Recommendations of the Society of Thoracic Surgery and the Section of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery of the Spanish Society of Anesthesia, Resuscitation and Pain Therapy, for patients undergoing lung surgery included in an intensified recovery program.

In recent years, multidisciplinary programs have been implemented that include different actions during the pre, intra and postoperative period, aimed at reducing perioperative stress and therefore improving the results of patients undergoing surgical interventions. Initially, these programs were developed for colorectal surgery and from there they have been extended to other surgeries. Thoracic surgery, considered highly complex, like other surgeries with a high postoperative morbidity and mortality rate, may be one of the specialties that most benefit from the implementation of these programs. This review presents the recommendations made by different specialties involved in the perioperative care of patients who require resection of a lung tumor. Meta-analyzes, systematic reviews, randomized and non-randomized controlled studies, and retrospective studies conducted in patients undergoing this type of intervention have been taken into account in preparing the recommendations presented in this guide. The GRADE scale has been used to classify the recommendations, assessing on the one hand the level of evidence published on each specific aspect and, on the other hand, the strength of the recommendation with which the authors propose its application. The recommendations considered most important for this type of surgery are those that refer to pre-habilitation, minimization of surgical aggression, excellence in the management of perioperative pain and postoperative care aimed at providing rapid postoperative rehabilitation.

Recomendaciones de la Sociedad Española de Cirugía Torácica y de la Sección de Cardiotorácica y Cirugía Vascular de la Sociedad Española de Anestesiología, Reanimación y Terapéutica del Dolor, para los pacientes sometidos a cirugía pulmonar incluidos en un programa de recuperación intensificada / Recommendations of the Society of Thoracic Surgery and the Section of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery of the Spanish Society of Anesthesia, Resuscitation and Pain Therapy, for patients undergoing lung surgery included in an intensified recovery program

En los últimos años se están implementando programas multidisciplinares que incluyen diferentes actuaciones durante el periodo pre, intra y postoperatorio, encaminadas a disminuir el estrés perioperatorio y, por tanto, a mejorar los resultados de los pacientes sometidos a intervenciones quirúrgicas. Inicialmente, estos programas se desarrollaron para cirugía colorrectal y de ahí se han ido extendiendo a otras cirugías. La cirugía torácica, considerada de elevada complejidad, al igual que otras cirugías con una alta tasa de morbimortalidad postoperatoria, puede ser una de las especialidades que más se beneficien de la implantación de estos programas. En esta revisión se presentan las recomendaciones elaboradas por diferentes especialidades implicadas en los cuidados perioperatorios de los pacientes que requieren la resección de un tumor pulmonar. Para la elaboración de las recomendaciones presentadas en esta guía se han tenido en cuenta los metaanálisis, las revisiones sistemáticas, los estudios controlados aleatorizados y no aleatorizados y los estudios retrospectivos realizados en pacientes sometidos a este tipo de intervenciones. Para la clasificación de las recomendaciones se ha empleado la escala GRADE, valorando, por un lado, el nivel de evidencia publicado sobre cada aspecto concreto, y por otro, la fuerza de la recomendación con la que los autores proponen su aplicación. Las recomendaciones consideradas más importantes para este tipo de cirugía son las que se refieren a la prehabilitación, a la minimización de la agresión quirúrgica, a la excelencia en el manejo del dolor perioperatorio y a los cuidados postoperatorios encaminados a proporcionar una rápida rehabilitación postoperatoria.(AU)

In recent years, multidisciplinary programs have been implemented that include different actions during the pre, intra and postoperative period, aimed at reducing perioperative stress and therefore improving the results of patients undergoing surgical interventions. Initially, these programs were developed for colorectal surgery and from there they have been extended to other surgeries. Thoracic surgery, considered highly complex, like other surgeries with a high postoperative morbidity and mortality rate, may be one of the specialties that most benefit from the implementation of these programs. This review presents the recommendations made by different specialties involved in the perioperative care of patients who require resection of a lung tumor. Meta-analyses, systematic reviews, randomized and non-randomized controlled studies, and retrospective studies conducted in patients undergoing this type of intervention have been taken into account in preparing the recommendations presented in this guide. The GRADE scale has been used to classify the recommendations, assessing on the one hand the level of evidence published on each specific aspect and, on the other hand, the strength of the recommendation with which the authors propose its application. The recommendations considered most important for this type of surgery are those that refer to pre-habilitation, minimization of surgical aggression, excellence in the management of perioperative pain and postoperative care aimed at providing rapid postoperative rehabilitation.(AU)

Recommendations of the Society of Thoracic Surgery and the Section of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery of the Spanish Society of Anesthesia, Resuscitation and Pain Therapy, for patients undergoing lung surgery included in an intensified recovery program. / Recomendaciones de la Sociedad Española de Cirugía Torácica y de la Sección de Cardiotorácica y Cirugía Vascular de la Sociedad Española de Anestesiología, Reanimación y Terapéutica del Dolor, para los pacientes sometidos a cirugía pulmonar incluidos en un programa de recuperación intensificada.

In recent years, multidisciplinary programs have been implemented that include different actions during the pre, intra and postoperative period, aimed at reducing perioperative stress and therefore improving the results of patients undergoing surgical interventions. Initially, these programs were developed for colorectal surgery and from there they have been extended to other surgeries. Thoracic surgery, considered highly complex, like other surgeries with a high postoperative morbidity and mortality rate, may be one of the specialties that most benefit from the implementation of these programs. This review presents the recommendations made by different specialties involved in the perioperative care of patients who require resection of a lung tumor. Meta-analyses, systematic reviews, randomized and non-randomized controlled studies, and retrospective studies conducted in patients undergoing this type of intervention have been taken into account in preparing the recommendations presented in this guide. The GRADE scale has been used to classify the recommendations, assessing on the one hand the level of evidence published on each specific aspect and, on the other hand, the strength of the recommendation with which the authors propose its application. The recommendations considered most important for this type of surgery are those that refer to pre-habilitation, minimization of surgical aggression, excellence in the management of perioperative pain and postoperative care aimed at providing rapid postoperative rehabilitation.

Puntuación de la escala de Norton al ingreso y mortalidad en pacientes hospitalizados en Medicina Interna / Norton scale score on admission and mortality of patients hospitalised in Internal Medicine departments

Objetivo. Determinar la asociación entre la puntuación de la escala de Norton (que valora el riesgo de padecer úlceras por presión) y la mortalidad a corto, medio y largo plazo en los pacientes hospitalizados en Medicina Interna. Pacientes y métodos. Estudio de cohortes prospectivo, unicéntrico, de pacientes ingresados en los meses de octubre de 2010, y enero, mayo y octubre de 2011. Se recogieron la edad, sexo, índice de Barthel, escala de Norton, presencia de úlceras por presión, categoría diagnóstica mayor, estancia hospitalaria y peso del grupo relacionado de diagnóstico. Se dividió a los pacientes según las categorías de riesgo de la escala de Norton. El seguimiento fue de 3 años. Resultados. Se incluyeron 624 pacientes con una edad mediana (rango intercuartílico) de 79 (17) años y una puntuación mediana en la escala de Norton de 16 (7). Durante el ingreso fallecieron 74 (11,9%) pacientes, a los 6 meses 176 (28,2%), al año 212 (34,0%), y a los 3 años 296 (47,4%). La mortalidad fue mayor en las categorías de más riesgo en la escala de Norton. La puntuación en la escala de Norton se asoció de forma independiente con la mortalidad a los 6 meses (p<0,001), al año (p=0,005), y 3 años (p=0,002). Las áreas bajo la curva de la escala de Norton fueron 0,746 (IC95% 0,686-0,806), 0,735 (IC95% 0,691-0,780) y 0,751 (IC95% 0,713-0,789), respectivamente (p<0,001). Conclusiones. La escala de Norton es útil para predecir el pronóstico a corto, medio y largo plazo en pacientes ingresados en Medicina Interna

Objective. To determine the association between the Norton scale score (which assesses the risk of pressure ulcers) and mortality in the short, medium and long term in patients hospitalised in Internal Medicine departments. Patients and methods. A prospective, single-centre cohort study was conducted on patients hospitalised in the months of October 2010 and January, May and October 2011. Data was collected on age, sex, Barthel index, Norton scale, presence of pressure ulcers, major diagnostic category, hospital stay and weight of the diagnosis-related group. The patients were divided according to the risk categories of the Norton scale. The follow-up was 3 years. Results. The study included 624 patients with a median age (interquartile range) of 79 (17) years and a median Norton scale score of 16 (7). During hospitalisation, 74 (11.9%) patients died, 176 (28.2%) died at 6 months, 212 (34.0%) died at 1 year, and 296 (47.4%) died at 3 years. Mortality was greater in the higher risk categories of the Norton scale. The Norton score was independently associated with mortality at 6 months (p<.001), at 1 year (p=.005), and at 3 years (p=.002). The areas under the curve of the Norton scale were 0.746 (95% CI 0.686-0.806), 0.735 (95% CI 0.691-0.780) and 0.751 (95% CI 0.713-0.789), respectively (p<.001). Conclusions. The Norton scale is useful for predicting the prognosis in the short, medium and long term in patients hospitalized in internal medicine departments

Norton scale score on admission and mortality of patients hospitalised in Internal Medicine departments. / Puntuación de la escala de Norton al ingreso y mortalidad en pacientes hospitalizados en Medicina Interna.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between the Norton scale score (which assesses the risk of pressure ulcers) and mortality in the short, medium and long term in patients hospitalised in Internal Medicine departments. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective, single-centre cohort study was conducted on patients hospitalised in the months of October 2010 and January, May and October 2011. Data was collected on age, sex, Barthel index, Norton scale, presence of pressure ulcers, major diagnostic category, hospital stay and weight of the diagnosis-related group. The patients were divided according to the risk categories of the Norton scale. The follow-up was 3 years. RESULTS: The study included 624 patients with a median age (interquartile range) of 79 (17) years and a median Norton scale score of 16 (7). During hospitalisation, 74 (11.9%) patients died, 176 (28.2%) died at 6 months, 212 (34.0%) died at 1 year, and 296 (47.4%) died at 3 years. Mortality was greater in the higher risk categories of the Norton scale. The Norton score was independently associated with mortality at 6 months (p<.001), at 1 year (p=.005), and at 3 years (p=.002). The areas under the curve of the Norton scale were 0.746 (95% CI 0.686-0.806), 0.735 (95% CI 0.691-0.780) and 0.751 (95% CI 0.713-0.789), respectively (p<.001). CONCLUSIONS: The Norton scale is useful for predicting the prognosis in the short, medium and long term in patients hospitalized in internal medicine departments.

The Origin of The Acheulean: The 1.7 Million-Year-Old Site of FLK West, Olduvai Gorge (Tanzania).

The appearance of the Acheulean is one of the hallmarks of human evolution. It represents the emergence of a complex behavior, expressed in the recurrent manufacture of large-sized tools, with standardized forms, implying more advance forethought and planning by hominins than those required by the precedent Oldowan technology. The earliest known evidence of this technology dates back to c. 1.7 Ma. and is limited to two sites (Kokiselei [Kenya] and Konso [Ethiopia]), both of which lack functionally-associated fauna. The functionality of these earliest Acheulean assemblages remains unknown. Here we present the discovery of another early Acheulean site also dating to c. 1.7 Ma from Olduvai Gorge. This site provides evidence of the earliest steps in developing the Acheulean technology and is the oldest Acheulean site in which stone tools occur spatially and functionally associated with the exploitation of fauna. Simple and elaborate large-cutting tools (LCT) and bifacial handaxes co-exist at FLK West, showing that complex cognition was present from the earliest stages of the Acheulean. Here we provide a detailed technological study and evidence of the use of these tools on the butchery and consumption of fauna, probably by early Homo erectus sensu lato.

Testosterone undecanoate improves erectile dysfunction in hypogonadal men with the metabolic syndrome refractory to treatment with phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors alone.

At least 30-35% of men with erectile dysfunction (ED) fail to respond to treatment with phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitors. Testosterone (T) has effects not only on sexual desire, but also on the anatomical and physiological substrate of erection. This study analysed the effects of T administration to men unsuccessfully treated for ED with PDE-5 inhibitors only. Twenty-nine men aged 36-75 years (mean 59 years) with ED were studied. They suffered from ED for a mean of 2.7 years and had subnormal plasma T levels (total T <3.5 ng ml(-1) ). They received parenteral testosterone undecanoate for 102 weeks. Changes of the domains of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) were assessed. After 6 weeks of T treatment, the sexual desire domain of IIEF had improved (from 4.1 ± 1.4 to 7.2 ± 1.7) and erectile function as measured by IIEF started to improve, reaching a plateau after 30 weeks (from 9.1 ± 2.1 to 26.5 ± 2.3). Features of the metabolic syndrome also improved. There were no adverse effects of T administration. Addition of T to treatment of hypogonadal men unsuccessfully treated with PDE-5 inhibitors only, appeared useful and acceptably safe.

Study of the antiaggregating activity of new phenacyl-piperazine derivatives.

The antiplatelet activity of twelve new derivatives of phenacyl-piperazine was studied. Eight of them proved to be inactive by Born's method. The other four compound partially inhibited the aggregating effects induced by adrenaline and ADP, but did not prevent the effects produced by collagen. Although it was not possible to establish any relationship between chemical structure and antiplatelet activity, it looks as if there is a certain relationship between the analgesic and the antiplatelet effect. The compounds tested did not usually modify bleeding time.

Bicyclic thiophenic derivatives as platelet aggregation inhibitors.

The antiplatelet activity of twenty new thiophenic derivatives, grouped in three series, was studied according to the in vitro Born method. The DI50 for the three inducers of platelet aggregation ADP, adrenaline and collagen were calculated. The strong antiplatelet activity found in some of the compounds studied, which is even superior to that of the four classic antiplatelet drugs used is worth mentioning. The structure-activity relationships is discussed.

Contribution to the ethnopharmacological study of the Canary Islands.

A large amount of ethnobotanical data of almost 200 botanical species used for medicinal purposes in the Canary Islands is presented. We are endeavouring to avoid the definitive loss of the islands' phytotherapeutic heritage, in view of the rapid social changes taking place over the last few years and hope that this work may serve to promote further pharmacological research that may confirm, scientifically and experimentally, the information presented here. A brief description of the geographical, botanical and historical circumstances is included. The species listed have been classified according to a basically therapeutical criterion.