Rationale, design and methodology of TESEO study: a registry of thrombosis and neoplasia of SEOM (Spanish Society of Medical Oncology).

BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE: Thromboembolic complications are a serious, preventable and common event in cancer patients that contributes to increasing morbidity and mortality. Despite increasing knowledge on cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT), there are still several aspects of diagnosis, clinical management, treatment and prognosis with uncertainties that are under-represented in randomized clinical trials. For this reason, the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM) launched in June 2018 a registry of CAT. METHODS/DESIGN: TESEO is an ongoing prospective, non-interventional, multicentric study in consecutive cancer patients with newly diagnosed of thromboembolic event (TEE). Eligibility criteria include being > 18 years with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of cancer and a symptomatic or incidental TEE confirmed with an imaging technique in the previous month or any time after the cancer diagnosis and signing of informed consent. The study consists of two types of integrated but independent prospective registries. Regular CAT sub-registry includes information on patient's cancer´s characteristics, anticoagulant treatment provided and outcome data. Special CAT sub-registry includes variables related to special situations of CAT that comprise patients with severe kidney failure, thrombocytopenia, high risk of bleeding related to the cancer or with coexistence of bleeding and patients who receive new treatments such a targeted therapy, antiangiogenics agents and immunotherapy. The registry considers the status of the cancer and the time to assess how the prognosis is changed based on when the thrombus occurs. Some outcomes such as rethrombosis, major bleeding, tumor progression and survival will be valued in various time intervals including 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after the even in the first year; and then every 6 months until the patient's death. RESULTS: After 18 months and with 35 centers and researchers, the registry has 1128 patients. CONCLUSION: TESEO registry will provide clinical real-world evidence for prevention, treatment and complications of CAT in different scenarios that are under-represented in randomized clinical trials.

[Difficulties in learning mathematics]. / Dificultades en el aprendizaje de las matemáticas.

AIMS: To discuss our concern for some aspects of mathematics learning disorders related to the nomenclature employed and their diagnosis; these aspects refer to the term 'dyscalculia' and to its diagnosis (especially syndromatic diagnosis). We also intend to propose a classification that could help to define the terminology. Lastly we are going to consider the different aspects of diagnosis and to determine which of them are indispensable in the diagnosis of primary and secondary disorders. DEVELOPMENT: As far as the nomenclature is concerned, we refer to the term 'dyscalculia'. The origins of the term are analysed along with the reasons why it should not be used in children with difficulties in learning mathematics. We propose a classification and denominations for the different types that should undoubtedly be discussed. With respect to the diagnosis, several problems related to the syndromatic diagnosis are considered, since in our country there are no standardised tests with which to study performance in arithmetic and geometry. This means that criterion reference tests are conducted to try to establish current and potential performance. At this stage of the diagnosis pedagogical and psychological studies must be conducted. The important factors with regard to the topographical and aetiological diagnoses are prior knowledge, results from the studies that have been carried out and findings from imaging studies. The importance of a genetic study must be defined in the aetiological diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: We propose a nomenclature to replace the term 'dyscalculia'. Standardised tests are needed for the diagnosis. The need to establish current and potential performance is hierarchized. With regard to the topographical diagnosis, we highlight the need for more information about geometry, and in aetiological studies the analyses must be conducted with greater numbers of children.

[Learning and its difficulties]. / El aprendizaje y sus dificultades.

AIMS: To review some aspects of learning and its difficulties, learning understood as meaning a process that allows the nervous system to develop, and also as acquisition and consolidation, and as a synaptic and neocortical process. Likewise, we also intend to analyse the role played by the environment as well as the relations between learning and maturing, and between learning and plasticity. It is also our aim to define learning difficulties and to discuss how they can be classified. Finally, this study also seeks to consider diagnosis and the different possibilities it may offer. DEVELOPMENT: The main issue analysed here is the diagnosis of learning disorders, which is classified as being either positive (syndromatic, topographic, aetiological) or differential; the paper also describes the ways such diagnoses can be carried out and the role played by an interdisciplinary team is underlined. CONCLUSIONS: Attention is drawn to the importance of this subject owing to the large numbers of children who visit a specialist because of a possible learning disorder. At the same time we also highlight the fact that the members of the team that study these children will need to have a sound and comprehensive training because of the many pathologies that may be at play. Lastly, we discuss the need to conduct this research to resolve certain aspects that are not well understood.

[Attention and the executive functions]. / Atencion y funciones ejecutivas.

AIMS: The objective of this study was to determine the relations that exist between attention and the executive functions, and between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and dysexecutive syndrome, while at the same offering a definition of these terms. To achieve this, several aspects related to attention and the executive functions are reviewed, including the evolution of the concept, the different types and the anatomical location. DEVELOPMENT: The analysis investigates the possible relations between attention and the executive functions, and the modifications that have taken place in ADHD over time, which leads us to consider whether it is the children themselves and the factors that may have influenced these differences. The work then moves on to analyse the possible explanation behind the most frequent symptoms: attention deficit, hyperactivity and impulsiveness, and more especially whether they can be symptoms of executive dysfunction. The possibility of several clinical forms then arises. Finally, we accept the possible cause as being due to an alteration in neurotransmitters, especially dopamine and noradrenalin. A discussion is also included on whether the new interpretation, executive dysfunction, entails a different treatment and whether this offers some benefit for the child. CONCLUSIONS: Attention is related to the executive functions, but it is not one of them. ADHD has several clinical forms, one of which (although not the only one) may be dysexecutive syndrome. The clinical symptoms may be caused by a delay in the development of distinct neurotransmitter systems.

Dificultades en el aprendizaje de las matemáticas / Difficulties in learning mathematics

Objetivos. Plantear la preocupación por algunos aspectosde las dificultades del aprendizaje de la matemática relacionadoscon la nomenclatura y el diagnóstico; dichos aspectos se refierenal término ‘discalculia’ y al diagnóstico, principalmente el sindrómico.Proponer una clasificación que podría ayudar a definiruna terminología. Considerar los diferentes aspectos del diagnósticoy determinar cuáles son imprescindibles para diagnosticar lasdificultades primarias y secundarias. Desarrollo. Con respecto a lanomenclatura, se refiere el término ‘discalculia’. Se analizan losorígenes del término y las razones por las que no debe usarse enlos niños con dificultades del aprendizaje de la matemática. Sepropone una clasificación y la forma de denominar los diferentestipos, que sin duda debe discutirse. En cuanto al diagnóstico, seplantean algunos problemas que se refieren al diagnóstico sindrómico,al no existir en Uruguay pruebas estandarizadas para estudiarel rendimiento en aritmética y geometría, por lo que se realizanpruebas de criterio para intentar establecer el rendimientoactual y el potencial. En esta etapa del diagnóstico deben realizarselos estudios pedagógico y psicológico. Con relación a los diagnósticostopográficos y etiológico, son importantes los conocimientosprevios, los hallazgos de los estudios realizados y la imaginología.La importancia del estudio genético debe definirse en eldiagnóstico etiológico. Conclusiones. Se propone una nomenclaturaque sustituya al término ‘discalculia’. En cuanto al diagnóstico,se plantea la necesidad de tener pruebas estandarizadas. Se jerarquizala necesidad de establecer un rendimiento actual y potencial.En el diagnóstico topográfico se señala la necesidad de mayorinformación con respecto a la geometría, y en el estudio etiológico,la necesidad de estudiar un mayor número de niños

Aims. To discuss our concern for some aspects of mathematics learning disorders related to the nomenclatureemployed and their diagnosis; these aspects refer to the term ‘dyscalculia’ and to its diagnosis (especially syndromaticdiagnosis). We also intend to propose a classification that could help to define the terminology. Lastly we are going to considerthe different aspects of diagnosis and to determine which of them are indispensable in the diagnosis of primary and secondarydisorders. Development. As far as the nomenclature is concerned, we refer to the term ‘dyscalculia’. The origins of the termare analysed along with the reasons why it should not be used in children with difficulties in learning mathematics. We proposea classification and denominations for the different types that should undoubtedly be discussed. With respect to the diagnosis,several problems related to the syndromatic diagnosis are considered, since in our country there are no standardised tests withwhich to study performance in arithmetic and geometry. This means that criterion reference tests are conducted to try toestablish current and potential performance. At this stage of the diagnosis pedagogical and psychological studies must beconducted. The important factors with regard to the topographical and aetiological diagnoses are prior knowledge, resultsfrom the studies that have been carried out and findings from imaging studies. The importance of a genetic study must bedefined in the aetiological diagnosis. Conclusions. We propose a nomenclature to replace the term ‘dyscalculia’. Standardisedtests are needed for the diagnosis. The need to establish current and potential performance is hierarchized. With regard to thetopographical diagnosis, we highlight the need for more information about geometry, and in aetiological studies the analysesmust be conducted with greater numbers of children

El aprendizaje y sus dificultades / Learning and its difficulties

Objetivos. Revisar algunos aspectos del aprendizaje ysus dificultades, como proceso que hace posible el desarrollo delsistema nervioso, como adquisición y consolidación, como procesosináptico y neocortical. Igualmente, analizar la función delambiente y las relaciones entre el aprendizaje y la maduración, yentre el aprendizaje y la plasticidad. Asimismo, definir las dificultadesdel aprendizaje y plantear su clasificación. Finalmente, considerarel diagnóstico y sus diferentes posibilidades. Desarrollo.Se analiza como tema principal el diagnóstico de las dificultadesdel aprendizaje, que se clasifica en positivo (sindrómico, topográfico,etiológico) y diferencial; se describen las formas en que puederealizarse dicho diagnóstico y se incide en el papel del equipomultidisciplinario. Conclusiones. Se destaca la importancia deltema por la gran cantidad de niños que consultan por una posibledificultad del aprendizaje, y el hecho de que los integrantes delequipo que la estudia deben tener una sólida y amplia formación,debido a las múltiples patologías que pueden estar en juego. Seplantea la necesidad de realizar esta investigación para solucionaralgunos aspectos no bien conocidos

Aims. To review some aspects of learning and its difficulties, learning understood as meaning a process that allowsthe nervous system to develop, and also as acquisition and consolidation, and as a synaptic and neocortical process. Likewise,we also intend to analyse the role played by the environment as well as the relations between learning and maturing, andbetween learning and plasticity. It is also our aim to define learning difficulties and to discuss how they can be classified.Finally, this study also seeks to consider diagnosis and the different possibilities it may offer. Development. The main issueanalysed here is the diagnosis of learning disorders, which is classified as being either positive (syndromatic, topographic,aetiological) or differential; the paper also describes the ways such diagnoses can be carried out and the role played by aninterdisciplinary team is underlined. Conclusions. Attention is drawn to the importance of this subject owing to the largenumbers of children who visit a specialist because of a possible learning disorder. At the same time we also highlight the factthat the members of the team that study these children will need to have a sound and comprehensive training because of themany pathologies that may be at play. Lastly, we discuss the need to conduct this research to resolve certain aspects that arenot well understood

Optical technique for the automatic detection and measurement of surface defects on thin metallic wires.

In industrial applications of thin metallic wires it is important to characterize the surface defects of the wires. We present an optical technique for the automatic detection of surface defects on thin metallic wires (diameters, 50-2000 microm) that can be used in on-line systems for surface quality control. This technique is based on the intensity variations on the scattered cone generated when the wire is illuminated with a beam at oblique incidence. Our results are compared with those obtained by atomic-force microscopy and scanning-electron microscopy.

Study of speckle size of light scattered from cylindrical rough surfaces.

The autocorrelation function of the intensity scattered from cylindrical rough surfaces is analytically obtained with the Kirchhoff scalar diffraction theory. It is shown that, in contrast to the case in which planar rough surfaces scatter radiation, this function, related to the speckle size, depends on the statistical parameters that characterize the surface and on the scattering direction. This result suggests a new, to our knowledge, optical method that can be applied to the characterization of cylindrical rough surfaces, such as in on-line quality assessment, in manufacturing processes. The calculated theoretical expression was tested, showing good agreement with experiments.

Directional image processing using a pinhole camera with a rectangular aperture.

This paper describes a new method of directional image processing based on a pinhole camera with a rectangular aperture.