Opportunistic population screening as a hepatitis elimination strategy: the CRIVALVIR-FOCUS program.

OBJECTIVES: Hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) viruses are significant causes of primary liver cancer, responsible for over a million deaths annually. We aimed to develop a screening strategy for viral hepatitis elimination in Spain, aligned with WHO's 2030 objectives. DESIGN: The CRIVALVIR-FOCUS program, conducted at the Consortium General University Hospital of Valencia, aimed to identify individuals with active blood-borne viral infections through opportunistic population screening. The hospital's Health Department serves more than 280,000 adults. RESULTS: Of the 31,995 adults screened (52% women; 15% immigrants), HBV prevalence was 0.44%, with higher rates in men (0.57%) than women (0.32%), and notably higher in migrants (1.27%) compared to Spanish nationals (0.30%). The 45-64 age group had the highest HBV prevalence (0.65%). HCV prevalence was 0.35%, again higher in men than women (0.51% vs 0.20%) and in migrants compared to Spanish nationals (0.58% vs 0.31%), with the 45-64 age group showing the highest HCV prevalence (0.76%). From the positive tests, 78.0% (110/141) of HBV cases and 71.4% (80/112) of HCV cases were patients previously unaware of their infections. CONCLUSION: Opportunistic screening effectively identifies early cases, potentially enhancing prevention of new infections. Our study highlights the need for targeted interventions for individuals aged 45-64 and migrants. Designing specific screening programs, in collaboration with social workers and cultural mediators, is critical to improve access to care. Training and involving primary care professionals are vital actions for the program's success.

Subjective Cognitive Decline and Genetic Propensity for Dementia beyond Apolipoprotein ε4: A Systematic Review.

Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) has been described as a probable early stage of dementia, as it has consistently appeared to precede the onset of objective cognitive impairment. SCD is related to many risk factors, including genetic predisposition for dementia. The Apolipoprotein (APOE) ε4 allele, which has been thoroughly studied, seems to explain genetic risk for SCD only partially. Therefore, we aimed to summarize existing data regarding genetic factors related to SCD, beyond APOE ε4, in order to improve our current understanding of SCD. We conducted a PRISMA systematic search in PubMed/MEDLINE and Embase databases using the keywords "subjective cognitive decline" and "genetic predisposition" with specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. From the 270 articles identified, 16 were finally included for the qualitative analysis. Family history of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in regard to SCD was explored in eight studies, with conflicting results. Other genes implicated in SCD, beyond APOE ε4, were investigated in six studies, which were not strong enough to provide clear conclusions. Very few data have been published regarding the association of polygenic risk for AD and SCD. Thus, many more genes related to AD must be studied, with polygenic risk scores appearing to be really promising for future investigation.

Reassessing HIV Detection Strategies: An Analysis of Opportunistic Screening vs. Indicator-Condition-Driven Diagnosis in Valencia, Spain.

Our study assessed the characteristics of people living with HIV (PLWH) detected via opportunistic screening in Valencia (Spain) to determine diagnoses potentially missed under a more restrictive, indicator-condition diagnostic strategy. We conducted a retrospective analysis of electronic health records of 97 PLWH diagnosed between April 2019 and August 2022. The main outcomes reported were patient CD4+ T cell count, known HIV risk factors at diagnosis, and missed opportunities for diagnosis, defined as the failure of a previously untested patient to undergo HIV testing despite attending previous visits to healthcare facilities prior to diagnosis. Successful linkage to care was achieved for 95.9% of diagnosed patients. Half of the PLWH were diagnosed late, while 47.8% did not meet the criteria for indicator-condition-driven HIV diagnosis at the time of their diagnosis. Additionally, 52.2% did not receive HIV testing despite an average of 5.1 ± 6.0 healthcare visits in the 12 months prior to diagnosis. Spaniards had more missed opportunities for diagnosis than foreigners (64% vs. 40%, p = 0.02). Depending solely on an indicator-condition-driven HIV diagnosis approach could result in 47.8% of cases being missed. Including "migrants" as a testing criterion could lower missed diagnoses to 25.3% but might create inequities in prevention access. In conclusion, our findings provide valuable insights to enhance HIV testing, early diagnosis, and linkage to care. While it is crucial to uphold the indicator-condition-driven HIV diagnosis as baseline practice, improving screening strategies will decrease late diagnoses and missed opportunities, thereby effectively contributing to end the epidemic.

Implementation of pre-captured videos for remote cytological evaluation of salivary gland lesions.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine the feasibility of implementing videos captured by static telecytological applications for remote cytological evaluation of fine needle aspiration specimens from salivary gland lesions. METHODS: The current study was carried out on 102 fine needle aspiration specimens from salivary gland lesions with histological confirmation (benign lesions, 11; benign neoplasms, 68; malignant neoplasms, 23), retrospectively selected from the department's registry. Videos were transferred via file transfer protocol to password-protected accounts for remote review by three independent cytopathologists. In addition to diagnosis, reviewers commented on overall digital video quality. Contributor's and reviewer's diagnoses were collected, recorded and statistically evaluated. RESULTS: Statistical evaluation of cytological diagnoses detected no significant difference in diagnostic accuracy between the diagnoses proffered on the basis of pre-captured videos and conventional slides. The overall interobserver agreement was ranging from substantial to almost perfect with κ values of 0.71-0.89. CONCLUSIONS: Video production by static telecytology applications can be used as an alternative method for telecytological diagnosis of salivary gland fine needle aspirations. Videos of salivary gland fine needle aspirations can be used for rapid and accurate diagnosis, by diminishing turn-around times and improving the quality indices of small cytology departments. They can also be used for archiving, teleconsultation, educational and second opinion purposes, improving the performance of the already existing static telecytology stations.

Increasing and sustaining blood-borne virus screening in Spain and Portugal throughout the COVID-19 pandemic: a multi-center quality improvement intervention.

Background: Around 57,000 people in Spain and Portugal currently living with HIV or chronic hepatitis C are unaware of their infection. The COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted screening efforts for these infections. We designed an intervention to increase and sustain opportunistic blood-borne virus (BBV) screening and linkage to care (SLTC) by implementing the TEST model. Methods: The Plan Do Study Act (PDSA) method of quality improvement (QI) was implemented in 8 healthcare organizations (HCOs), including four hospitals, two clusters of community health centers, and two community-based organizations (CBOs). Baseline assessment included a review of BBV SLTC practices, testing volume, and results 12 months before the intervention. Changes in BBV testing rates over time were measured before, during, and after the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020. A mixed ANOVA model was used to analyze the possible effect on testing volumes among HCOs over the three study periods. Intervention: BBV testing was integrated into normal clinical flow in all HCOs using existing clinical infrastructure and staff. Electronic health record (EHR) systems were modified whenever possible to streamline screening processes, implement systemic institutional policy changes, and promote QI. Results: Two years after the launch of the intervention in screening practices, testing volumes increased by 116%, with formal healthcare settings recording larger increases than CBOs. The start of the COVID-19 lockdowns was accompanied by a global 60% decrease in testing in all HCOs. Screening emergency department patients or using EHR systems to automate screening showed the highest resilience and lowest reduction in testing. HCOs recovered 77% of their testing volume once the lockdowns were lifted, with CBOs making the fullest recovery. Globally, enhanced screening techniques enabled HCOs to diagnose a total of 1,860 individuals over the research period. Conclusions: Implementation of the TEST model enabled HCOs to increase and sustain BBV screening, even during COVID-19 lockdowns. Although improvement in screening was noted in all HCOs, additional work is needed to develop strong patient linkage to care models in challenging times, such as global pandemics.

HIV screening and linkage to care in a health department in Valencia, Spain: Lessons learned from a healthcare quality improvement project.

Spain's rate of new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) diagnoses exceeds that of the European Economic Area average (8.6 vs 5.6:100,000 in 2018). The country has failed to meet the first of United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) 90-90-90 targets for HIV control by 2020, with 87.0% of people living with HIV knowing their status, and late presentation rates of 47.6% and 51.5% country-wide and in the Valencian autonomous community, respectively. Advancing screening and linkage to care (SLTC) practices is necessary to effectively control the epidemic. The Valencia Viral Screening (CRIVALVIR) project adopted the TEST model for opportunistic and systematic HIV SLTC in individuals aged 18 to 80 who required blood work for any purpose, as of February 2019. SLTC was integrated into routine clinical workflow across primary care centers serving a population of 360,000 people in Valencia, Spain. Our project successfully upscaled total HIV testing by 194% to over 32,000 patients tested in 14 months. We found an overall prevalence of 0.13% (0.08-0.21) among those screened per protocol (n = 13,061), with foreign-born citizens presenting a 12.5 times significantly higher likelihood of acquiring HIV (95% confidence interval 4.63-33.96, P < .0001). We improved late presentation by 18.2 percentage points and prevented an estimated 58 to 70 new secondary infections. HIV screening of the general population in primary care is an effective strategy for achieving timely diagnosis and preventing new infections. Opportunistic, systematic, opt-out approaches are essential to control the HIV epidemic.

Delivering patient-centered care: outcomes of comprehensive geriatric assessment across healthcare settings / Avaliação geriátrica ampla: uma revisão narrativa sobre os benefícios do cuidado centrado no paciente nos vários ambientes de saúde

Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is a systematic multidimensional and interdisciplinary evaluation that enables clinicians to recognize age-related impairments and develop a coordinated treatment plan and follow-up suited to the patient's needs. Considering the growing number of older persons requiring care in health systems everywhere and the importance of shifting from a disease-specific care model to a more comprehensive care model, we aimed to present the benefits of CGA for older people in different healthcare settings using a narrative review. This patient-centered model of care has been associated with lower hospital (re)admission, maintenance of function, improved quality of life, less caregiver burden, and higher patient satisfaction with the care provided across different healthcare settings. In some contexts ­ for example, hospitalized older people ­, CGA has already been established as the standard model of care as it was consistently related to reduced mortality. Consistent findings from specific contexts (eg, oncology, orthopaedics) also show the importance of CGA in aiding clinicians make better decisions for older patients. It is noteworthy that further evidence from costeffectiveness studies is still warranted, particularly in community settings. Another encouraging topic for future research is the role of technology in disseminating CGA-based models of care.

A avaliação geriátrica ampla (AGA) é um modelo de atenção sistemático, multidimensional e interdisciplinar, que permite aos médicos reconhecer incapacidades relacionadas à idade e desenvolver um plano de tratamento e acompanhamento voltado para as necessidades específicas do paciente. Considerando o crescente número de pessoas idosas que procuram cuidados de saúde em todos os países e a importância de mudar de um modelo de atenção centrado na doença para um modelo mais abrangente e centrado no paciente, nosso objetivo foi apresentar os benefícios da AGA para idosos em diferentes ambientes de saúde usando uma revisão narrativa. Essa forma de abordagem tem sido associada à menor taxa de (re)internação hospitalar, à manutenção da funcionalidade, à melhoria da qualidade de vida, à menor sobrecarga do cuidador e à maior satisfação do paciente com os cuidados recebidos nos diferentes ambientes de saúde. Em alguns contextos, por exemplo, de idosos hospitalizados, a AGA já se estabeleceu como padrão de atendimento, pois tem sido consistentemente associada à redução da mortalidade. Há também evidências substanciais de contextos específicos, como de oncologia e ortopedia, mostrando a importância da avaliação ampla para os médicos, pois colabora com a tomada de decisão quanto ao melhor tratamento dos pacientes idosos. Vale ressaltar que mais evidências baseadas em estudos de custo-efetividade ainda são necessárias, principalmente em ambientes da comunidade. Outro tópico interessante para pesquisas futuras é examinar o papel das tecnologias na disseminação de modelos de atendimento baseados na AGA.

An educational intervention to optimize use of proton pump inhibitors in a Greek university hospital.

BACKGROUND: Misuse of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) is an alarming issue for patients and healthcare systems. METHODS: We conducted a 3-phase interventional, prospective study in a Greek university hospital. During Phase I, we collected data from patients' records to evaluate the appropriate use of PPIs. During Phase II, educational seminars about the proper use of PPIs were offered to the medical staff. In Phase III we collected data from the records of patients admitted to the hospital department with the highest rate of inappropriate PPI administration during Phase I, to evaluate the efficacy of the intervention. Inappropriate use was defined as either PPI administration without indication, or lack of use despite adequate indication. Appropriateness of PPI use was measured at admission, during hospitalization and at discharge. RESULTS: The rate of inappropriate PPI use was higher (51.7% and 48.6%) during hospitalization than at admission (34.9% and 21.9%), but at discharge was similar to pre-hospitalization levels (26.9% and 23.6%), in Phases I and III, respectively. At discharge during Phase I, the inappropriate use of PPIs was significantly higher (odds ratio 3.79, 95% confidence interval 1.98-7.19) for internal medicine patients than for surgical patients. The educational intervention failed to reduce the inappropriate use of PPIs during hospitalization (51.7% vs. 48.6%, P=0.478) or at discharge (26.9% vs. 23.6%, P=0.391) in the internal medicine patients. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of inappropriate PPI use is almost double during hospitalization compared to the rates at admission and at discharge. Implementation of an educational intervention failed to reduce the inappropriate use of PPIs in internal medicine patients.

Remote cytological diagnosis of salivary gland lesions by means of precaptured videos.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of implementing videos captured by static telecytological applications for remote cytological diagnosis of fine needle aspiration (FNA) specimens from salivary gland lesions. METHODS: The current study was performed on 102 specimens from patients referred to the Alpha Prolipsis Cytopathology Department for preoperative evaluation of salivary gland lesions. In all cases, surgical excision followed the initial cytological diagnosis. (benign lesions, 11; benign neoplasms, 68; malignant neoplasms, 23). Videos were transferred via file transfer protocol to password-protected accounts for remote review by three independent cytopathologists. In addition to diagnosis, reviewers commented on overall digital video quality. Contributor's and reviewer's diagnoses were collected, recorded and statistically evaluated. RESULTS: Statistical evaluation of cytological diagnoses detected no significant difference in diagnostic accuracy between the diagnoses proffered on the basis of precaptured videos and conventional slides. The overall interobserver agreement was ranging from substantial to almost perfect with κ values of 0.71-0.89. CONCLUSIONS: Videos production by static telecytology applications can be used as an alternative method for telecytological diagnosis of salivary glands FNAs. Videos of salivary glands FNAs can be used for accurate diagnosis, educational and second opinion purposes,. They can also be used for archiving, teleconsultation and educational purposes, improving the performance of the already existing static telecytology stations and small cytology departments' quality indices.

Two-Year Experience of the Implementation of the Milan for Reporting Salivary Gland Cytopathology at a Private Medical Laboratory.

This study aimed to present the 2-year experience of the implementation of the Milan System for Reporting Salivary Gland Cytopathology at Alpha Prolipsis Medical Laboratories, a private medical laboratory located in Athens, Greece. A totaI of 102 Fine Needle Aspirations (FNAs) performed since 2018 were included in the study. Reports were issued according to the Milan System for Reporting Salivary Gland Cytopathology. Aspirates were prepared with both conventional and liquid-based cytological methods and were evaluated by two or three Board-certified cytopathologists. Diagnostic reproducibility and accuracy were evaluated. All cases included in this study had histologic follow-up. The diagnostic accuracy of FNA for differentiating between benign and malignant disease according to MSRSGC classification was 93.3%, the specificity was 97.5% and the sensitivity was 82.2%. The positive and negative predictive values were 93.2 and 87.2%, respectively. Our results show that FNA is a valuable examination technique in the preoperative evaluation of salivary gland lesions. The integration of the 2018 Milan System for Reporting Salivary Gland Cytopathology is effective, with an overall accuracy around 95%.

Implementation of pre-captured videos for remote diagnosis of cervical cytology specimens.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of implementing short videos captured by static telecytological applications for remote evaluation of cervical smears prepared by means of liquid-based cytology. METHODS: The study was performed on representative short videos captured from a total of 404 cervical smears (benign, 135; atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance, 92; low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, 62; high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, 87; squamous cell carcinoma, 26; adenocarcinoma, 2) that were sent via file transfer protocol to password-protected accounts for remote review by three independent cytopathologists. In addition to diagnosis, reviewers commented on the overall digital video quality. Contributors' and reviewers' diagnoses were collected, recorded, and statistically evaluated. RESULTS: Statistical evaluation detected no significant difference in diagnostic accuracy between cytological diagnoses based on short videos versus conventional slides. The overall interobserver agreement ranged from substantial to almost perfect with κ values of 0.74-0.91. CONCLUSIONS: Short videos produced by static telecytology applications can be used as an alternative method for telecytological diagnosis of cervical smears, particularly for quality control purposes. It is a prompt and valid method for quality assessment and proficiency testing and can be integrated into the daily workflow. Short pre-captured videos of cervical smears can be used for rapid and accurate diagnosis, diminishing turnaround times and improving small cytology departments' quality indices. They can also be used for archiving, teleconsultation, and second opinion purposes, improving the performance of already existing static telecytology stations.

The Implementation of Static Telecytology for Teleconsultation Purposes During Preoperative Evaluation of Thyroid Fine-Needle Aspiration Specimens.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of applying static telecytology for teleconsultation purposes during preoperative evaluation of challenging thyroid fine-needle aspiration specimens. Materials and Methods: The study was performed on 141 cytologically challenging specimens of 125 patients referred to Alpha Prolipsis Cytopathology Department. All cases were finally confirmed histologically. During the study, 10 characteristic images from each case were transferred through file transfer protocol to password-protected accounts for remote review by three independent cytopathologists, with documented experience in the field of thyroid cytology. In addition to diagnosis, reviewers also commented on overall digital image quality. Contributor's and reviewer's diagnoses were collected, recorded, and statistically evaluated. No significant difference in diagnostic accuracy could be detected between the diagnoses proffered based on digitized images and conventional slides. Telecytology is a prompt and valid method for acquisition of a second opinion diagnosis in challenging cases and can be integrated into daily workflow. The use of telecytology for teleconsultation purposes in the laboratory's daily workflow will further ensure the accuracy of preoperative cytological diagnoses and will contribute to cytopathologists continuous education and better understanding of the criteria applied in thyroid gland lesions cytomorphological diagnosis. Results: Statistical evaluation of cytological diagnoses detected no significant difference in diagnostic accuracy between the diagnoses proffered based on digitized images among contributing cytopathologists. The overall interobserver agreement was very good with κ values of 0.73-0.88. Conclusions: The widespread availability of imaging technology and telecommunication enables instant access to global expert cytopathologists. Static telecytology can be used as an efficient method for acquisition of second opinion in challenging thyroid fine-needle aspiration specimens. It can be used for rapid and accurate diagnosis, by diminishing turnaround times and improving small cytology departments' quality indices.

The Use of Static Telecytology for Quality Assessment Purposes in the Evaluation of Cervical Smears Prepared by Means of Liquid-Based Cytology.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the role of telecytology as a tool with increased quality standards in the optimal evaluation of telecytological diagnoses proffered on the basis of digitized images from cervical smears prepared by means of liquid-based cytology. Materials and Methods: The study was performed on representative digital cytological images from a total of 808 cervical smears (benign, 270; atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance, 184; low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, 124; high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, 174; squamous cell carcinoma, 52; and adenocarcinoma, 4) that were transferred through file transfer protocol to password-protected accounts for remote review by three independent cytopathologists. In addition to diagnosis, reviewers also commented on overall digital image quality. Contributor's and reviewer's diagnoses were collected, recorded, and statistically evaluated. Their reports were recorded and classified. Results: Statistical evaluation of cytological diagnoses detected no significant difference in diagnostic accuracy between the diagnoses proffered on the basis of digitized images and conventional slides. The overall interobserver agreement was almost perfect with κ values of 0.79-0.97. Conclusions: Static telecytology can be used as an alternative method for the cytological diagnosis of cervical smears, particularly in quality assurance programs. It is a prompt and valid method for quality assessment and proficiency testing and can be integrated into daily workflow. Digital images of cervical smears can be used for rapid and accurate diagnosis, by diminishing turnaround times and improving small cytology departments' quality indices.

Diferencia en las condiciones de trabajo y su asociación con la frecuencia de burnout en médicos residentes y adjuntos / Difference in working conditions and its association with the frequency of burnout in resident and attending physicians

INTRODUCCIÓN: El burnout es un síndrome que se presenta con frecuencia en los profesionales de la salud como una respuesta a fuentes de estrés crónico o estresores. OBJETIVO: Determinar la asociación de las condiciones de trabajo de residentes y médicos adjuntos (adscritos) con la prevalencia de burnout. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se llevó a cabo un estudio transversal analítico con 724 médicos. Se interrogaron características socio-demográficas y condiciones laborales. Para evaluar burnout se aplicó el inventario de Maslach. En el análisis se utilizaron X2, razones de momios para prevalencias y ajuste según categoría. RESULTADOS: La prevalencia del burnout fue de 19% en residentes y 12% en médicos adjuntos, p < 0,01. El riesgo de presentar burnout fue 70% más en residentes que en médicos adjuntos y el doble para quienes refirieron carga excesiva de trabajo y realizaban guardias. El agotamiento emocional fue casi dos veces más en los residentes. Las principales variables asociadas con el aumento de riesgo, fueron, trabajar más de 56 horas por semana, más de 21 pacientes por día, supervisión, carga excesiva y poca libertad en el trabajo. En el ajuste por categorías, las mujeres residentes tuvieron 71% más riesgo de burnout. CONCLUSIONES: Los residentes tuvieron peores condiciones de trabajo y mayor riesgo para la presencia de burnout que los adjuntos

INTRODUCTION: Burnout is a syndrome that occurs frequently in health professionals as a response to sources of chronic stress or stressors. OBJECTIVE: To determine the association of working conditions of resident and attending assistants with the prevalence of burnout. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An analytical cross-sectional study was carried out with 724 physicians. Socio-demographic characteristics and working conditions were questioned. To assess burnout the Maslach inventory was applied. In the analysis X2, odds ratios for prevalence and adjustment according to category were used. RESULTS: The prevalence of burnout was 19% in residents and 12% in attending physician, p < 0.01. The risk of presenting burnout was 70% higher in residents than in attending physician and double for those who reported excessive workload and shift works. The emotional exhaustion was almost twice as high in the residents. The main variables associated with the increased risk were working over 56 hours per week, more than 21 patients per day, supervision and excessive burden, and little freedom at work. In the adjustment by categories, the resident women had 71% more risk of burnout. CONCLUSIONS: Residents had worse working conditions and a higher burnout risk than attending physicians

Impaired Health-Related Quality of Life in Adolescent Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: The Impact of Core Symptoms.

Objective: The objectives of this study were to compare the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of a North American population of adolescents and young adults with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) to (1) healthy controls (HC), (2) adolescents with ME/CFS in other countries, and (3) other forms of pediatric chronic illness, and (4) to examine the influence of the core illness symptoms in the Institute of Medicine (IOM) case definition on impaired HRQOL. Study design: Cross-sectional study comparing individuals with ME/CFS referred to a tertiary care Chronic Fatigue clinic and HC. Eligible participants were age 10-30 years and met the Fukuda criteria for CFS. HC were eligible if they were age 10-30 years, with self-reported good, very good, or excellent general health. Pediatric HRQOL was measured using the PedsQL (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory) and other validated instruments. Results: We enrolled 55 consecutive ME/CFS patients (46 F) aged 10-23 years. From a pool of 69 potential HC we selected 55 with similar age and gender distribution for comparison. The total and subscale scores on the PedsQL and on all other measures of HRQOL indicated significantly worse function among those with ME/CFS (all P < 0.001). The self-reported frequency of post-exertional malaise (PEM) was significantly associated with the severity of impaired HRQOL (P < 0.001). Cognitive impairment had a weaker association with the PedsQL score (P = 0.02). Orthostatic intolerance was present in 96% of the ME/CFS population. Of the 55 who satisfied the Fukuda criteria, 47 (85%) also satisfied the IOM criteria for the diagnosis. Those meeting the IOM criteria had worse PedsQL total scores than those meeting just the Fukuda criteria (P < 0.001). Conclusions: HRQOL was substantially lower in an ambulatory population of adolescents and young adults with ME/CFS than for healthy controls in North America, consistent with reports from other continents. HRQOL was also lower in ME/CFS than has been described in children with asthma, diabetes mellitus, epilepsy, eosinophilic gastroenteritis, and cystic fibrosis. The findings of this study lend further support to the inclusion of PEM, cognitive impairment, and orthostatic intolerance as core symptoms of pediatric ME/CFS.

Postural tachycardia syndrome and other forms of orthostatic intolerance in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To review the association between orthostatic intolerance syndromes and both joint hypermobility and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and to propose reasons for identifying hereditary connective tissue disorders in those with orthostatic intolerance in the context of both clinical care and research. METHODS: We searched the published peer-reviewed medical literature for papers reporting an association between joint hypermobility or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and orthostatic intolerance. RESULTS: We identified 10 relevant papers. Although methodological variability between studies introduces some limitations, the published literature consistently identifies a significantly higher prevalence of orthostatic intolerance symptoms in patients with joint hypermobility or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome than in healthy controls, and a significantly higher prevalence of cardiovascular and autonomic abnormalities both at rest and during orthostatic challenge. Postural tachycardia syndrome is the most commonly recognized circulatory disorder. The severity of orthostatic symptoms in those with EDS correlates with impairments in quality of life. CONCLUSION: There is a strong association between several forms of cardiovascular dysfunction, most notably postural tachycardia syndrome, and joint hypermobility or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. We propose that recognition of joint hypermobility and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome among those with orthostatic intolerance syndromes has the potential to improve clinical care and the validity of research findings.

Effects of resistance training and aerobic exercise in elderly people concerning physical fitness and ability: a prospective clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of physical fitness and function on older adults in two programs of supervised exercise activity: resistance training and aerobic exercise. METHODS: This study is a randomized, prospective clinical trial composed of sedentary elderly people who did not have contraindications to exercise. Participants were divided into two groups: group one performed 6 exercises of resistance training twice a week, and group two participated in walking activity for 30 minutes twice a week. Functional assessment (time 0, 6 and 12 months) was measured by the Short Physical Performance Battery (time to sit or stand, gait speed, and balance), flexibility test, and the six-minute walking test. We randomly selected 96 patients: 46 in the Resistance Training Group and 50 in the Aerobic Exercise Group. In the Resistance Training Group, 46 attended the first assessment and 20 attended until the third section. In the Aerobic Exercise Group, 50 attended the first assessment and 12 attended until the third assessment. RESULTS: Mean age was 68.8 years in the Resistance Training Group and 69.1 years in the Aerobic Exercise Group. The Resistance Training Group showed improvement in the sit/stand (p = 0.022), balance with feet in a row (p = 0.039) and queued (p = 0.001). The second showed a statistical difference in speed and balance with the feet lined up and the feet together (p = 0.008; p = 0.02; and p = 0.043, respectively). Concerning flexibility, the Resistance Training Group had improvement (p = 0.001), whereas in the Aerobic Exercise Group, no significant difference was seen (p = 0.359). Both groups had improvement in the six-minute walking test, but no significant improvement was seen in the Aerobic Exercise Group (p = 0.033). CONCLUSION: Both groups showed improvement in physical fitness. No statistical difference was seen when groups was compared in the short physical performance battery, flexibility, and six-minute walking test.

Efeitos das atividades físicas resistida e aeróbia em idosos em relação à aptidão física e à funcionalidade: ensaio clínico prospectivo / Effects of resistance training and aerobic exercise in elderly people concerning physical fitness and ability: a prospective clinical trial

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of physical fitness and function on older adults in two programs of supervised exercise activity: resistance training and aerobic exercise. METHODS: This study is a randomized, prospective clinical trial composed of sedentary elderly people who did not have contraindications to exercise. Participants were divided into two groups: group one performed 6 exercises of resistance training twice a week, and group two participated in walking activity for 30 minutes twice a week. Functional assessment (time 0,6 and 12 months) was measured by the Short Physical Performance Battery (time to sit or stand, gait speed, and balance), flexibility test, and the six-minute walking test. We randomly selected 96 patients: 46 in the Resistance Training Group and 50 in the Aerobic Exercise Group. In the Resistance Training Group, 46 attended the first assessment and 20 attended until the third section. In the Aerobic Exercise Group, 50 attended the first assessment and 12 attended until the third assessment. RESULTS: Mean age was 68.8 years in the Resistance Training Group and 69.1 years in the Aerobic Exercise Group. The Resistance Training Group showed improvement in the sit/stand (p=0.022), balance with feet in a row (p=0.039) and queued (p=0.001). The second showed a statistical difference in speed and balance with the feet lined up and the feet together (p=0.008; p=0.02; and p=0.043, respectively). Concerning flexibility, the Resistance Training Group had improvement (p=0.001), whereas in the Aerobic Exercise Group, no significant difference was seen (p=0.359). Both groups had improvement in the six-minute walking test, but no significant improvement was seen in the Aerobic Exercise Group (p=0.033). CONCLUSION: Both groups showed improvement in physical fitness. No statistical difference was seen when groups was compared in the short physical performance battery, flexibility, and six-minute walking test.

OBJETIVO: Comparar os efeitos das atividades físicas resistida e aeróbia sobre a aptidão física e funcionalidade de idosos em dois programas de atividade supervisionada: exercícios resistidos e caminhada. MÉTODOS: Ensaio clínico, randomizado, prospectivo, com idosos sedentários, sem contraindicações para atividade física, distribuídos em dois grupos: o Grupo Resistido realizou 6 exercícios por treino, 2 vezes por semana e o Grupo Aeróbio realizou atividade por 30 minutos, 2 vezes por semana. A avaliação funcional (tempo 0,6 e 12 meses) foi realizada pelos seguintes parâmetros: Short Physical Performance Battery (tempo de sentar/levantar, velocidade da marcha e equilíbrio), flexibilidade, teste de caminhada de 6 minutos. Foram randomizados 96 participantes, 46 no Grupo Resistido e 50 no Grupo Aeróbio. No resistido, 46 compareceram na primeira avaliação e 20 permaneceram até a terceira. No aeróbio, 50 compareceram na primeira avaliação e 12 permaneceram até a terceira. RESULTADOS: A média da idade dos pacientes no Grupo Resistido foi de 68,8 anos e de 69,1 no Grupo Aeróbio. O primeiro apresentou melhora no sentar/levantar (p=0,022), no equilíbrio com pés seguidos (p=0,039) e enfileirados (p=0,001). No segundo, houve diferença estatística na velocidade, equilíbrio com pés seguidos e enfileirados (p=0,008, p=0,02 e p=0,043, respectivamente). Quanto à flexibilidade, o Grupo Resistido apresentou melhora (p=0,001), enquanto no Aeróbio não houve diferença significativa (p=0,359). No teste de caminhada de 6 minutos, ambos melhoraram, mas apenas o Grupo Aeróbio com significância (p=0,033). CONCLUSÃO: Ambos os grupos apresentaram melhora na aptidão física. Não houve diferença estatística quando comparados os grupos em relação ao Short Physical Performance Battery, à flexibilidade e à caminhada de 6 minutos na amostra estudada.

Central neurocytoma: report of two cases

INTRODUÇÃO: Neurocitoma central é um tumor neuroectodérmico raro, geralmente localizado nos ventrículos laterais. RELATO DE CASOS: Uma mulher de 26 anos e um homem de 33 anos apresentaram-se com hipertensão intracraniana. Exames de imagem revelaram tumor intraventricular heterogêneo, que impregnava por contraste, ocupando os ventrículos laterais e causando hidrocefalia. A mulher faleceu no pós-operatório e o homem está livre de recidiva após três anos. HISTOPATOLOGIA: Ambos os tumores eram sólidos, com células arredondadas, lembrando oligodendroglia, positivas para sinaptofisina, cromogranina e NSE e algumas para GFAP, vimentina e proteína S-100. Microscopia eletrônica mostrou neurópilo entre os corpos celulares, mas sinapses eram raras.

Central neurocytoma: report of two cases.

INTRODUCTION: Central neurocytomas are rare neuroectodermal tumors believed to arise from the subependymal matrix of the lateral ventricles. CASE REPORTS: A 26-year-old woman and a 33-year-old man each had a large, heterogeneous, contrast enhancing mass in the lateral ventricles at the foramen of Monro causing bilateral hydrocephalus. The woman died after surgery, but the man is asymptomatic after three years. HISTOPATHOLOGY: Both tumors were composed of isomorphic rounded cells positive for synaptophysin, chromogranin and NSE, while some reacted for GFAP, vimentin and S-100 protein. Electron microscopy revealed neuropil-like tissue between cells, but synapses were rare.