Standardizing nursing degree curriculum structure in Spain: A mixed-methods study.

BACKGROUND: Legislation regulating Spanish and European academic curricula prescribes a certain level of knowledge and skills any student must master. Spanish universities freely decide the number of credits assigned to each subject and in which year the subject will be taught. We hypothesize that this flexibility may give way to excessively heterogeneous training across universities in nursing degrees. Such curricula heterogeneity hinders inter-university transfers and weakens educational excellence. OBJECTIVES: 1) To review the existing differences in nursing degrees in Spanish universities; 2) to compare our results against current legislation; 3) to propose changes in the legislation, if necessary. DESIGN: Mixed-methods approach. SETTING: Spain. METHODS: We reviewed nursing degree curricula of all 60 Spanish universities. Inter-university differences were analyzed and checked against current legislation. A focus group proposed legislative changes accordingly. RESULTS: Several differences between public and private universities were statistically significant. During the first cycle, public universities´ course loads include more theoretical teachings, more credits in core subjects during the first year, and more compulsory subjects in second year. Private universities are more likely to offer external internships during the first cycle whereas the public ones are more likely to offer them during the second cycle. Public universities offer more credits under the following curricular blocks than private ones: "Nutrition/Dietetics," "Psychiatry," "Public and Community Health," and "Geriatrics." In turn, private universities offer more credits in the areas of "Theory/Methodology," "Ethics/Legislation," "English," and "Theology." Academic curricula meet most of the criteria established by the Spanish and European legislation. The proposed legislative changes aim at standardizing curricula by associating specific credits and their timeline to the teaching blocks. CONCLUSIONS: Nursing degree curricula among Spanish universities are highly heterogeneous. Legislative changes to homogenize teaching blocks would facilitate credit validations and student mobility across universities, in addition to increasing nursing degrees´ standardization and excellence.

[Impact of COVID-19 on mortality in the autonomous community of Castilla y León (Spain)]. / Impacto de la COVID-19 en la mortalidad de la comunidad autónoma de Castilla y León.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the increase in mortality associated with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic in the autonomous community of Castilla y León (Spain). METHOD: Ecological study based on population and death data for the months of March 2016 to 2020 in Castilla y León. The general and provincial standardized rates, the relative risks of the year 2020 with respect to previous years and the risks adjusted by sex, periods and province, using Poisson regression, were calculated. Trend analysis was performed using joinpoint linear regression. RESULTS: An increase in mortality was observed in March 2020 with respect to previous years, with an increase of 39% for men (relative risk [RR]: 1.39; 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 1.32-1.47) and 28% for women (RR: 1.28; 95%CI: 1.21-1.35). The model predicts excess mortality of 775 deaths. In the trend analysis there is a significant turning point in 2019 in men, globally and for almost all provinces. The increase in mortality is general, although heterogeneous by sex, age group and province. CONCLUSIONS: Although the observed increase in mortality cannot be totally attributed to the disease, it is the best estimate we have of the real impact on deaths directly or indirectly related to it. The number of declared deaths only reaches two thirds of the increase in mortality observed.

Hospitalization trends and chronobiology for mental disorders in Spain from 2005 to 2015.

Rhythm research has had a long tradition in psychiatry, especially in affective disorders. The study of trends in incidence plays a central role in epidemiology and public health. The aims of this research were to describe the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of persons admitted for psychiatric hospitalization and their trends and periodicity in cases (global and by groups) in Spain over the 11 year study span. We conducted a cross-sectional study of the hospital discharge database of Castilla y León from 2005 to 2015, selecting hospitalizations for psychiatric reasons. Trends in the rates of hospitalization were studied by joinpoint regression analysis. Time series analysis for periodicities was done by spectral analysis, fast Fourier transform, and cosinor analysis. Some 49501 hospitalizations due to psychiatric disorders, out of 2717192 hospital admissions, took place during the study span. Hospitalizations for psychosis were frequent (15949, 32.2%), while such for eating disorders were infrequent, but showed the highest average stay (28 days) and DRG relative weight (2.41). The general trend was a statistically significant 2% annual increase in psychiatric hospitalizations over the 11 year span; substance abuse was the only exception to this trend. The whole population and the subgroups of psychosis and bipolar disorders showed significant circannual (one-year) variation in admissions. The rhythm percentage of the global group was 11.4%, while the rhythm percentages of the psychosis, bipolar, and eating disorders were 17.1%, 17.5%, and 9.6%, respectively (p < .05).

Hospitalization and Socio-Health Care for Dementia in Spain.

Dementias are brain diseases that affect long-term cognitive and behavioral functions and cause a decrease in the ability to think and remember that is severe enough to disturb daily functioning. In Spain, the number of people suffering from dementia is rising due to population ageing. Reducing admissions, many of them avoidable, would be advantageous for patients and care-providers. Understanding the correlation of admission of people with dementia and its trends in hospitalization would help us to understand the factors leading to admission. We conducted a cross-sectional study of the hospital discharge database of Castilla y León from 2005 to 2015, selecting hospitalizations for dementia. Trends in hospitalizations by year and age quartiles were studied by joinpoint regression analysis. 2807 out of 2,717,192 total hospitalizations (0.10%) were due to dementias; the main groups were degenerative dementia (1907) followed by vascular dementia (607). Dementias are not a major cause of hospitalization, but the average stay and cost are high, and many of them seem avoidable. Decreasing trends were detected in hospitalization rates for all dementias except for the group of mild cognitive impairment, which grew. An increasing-decreasing joinpoint detected in 2007 for vascular dementia and the general downward hospitalization trends for most dementias suggest that socio-health measures established since 2007 in Spain might play a key role in reducing hospitalizations.

Objective ADHD Diagnosis Using Convolutional Neural Networks Over Daily-Life Activity Records.

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the most common neurobehavioral disorder in children and adolescents. However, its etiology is still unknown, and this hinders the existence of reliable, fast and inexpensive standard diagnostic methods. OBJECTIVE: This paper proposes an end-to-end methodology for automatic diagnosis of the combined type of ADHD. METHODS: Diagnosis is based on the analysis of 24 hour-long activity records using Convolutional Neural Networks to classify spectrograms of activity windows. RESULTS: We achieve up to [Formula: see text] average sensitivity, [Formula: see text] specificity and AUC values over [Formula: see text]. Overall, our figures overcome those obtained by actigraphy-based methods reported in the literature as well as others based on more expensive (and not so convenient) acquisition methods. CONCLUSION: These results reinforce the idea that combining deep learning techniques together with actimetry can lead to a robust and efficient system for objective ADHD diagnosis. SIGNIFICANCE: Reliance on simple activity measurements leads to an inexpensive and non-invasive objective diagn-ostic method, which can be easily implemented with daily devices.

Impacto de la COVID-19 en la mortalidad de la comunidad autónoma de Castilla y León / Impact of COVID-19 on mortality in the autonomous community of Castilla y León (Spain)

OBJETIVO: Estimar el aumento de la mortalidad asociado a la pandemia por SARS-CoV-2 en la comunidad autónoma de Castilla y León. MÉTODO: Estudio ecológico basado en los datos de población y los fallecimientos correspondientes a los meses de marzo de los años 2016 a 2020 en Castilla y León. Se calcularon las tasas estandarizadas globales y por provincias, los riesgos relativos del año 2020 respecto a los años previos y los riesgos ajustados por sexo, periodo y provincia mediante regresión de Poisson. Se hizo un análisis de tendencias mediante regresión lineal joinpoint. RESULTADOS: En marzo de 2020 se observó un aumento de la mortalidad respecto a los años previos, con un incremento del 39% para los hombres (riesgo relativo [RR]: 1,39; intervalo de confianza del 95% [IC95]: 1,32-1,47) y del 28% para las mujeres (RR: 1,28; IC95: 1,21-1,35). El modelo predice un exceso de mortalidad en 2020 de 775 fallecimientos. En el análisis de tendencias hay un punto de inflexión significativo en 2019 para los varones, globalmente y para casi todas las provincias. El aumento de la mortalidad es global, aunque heterogéneo por sexos, grupos de edad y provincias. CONCLUSIONES: Aunque el aumento de la mortalidad observado no puede ser totalmente atribuido a la enfermedad, es la mejor estimación que tenemos del impacto real en muertes directamente o indirectamente relacionadas con ella. El número de muertes declaradas solo alcanza dos terceras partes del aumento de la mortalidad observado

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the increase in mortality associated with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic in the autonomous community of Castilla y León (Spain). METHOD: Ecological study based on population and death data for the months of March 2016 to 2020 in Castilla y León. The general and provincial standardized rates, the relative risks of the year 2020 with respect to previous years and the risks adjusted by sex, periods and province, using Poisson regression, were calculated. Trend analysis was performed using joinpoint linear regression. RESULTS: An increase in mortality was observed in March 2020 with respect to previous years, with an increase of 39% for men (relative risk [RR]: 1.39; 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 1.32-1.47) and 28% for women (RR: 1.28; 95%CI: 1.21-1.35). The model predicts excess mortality of 775 deaths. In the trend analysis there is a significant turning point in 2019 in men, globally and for almost all provinces. The increase in mortality is general, although heterogeneous by sex, age group and province. CONCLUSIONS: Although the observed increase in mortality cannot be totally attributed to the disease, it is the best estimate we have of the real impact on deaths directly or indirectly related to it. The number of declared deaths only reaches two thirds of the increase in mortality observed

Relación entre las tasas de gripe estacional y las tasas de hospitalización y mortalidad hospitalaria por enfermedades cardiovasculares agudas en una región española / Relationship between seasonal influenza rates and hospitalization and mortality rates due to acute cardiovascular diseases in a Spanish region

Introducción y objetivo: La infección por virus de la gripe puede contribuir a la morbimortalidad cardiovascular. El objetivo de este estudio es analizar si el incremento en las tasas de gripe estacional se asocia a un crecimiento en las tasas de hospitalización y mortalidad hospitalaria por enfermedades cardiovasculares agudas (ECVA). Métodos: Estudio de cohortes retrospectivo sobre altas hospitalarias por ECVA (infarto de miocardio, angina inestable, insuficiencia cardiaca, accidente cerebrovascular isquémico) del sistema hospitalario de Castilla y León durante el periodo 2001-2015. Se analizaron tasas de hospitalización y mortalidad hospitalaria, y tasas de gripe en Castilla y León. Para calcular las tasas de hospitalización y mortalidad se empleó el Conjunto Mínimo Básico de Datos (CMBD); para las tasas de gripe, los informes semanales del Sistema Centinela de Vigilancia de la Gripe en España (Instituto de Salud Carlos III). Se realizó análisis estadístico de regresión lineal y multivariante de regresión logística. Resultados: Se estudiaron 239.586 ECVA (infarto, 55.004; angina inestable, 15.406; insuficiencia cardiaca, 11.1647; accidente cerebrovascular, 57.529). Tasas de gripe ascendentes se ajustaron a mortalidad creciente por todas las enfermedades, salvo angina inestable. Se observó una correlación lineal entre tasas de gripe y de hospitalización (r2=0,03; p=0,02) y mortalidad (r2=0,14; p<0,001) por ECVA. Las tasas de gripe se asociaron, como variables independientes, a un aumento de la mortalidad por ECVA, siendo mayor en tasas >139 casos/100.000 habitantes (OR: 1,25; p<0,001). Conclusiones: Las tasas de hospitalización y mortalidad hospitalaria por ECVA en el periodo estudiado aumentaron en relación con las tasas de infección por el virus de la gripe

Introduction and objective: Influenza virus infection can contribute to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study is to confirm if the increase in seasonal influenza rates is associated with a growth in hospitalisation and mortality rates for acute cardiovascular diseases (ACVD). Methods: Retrospective cohort study of hospital discharges due to ACVD (myocardial infarction, unstable angina, heart failure and ischemic stroke) in the Castilla y León (Spain) hospital system between 2001 and 2015. Hospitalisation and hospital mortality rates due to ACVD, and influenza rates in Castilla y León between 2001 and 2015 were studied. To calculate hospitalisation and mortality rates, the hospital discharges database was used; for influenza rates, the weekly reports of the Sentinel System for the surveillance of influenza in Spain (Carlos III Health Institute) were used. A statistical analysis of linear and multivariate logistic regressions was performed. Results: 239,586 ACVD (myocardial infarction: 55,004; unstable angina: 15,406; heart failure: 11,1647; ischemic stroke: 57,529) were studied. Increasing rates of influenza were associated with increased mortality due to ACVD and all the diseases studied, except unstable angina. A linear correlation was observed between influenza rates and hospitalisation (r2=0.03; p=0.02) and mortality (r2=0.14; p<0.001) rates by ACVD. Virtually all influenza rates were associated, as independent variables, to an increase in mortality due to ACVD, being higher in rates>139/100,000 inhabitants (OR: 1.25; p<0.001). Conclusions: The rates of hospitalisation and in-hospital mortality due to ACVD in the period 2001-2015 increased in relation to infection rates due to the influenza virus

Relationship between seasonal influenza rates and hospitalization and mortality rates due to acute cardiovascular diseases in a Spanish region. / Relación entre las tasas de gripe estacional y las tasas de hospitalización y mortalidad hospitalaria por enfermedades cardiovasculares agudas en una región española.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Influenza virus infection can contribute to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study is to confirm if the increase in seasonal influenza rates is associated with a growth in hospitalisation and mortality rates for acute cardiovascular diseases (ACVD). METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of hospital discharges due to ACVD (myocardial infarction, unstable angina, heart failure and ischemic stroke) in the Castilla y León (Spain) hospital system between 2001 and 2015. Hospitalisation and hospital mortality rates due to ACVD, and influenza rates in Castilla y León between 2001 and 2015 were studied. To calculate hospitalisation and mortality rates, the hospital discharges database was used; for influenza rates, the weekly reports of the Sentinel System for the surveillance of influenza in Spain (Carlos III Health Institute) were used. A statistical analysis of linear and multivariate logistic regressions was performed. RESULTS: 239,586 ACVD (myocardial infarction: 55,004; unstable angina: 15,406; heart failure: 11,1647; ischemic stroke: 57,529) were studied. Increasing rates of influenza were associated with increased mortality due to ACVD and all the diseases studied, except unstable angina. A linear correlation was observed between influenza rates and hospitalisation (r2=0.03; p=0.02) and mortality (r2=0.14; p<0.001) rates by ACVD. Virtually all influenza rates were associated, as independent variables, to an increase in mortality due to ACVD, being higher in rates>139/100,000 inhabitants (OR: 1.25; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The rates of hospitalisation and in-hospital mortality due to ACVD in the period 2001-2015 increased in relation to infection rates due to the influenza virus.

Variabilidad circadiana de la efectividad de la técnica de reperfusión y del pronóstico del infarto de miocardio con elevación del ST tratado mediante angioplastia primaria / Circadian variation in the effectiveness of reperfusion therapy in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary angioplasty and circadian associations with prognosis

Objetivo: Estudiar la presencia de un patrón de variabilidad circadiana en la efectividad del tratamiento con angioplastia coronaria transluminal percutánea (ACTPp) del infarto agudo de miocardio con elevación del segmento ST (IAMCEST), así como su relación con la extensión del infarto y la presencia de complicaciones intrahospitalarias. Método: Estudio observacional de cohortes retrospectivo que incluyó a pacientes con IAMCEST tratados con ACTPp en un hospital terciario universitario entre marzo 2003 y agosto 2009. La variable de estudio fue la hora de inicio de los síntomas del IAMCEST, agrupando en periodos de riesgo cronobiológico de 6 horas. La variable de resultado principal fue la efectividad de ACTPp. Las variables de resultado secundarias fueron la extensión del infarto y la presencia de complicaciones intrahospitalarias. Resultados: Se incluyeron 522 pacientes con una edad media de 62,3 (DE 13,6) años, de los cuales 404 (77,4%) fueron hombres. La franja horaria entre las 6-12 h fue la que presentó una mayor frecuencia de IAMCEST tratado con ACTPp (201 casos, 38,5%) (p < 0,001). Del total, 122 casos (23,4%) mostraron una ACTPp no efectiva. La franja horaria de 6-12 h fue un factor independiente de ACTPp no efectiva (OR 1,79; IC95% 1,09-2,94; p = 0,012). Además, se asoció con la extensión del infarto, aunque no con la presencia de complicaciones durante el ingreso hospitalario. Conclusiones: La hora de inicio de infarto de miocardio, en la franja de 6-12 h, es un predictor independiente de ACTPp no efectiva y de una mayor extensión del infarto, pero no de complicaciones intrahospitalarias (AU)

Objectives: To explore circadian variation in the effectiveness of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) to treat ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) To explore the effects of circardian variation on infarct extension and in-hospital complications. Methods: Observational retrospective cohort study including patients with PTCA-treated STEMI in a tertiary care university hospital between March 2003 and August 2009. The independent variable of interest was the time of onset of STEMI symptoms, grouped in 6-hour time frames. The main outcome variable was PTCA effectiveness. Secondary outcome variables were infarct extension and the presence of in-hospital complications. Results: A total of 522 patients records were studied. The mean (SD) age was 62.3 (13.6) years and 404 (77.4%) were men. The largest proportion of PTCA-treated STEMI cases first experienced symptoms between 6 AM and 12 PM (201 cases, 38.5%) (P<.001). PTCA was ineffective in 122 (23.4%). The 6 AM to 12 PM time frame was an independent predictor of PTCA ineffectiveness (odds ratio, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.09–2.94; P=.012). Onset in this interval was also associated with infarct extension but not with in-hospital complications. Conclusions: A time of onset of STEMI between 6 AM and 12 PM predicts the ineffectiveness of PTCA and greater infarct extension but not in-hospital complications (AU)

[Circadian variation in the effectiveness of reperfusion therapy in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary angioplasty and circadian associations with prognosis]. / Variabilidad circadiana de la efectividad de la técnica de reperfusión y del pronóstico del infarto de miocardio con elevación del ST tratado mediante angioplastia primaria.

OBJECTIVES: To explore circadian variation in the effectiveness of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) to treat ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) To explore the effects of circardian variation on infarct extension and in-hospital complications. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Observational retrospective cohort study including patients with PTCA-treated STEMI in a tertiary care university hospital between March 2003 and August 2009. The independent variable of interest was the time of onset of STEMI symptoms, grouped in 6-hour time frames. The main outcome variable was PTCA effectiveness. Secondary outcome variables were infarct extension and the presence of in-hospital complications. RESULTS: A total of 522 patients records were studied. The mean (SD) age was 62.3 (13.6) years and 404 (77.4%) were men. The largest proportion of PTCA-treated STEMI cases first experienced symptoms between 6 AM and 12 PM (201 cases, 38.5%) (P<.001). PTCA was ineffective in 122 (23.4%). The 6 AM to 12 PM time frame was an independent predictor of PTCA ineffectiveness (odds ratio, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.09-2.94; P=.012). Onset in this interval was also associated with infarct extension but not with in-hospital complications. CONCLUSION: A time of onset of STEMI between 6 AM and 12 PM predicts the ineffectiveness of PTCA and greater infarct extension but not in-hospital complications.

OBJETIVO: Estudiar la presencia de un patrón de variabilidad circadiana en la efectividad del tratamiento con angioplastia coronaria transluminal percutánea (ACTPp) del infarto agudo de miocardio con elevación del segmento ST (IAMCEST), así como su relación con la extensión del infarto y la presencia de complicaciones intrahospitalarias. METODO: Estudio observacional de cohortes retrospectivo que incluyó a pacientes con IAMCEST tratados con ACTPp en un hospital terciario universitario entre marzo 2003 y agosto 2009. La variable de estudio fue la hora de inicio de los síntomas del IAMCEST, agrupando en periodos de riesgo cronobiológico de 6 horas. La variable de resultado principal fue la efectividad de ACTPp. Las variables de resultado secundarias fueron la extensión del infarto y la presencia de complicaciones intrahospitalarias. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 522 pacientes con una edad media de 62,3 (DE 13,6) años, de los cuales 404 (77,4%) fueron hombres. La franja horaria entre las 6-12 h fue la que presentó una mayor frecuencia de IAMCEST tratado con ACTPp (201 casos, 38,5%) (p < 0,001). Del total, 122 casos (23,4%) mostraron una ACTPp no efectiva. La franja horaria de 6-12 h fue un factor independiente de ACTPp no efectiva (OR 1,79; IC95% 1,09-2,94; p = 0,012). Además, se asoció con la extensión del infarto, aunque no con la presencia de complicaciones durante el ingreso hospitalario. CONCLUSIONES: La hora de inicio de infarto de miocardio, en la franja de 6-12 h, es un predictor independiente de ACTPp no efectiva y de una mayor extensión del infarto, pero no de complicaciones intrahospitalarias.

Relación entre infarto de miocardio y ritmo circadiano en pacientes atendidos por un servicio de emergencias prehospitalario / Relation between myocardial infarction and cyrcadian rhythm in patients attended in a prehospital emergency service

Fundamento y objetivo. El objetivo de este estudio es analizar la presencia de ritmo circadiano en la hora de inicio del infarto agudo de miocardio atendido por un sistema de emergencias prehospitalario, y la influencia en dicho ritmo de algunos factores de riesgo cardiovascular modificables y no modificables como posibles moduladores de ese patrón circadiano. Pacientes y método. Análisis retrospectivo de 709 pacientes con diagnóstico clínico confirmado in situ de infarto agudo de miocardio. Se analizan las variables: hora de inicio de los síntomas, edad, sexo, cardiopatía isquémica previa, hipertensión arterial, diabetes mellitus, dislipidemia y tabaquismo. El análisis de ritmo se ha efectuado utilizando un test simple de igualdad de series basado en el análisis cosinor de múltiples sinusoides, eligiendo 3 armónicos (24,12 y 8h) para su ajuste. Resultados. La hora de inicio del infarto muestra ritmo circadiano (p<0,001), con un pico máximo a las 10.39 y un valle a las 4.28, mostrando una curva sinusoidal ajustada de aspecto bimodal, con un pico matinal predominante y otro vespertino de menor amplitud. Todos los subgrupos categorizados por la presencia de las variables analizadas presentaron ritmo circadiano, con una curva sinusoidal similar a la de la población global. Los pacientes fumadores muestran un pico vespertino predominante. Conclusiones. El infarto de miocardio presenta ritmo circadiano. El tabaquismo y la diabetes modifican el patrón de ritmo circadiano habitual del infarto(AU)

Background and objectives. The aim of this study is to analyze the presence of circadian rhythm in the time of onset of symptoms of acute myocardial infarction treated by a prehospital emergency system and the influence of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors and non-modifiable as modulators of that circadian rhythm. Patients and methods. Retrospective analysis of 709 patients clinically diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction on-site in the prehospital setting. The variables were time to onset of symptoms, age, sex, previous ischemic heart disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia and smoking. We analyzed the rhythm with cosinor multiple sinusoid method, with 3 harmonics (24, 12 and 8h) for the adjustment. Results. The time of onset of pain showed circadian rhythm (P <,001), peaking at 10.39 and a valley at 4.28, showing a sinusoidal curve fitting bimodal aspect with a predominant morning peak and another evening one of lower amplitude. All subgroups categorized by the study variables showed circadian rhythm, with a cosine curve similar to the global infarction. Smokers had a predominantly evening peak. Conclusions. Acute myocardial infarction shows a circadian rhythm. Smoking and diabetes mellitus can modify the standard incidence rate of occurrence of myocardial infarction(AU)

Automatic diagnosis of ADHD based on multichannel nonlinear analysis of actimetry registries.

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the most common mental health problem in childhood and adolescence. It is commonly diagnosed by means of subjective methods which tend to overestimate the severity of the pathology. A number of objective methods also exist, but they are either expensive or time-consuming. Some recent proposals based on nonlinear processing of activity registries have deserved special attention. Since they rely on actigraphy measurements, they are both inexpensive and non-invasive. Among these methods, those shown to have higher reliability are based on single-channel complexity assessment of the activity patterns. This way, potentially useful information related to the interaction between the different channels is discarded. In this paper we propose a new methodology for ADHD diagnosis based on joint complexity assessment of multichannel activity registries. Results on real data show that the proposed method constitute a useful diagnostic aid tool reaching 87:10% sensitivity and 84.38% specificity. The combination of ADHD indicators extracted with the proposed method with single-channel complexity-based indices previously proposed lead to sensitivity and specifity values above 90%.

[Relation between myocardial infarction and circadian rhythm in patients attended in a prehospital emergency service]. / Relación entre infarto de miocardio y ritmo circadiano en pacientes atendidos por un servicio de emergencias prehospitalario.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to analyze the presence of circadian rhythm in the time of onset of symptoms of acute myocardial infarction treated by a prehospital emergency system and the influence of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors and non-modifiable as modulators of that circadian rhythm. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 709 patients clinically diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction on-site in the prehospital setting. The variables were time to onset of symptoms, age, sex, previous ischemic heart disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia and smoking. We analyzed the rhythm with cosinor multiple sinusoid method, with 3 harmonics (24, 12 and 8h) for the adjustment. RESULTS: The time of onset of pain showed circadian rhythm (P <,001), peaking at 10.39 and a valley at 4.28, showing a sinusoidal curve fitting bimodal aspect with a predominant morning peak and another evening one of lower amplitude. All subgroups categorized by the study variables showed circadian rhythm, with a cosine curve similar to the global infarction. Smokers had a predominantly evening peak. CONCLUSIONS: Acute myocardial infarction shows a circadian rhythm. Smoking and diabetes mellitus can modify the standard incidence rate of occurrence of myocardial infarction.

Characterization of activity epochs in actimetric registries for infantile colic diagnosis: Identification and feature extraction based on wavelets and symbolic dynamics.

The diagnosis and therapy planning of high prevalence pathologies such as infantile colic can be substantially improved by statistical signal processing of activity/rest registries. Assuming that colic episodes are associated to activity episodes, diagnosis aid systems should be based on preprocessing techniques able to separate real activity from rest epochs, and feature extraction methods to identify meaningful indices with diagnostic capabilities. In this paper, we propose a two step diagnosis aid methodology for infantile colic in children below 3 months old. Identification of activity periods is performed by means of a wavelet based activity filter which does not depend on the acquisition device (as so far proposed methods do). In addition, symbolic dynamic analysis is used for extraction of discriminative indices from the activity time series. Results on real data yielded 100% sensitivity and 80% specificity in a study group composed of 46 cases and 10 control subjects.

Melatonin rhythm in children with enuresis.

OBJECTIVE: To study the circadian rhythm of melatonin in children with enuresis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-five children, divided into two groups (enuretic patients and controls) were assessed; salivary samples were collected to measure melatonin by radioimmunoassay using commercial kits. Friedman two-way anova and Wilcoxon tests were used to assess the circadian rhythm of melatonin, and anova with between-patient factors and Mann-Whitney tests to compare melatonin values and groups. RESULTS: Both groups had statistically significant differences in melatonin concentration during the 24-h period (both P < 0.001), with a circadian rhythm; the highest values were always at approximately 04.00 hours. There were no significant differences overall in melatonin values between cases and controls, but patients had lower peak values than controls at 04.00 hours, and higher melatonin levels at 24.00 hours, but with no significant differences. CONCLUSION: There was some evidence for minor disturbances in the circadian rhythm of melatonin as a cause of enuresis, but the rhythm was not grossly disrupted.

Ritmo circadiano del síndrome coronario agudo. Réplica / Circadian rythm in acute coronary syndrome. Author´s reply

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[Differential circadian rhythms in myocardial infarction according to its extent by electrocardiogram]. / Diferencias en el ritmo circadiano del infarto de miocardio según su extensión electrocardiográfica.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To determine the existence of circadian rhythm in the time of onset of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) according to their extension type (Q-wave vs. non-Q-wave). PATIENTS AND METHOD: We studied a retrospective cohort of patients from a multicentre study of myocardial infarction (ARIAM study group). We collected information about 54,249 infarctions from the data base of the ARIAM (Analysis of Delay in AMI) Spanish multicentre study. The following variables were analysed: general variables --age, gender, previous ischemic heart disease, outcome at coronary care unit, infarction electrocardiograph type (Q wave or non-Q wave) and location of AMI--, cardiovascular risk factors, and previous drug treatment of the patients. To verify the presence of circadian rhythm we developed a simple test of equality of time series based on the multiple-sinusoid cosinor analysis. Three sinusoids (24-12-8 h periods) were used. RESULTS: The time of pain onset shows circadian rhythm (p < 0.0000), which also is observed in both infarction electrocardiograph characteristics subgroups (Q-wave infarction and non-Q-wave infarction) (p < 0.0000). Q-wave infarction shows sinusoid curve with one maximum morning peak and non-Q-wave shows bimodal curve, with two peaks. Comparison between their curves shows statistical significance (p < 0.0000). CONCLUSIONS: AMI onset follows a circadian rhythm pattern, which is also observed in analysed subgroups. Differences in the circadian rhythm according to the Q/non-Q wave infarction characteristics, could be determined by different physiopathologic mechanism. The cosinor model fit with three components (24, 12 and 8-hour-periods) show good sensitivity to determine circadian rhythm.

[Cardiovascular risk factors in the circadian rhythm of acute myocardial infarction]. / Factores de riesgo cardiovascular en el ritmo circadiano del infarto agudo de miocardio.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors on the circadian rhythm of acute myocardial infarction. PATIENTS AND METHOD: We analyzed a retrospective cohort of 54,249 patients from a multicenter study of acute myocardial infarction (the Spanish ARIAM study). The variables were time of onset of symptoms, age, sex, previous ischemic heart disease, coronary unit discharge status, previous stroke, familial antecedents of ischemic heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, smoking, and reinfarction. To verify the presence of circadian rhythm, we developed a simple test of equality of time series based on cosinor analysis of multiple sinusoid curves. Three sinusoids (24, 12 and 8 hour periods) were used. RESULTS: The time of onset of pain showed a circadian rhythm (P< .01), with a peak at 10:07 am and a trough at 4:46 am. All subgroups categorized according to the presence of the variables analyzed here showed a circadian rhythm, with a sinusoid curve after adjustment. In patients with diabetes or reinfarction or who were smokers, the sinusoid curve was bimodal. CONCLUSIONS: Time of onset of symptoms in patients with acute myocardial infarction follows a circadian rhythm. Diabetes, smoking and reinfarction can modify the standard circadian rhythm of onset of myocardial infarction.