explored, using quantitative techniques, whether the material contained relates to a number of key attributes. These attributes include: legal tradition of the jurisdiction; model of regulation; administrative approach; area of the world; and the economic status of the jurisdiction. FINDINGS: Twelve component parts of nursing legislation were identified. These were remarkably similar irrespective of attributes of interest. However, not all component parts were specified in the same level of detail and the manner by which the elements were addressed did vary. A number of potential relationships between the structure of the legislation and the key attributes of interest were identified. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR POLICY: This study generated a comprehensive and integrated map of a global sample of nursing legislation. It provides a set of descriptors to be used to undertake further quantitative work and provides an important policy tool to facilitate dialogue between regulatory bodies. At the individual nurse level it offers insights that can help nurses pursue recognition of credentials across jurisdictions.

A systematic review of nurse-related social network analysis studies.

BACKGROUND: Nurses frequently work as part of both uni- and multidisciplinary teams. Communication between team members is critical in the delivery of quality care. Social network analysis is increasingly being used to explore such communication. AIM: To explore the use of social network analysis involving nurses either as subjects of the study or as researchers. METHODS: Standard systematic review procedures were applied to identify nurse-related studies that utilize social network analysis. A comparative thematic approach to synthesis was used. Both published and grey literature written in English, Spanish and Portuguese between January 1965 and December 2013 were identified via a structured search of CINAHL, SciELO and PubMed. In addition, Google and Yahoo search engines were used to identify additional grey literature using the same search strategy. RESULTS: Forty-three primary studies were identified with literature from North America dominating the published work. So far it would appear that no author or group of authors have developed a programme of research in the nursing field using the social network analysis approach although several authors may be in the process of doing so. LIMITATIONS: The dominance of literature from North America may be viewed as problematic as the underlying structures and themes may be an artefact of cultural communication norms from this region. CONCLUSIONS: The use of social network analysis in relation to nursing and by nurse researchers has increased rapidly over the past two decades. The lack of longitudinal studies and the absence of replication across multiple sites should be seen as an opportunity for further research. IMPLICATION FOR NURSING AND HEALTH POLICY: This analytical approach is relatively new in the field of nursing but does show considerable promise in offering insights into the way information flows between individuals, teams, institutions and other structures. An understanding of these structures provides a means of improving communication.

Utilización de una encuesta dirigida a escolares para el análisis de los hábitos miccionales / Using a survey directed to school children for analysis of voiding habits

Objetivos: Evaluar la prevalencia y las características de los hábitos miccionales e intestinales en la población infantil de nuestro entorno, e identificar las relaciones existentes entre ellos, comparándolos también con los resultados obtenidos en otras poblaciones distintas a la nuestra. Material y métodos: Se diseñó un estudio observacional, descriptivo y transversal sobre hábitos miccionales e intestinales en una muestra de niños de último curso de enseñanza primaria. Después de realizar una encuesta anónima sobre estos hábitos, se incluyó en el estudio a un total de 98 escolares. Para evaluar su relación con los hábitos miccionales e intestinales, se dividieron en grupos en función del sexo y la presencia o no de incontinencia urinaria. Resultados: La tasa de participación fue del 70,40%. Se analizaron las tasas de prevalencia para los síntomas miccionales e intestinales, y se observó que los hábitos miccionales anormales más frecuentes fueron las maniobras de retención en 30 niños (43,3%), la urgencia miccional en 25 (36,2%), la nicturia en 20 (29%), la frecuencia miccional aumentada en 17 (24,6%), el chorro débil en 14 (20,3%), la presencia de algún tipo de incontinencia en 10 (14,4%), el goteo posmiccional en 7 (10,1%), los escapes con la risa o el esfuerzo en 6 (8,7%) y el chorro intermitente en 5 (7,2%). En 4 individuos (5,8%) se observó incontinencia diurna, nicturna o mixta, frecuencia miccional disminuida o retardo al iniciar la micción. Por último, en 2 (2,9%) se advirtió un esfuerzo para mantener la micción, dolor frecuente con la micción o estreñimiento, y sólo en 1 (1,4%) se registró escape de heces. Además, la incontinencia urinaria fue más frecuente en los individuos de sexo femenino. Conclusiones: La encuesta diseñada y validada mediante el presente estudio ha resultado ser una herramienta original y útil para dicho fin, permitiendo detectar y describir problemas de salud a nivel comunitario. El sexo femenino favorece la presencia de incontinencia urinaria en los pacientes pediátricos. En los sujetos con incontinencia urinaria es más probable la presencia de frecuencia miccional aumentada, goteo posmiccional, chorro miccional intermitente y estreñimiento (AU)

Objectives: To asses the prevalence and characteristics of voiding and bowel habits in children in our area, and to identify relationships between them, comparing them with results obtained in other populations disparate from ours. Material and methods: We designed a cross-sectional observational study on voiding and bowel habits in a sample of children in the last year of primary education. After conducting an anonymous survey on these habits, a total of 98 schoolchildren were included in the study. To evaluate its relationship with urinary and bowel habits, groups were created with respect to sex and the presence or absence of urinary incontinence. Results: The response rate was 70.40%. We analyzed the prevalence rates for urinary and bowel symptoms, showing that the most common abnormal voiding habits were holding maneuvers in 30 (43.3%), urgency in 25 (36.2%), nicturia in 20 (29%), increased urinary frequency in 17 (24.6%), weak stream in 14 (20.3%), any type of incontinence in 10 (14.4%), post void dribbling in 7 (10, 1%), escapes with laughter or effort in 6 (8.7%) and intermittent stream in 5 (7.2%). Four individuals (5.8%) had daytime, nocturnal or mixed incontinence, decreased urinary frequency or delay to initiate urination. Finally, in 2 (2.9%) was noted effort to maintain the voiding, pain with urination or constipation, and only in 1 (1.4%) stool leakage. In addition, urinary incontinence was more common in female individuals. Conclusions: The survey designed and validated by this study has proven to be an original and useful tool for this purpose, allowing to detect and describe health problems at community level. Female sex favours the presence of urinary incontinence in children. Urinary incontinence has a positive effect on the occurrence of increased voiding frequency, post void dribbling, intermittent urine stream and. These data deserve to be analyzed in future studies more comprehensively (AU)

Estenosis del meato uretral secundaria a liquen escleroso / Meatal stenosis secondary to lichen sclerosus

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