Analysis of ballistic trajectories and its association with clinical outcomes in civilian penetrating brain injury.

PURPOSE: Civilian penetrating brain injuries (PBI) caused by firearms are a medical emergency with high rates of morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between trajectory vectors in CT brain angiography and clinical outcomes in patients with civilian gunshots. METHODS: This is a retrospective analytical cross-sectional study that includes patients over 15 years of age with PBI due to firearms, admitted from January 2019 to December 2021 at a University Hospital in Cali, Colombia. A brain CT with angio-CT was performed the first day of admission. An XYZ coordinate system centered on the Turk's saddle was developed. Trajectories of projectiles were plotted and compared to a patient 0 in a 3D-Slicer software. A bivariate analysis of the clinical and geometric characteristics of the trajectory was performed. Primary outcomes include mortality and disability at 6 months. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients with a mean age of 27.39 ± 11.66 years were included. The vectors of non-survivors show a trend, crossing at a specific area. This area was designated as a "potential lethal zone" and inside this area, injuries around 25.3 mm from the circle of Willis, were associated with greater mortality (p < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: In our study PBI avoiding the ventricular system, brain stem, dorsum sellae and the circle of Willis were associated with more survivability. A "potential lethal zone" was detected and associated with poor outcome after civilian PBI due to firearms. A better evaluation of the performance of this "potential lethal zone" in larger studies will be required.

The amygdala as a therapeutic target for aggressive and disruptive behaviors: Systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the effects of amygdala neuromodulation in the management disruptive behavior in patients, as well as changes in their quality of life and its relationship with epilepsy. METHODS: MEDLINE, OVID, WoS, Central Cochrane, and Scopus databases were systematically searched up to March 2023 for studies examining extremely aggressive patients who underwent ablative surgeries or deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the amygdala as the unique therapeutic target, with a six-month follow-up at least. RESULTS: The search yielded 1352 studies excluding duplicates, but only 11 case series, and 3 case reports met the inclusion criteria. They were published between 1963-2023 with a total of 1033 patients, mostly male, aged between 5 and 61 years. Most studies implemented amygdalotomy and only one DBS. More than 70% of the patients improved their behavior; approximately 30% had seizures, of which 40% presented improvement. Two studies reported worsening behavior. CONCLUSIONS: Although we found that amygdalotomy has a positive effect on the behavior of patients and the control of their seizures, it is necessary to carry out updated studies with greater epidemiological power. Future research should analyze the DBS use and the role of connectomics of the different neural networks involved with this brain structure.

A Contextualization of Transgender Women and Condom Use Using the HIV Syndemic Framework: Scoping Review.

Objective: To contextualize condom use in the transgender women population utilizing the HIV syndemic framework. Methods: Studies reporting condom use frequency and syndemic factors associated with HIV risk in transgender women were systematically searched. We followed the Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist. Results: Social factors have a proven relationship with using condoms and HIV among transgender women. Syndemic factors, defined as co-occurring adverse factors that interact to contribute to risk behaviors, deserve a specific analysis to develop strategies to face HIV among transgender women. Conclusions: A syndemic perspective allows to generate specific health intervention and prevention policies to protect transgender women.

Tratamiento de la hipersensibilidad dentinaria primaria: Revisión exploratoria / Treatment of primary dentin hypersensitivity: A scoping review

RESUMEN Objetivos: Identificar la evidencia del manejo de la hipersensibilidad dentinaria (HD) primaria utilizando diferentes tratamientos, como agentes tópicos, cirugía o láser. Materiales y métodos: Se realizó una búsqueda sistemática con los términos MeSH relacionados con el tema de investigación mediante un único algoritmo de búsqueda exhaustiva de la literatura en las bases de datos computarizadas de MEDLINE, Registro Cochrane de Ensayos Clínicos Controlados, Ovid y Scopus. Sólo se incluyeron ensayos clínicos controlados aleatorizados que incluyeran pacientes con HD asociada a dentina sensible con túbulos abiertos en dentición permanente y que realizaran tratamientos para la HD con terapia láser, tratamientos quirúrgicos o terapia tópica, evaluando el nivel de dolor con la Escala Visual Análoga (EVA). Resultados: Se seleccionaron 34 artículos. Se encontró que entre alternativas de tratamiento para disminuir la HD primaria, los agentes tópicos y el empleo de laser son intervenciones que mejoran significativamente la respuesta dolorosa, sin embargo, se obtuvo mejores resultados al emplear ambas técnicas de manera combinada. Conclusiones: Los resultados de este estudio permiten concluir que existe evidencia de la eficacia para manejar la HD primaria mediante intervenciones con terapia láser y agentes tópicos. Este trabajo abre un nuevo camino hacia futuras investigaciones que evalúen los efectos a largo plazo de este tipo de intervenciones y de los efectos adversos derivados de los mismos.

ABSTRACT Objectives: To identify the evidence of primary dentin hypersensitivity (DH) management using different treatments such as topical agents, surgery, or laser. Materials and methods: A systematic search was performed with the MeSH terms related to the research topic using a single comprehensive literature search algorithm in the computerized databases of MEDLINE, Cochrane Register of Controlled Clinical Trials, OVID, and Scopus. We only included randomized controlled clinical trials that included patients with HD associated with sensitive dentin with open tubules in the permanent dentition and who underwent HD treatments with laser therapy, surgical treatments, or topical therapy, evaluating the level of pain with the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Results: 34 articles were selected. It was found that among treatment alternatives to reduce primary HD, topical agents and the use of laser are interventions that significantly improve the pain response, however, better results were obtained when using both techniques in combination. Conclusions: The results of this study allow us to conclude that there is evidence of the efficacy of managing primary HD through interventions with laser therapy and topical agents. This work opens a new path towards future research that evaluates the long-term effects of this type of intervention and its adverse effects.

Adherence to Oral Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Intervention by Transgender Women: A Systematic Review.

Prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is higher in transgender populations. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) intervention is successful in reducing HIV acquisition. We aimed to investigate the adherence to oral PrEP by HIV-negative transgender women (TW). We followed the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions and the PRISMA Statement. We searched in WoS, OVID, Scopus, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases. Participation and adherence to the intervention were low for TW compared to cisgender men who have sex with men (cMSM), and it was measured mostly by self-report (72.7%) or tenofovir-diphosphate/emtricitabine triphosphate dried blood spot (45.5%). Awareness should increase and the effect of oral PrEP on gender-affirming hormone therapy should be explained to TW at the beginning of the trials. One limitation is that our sample size was dominated by two Thai studies with TW sex workers. Future studies should evaluate adherence to new PrEP modalities.

Consideraciones especiales de bioseguridad en ortodoncia durante pandemia (SARS COV-2) / Special biosecurity considerations in orthodontics during pandemic (SARS COV-2) / Considerações especiais de biossegurança em ortodontia durante pandemia (SARS-COV-2)

Resumen El control periódico en un tratamiento de Ortodoncia permite establecer una buena secuencia de tratamiento sin riesgos para el paciente. Un tratamiento sin la vigilancia adecuada puede llegar a generar daños irreversibles. Sin embargo, por la pandemia de COVID-19 que enfrenta el mundo actualmente y los riesgos en el área de la salud, se han suspendido temporalmente los servicios no vitales y potencialmente expuestos a contagios como lo son los servicios odontológicos de consulta programada. Teniendo en cuenta esta situación, y que este virus puede llegar a ser endémico en la población humana, se hace necesario establecer protocolos de bioseguridad que permitan reactivar las prácticas odontológicas, y a su vez genear garantías para operadores, personal de apoyo, pacientes y el entorno de los mismos. En este contexto, es de gran importancia desarrollar un protocolo con profesionales expertos en tratamientos ortodóncicos y en el manejo de la pandemia, para delinear procesos de calidad que garanticen un ambiente seguro y minimicen los riesgos de contagio.

Abstract Periodic control in an Orthodontic treatment allows establishing a good treatment sequence without risks for the patient. Treatment without proper monitoring can lead to irreversible damage. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic facing the world today and the risks in the health area, non-vital and potentially contagious services such as scheduled consultation dental services have been temporarily closed. Taking into account this situation, and that this virus will end up being endemic, it is necessary to establish biosafety protocols that allow reactivating dental practices, and in turn generate guarantees for operators, support staff, patients and the environment of the themselves. In this context, it is of great importance to develop a protocol carried out with expert professionals in orthodontic treatments and in the pandemic, to outline the quality protocol that guarantees a safe environment and minimizes the risks of infection.

Resumo O controle periódico em um tratamento ortodôntico permite estabelecer uma boa sequência de tratamento sem riscos para o paciente. O tratamento sem monitoramento adequado pode levar a danos irreversíveis. No entanto, devido à pandemia do COVID-19 que o mundo enfrenta atualmente e aos riscos na área da saúde, serviços não vitais e potencialmente contagiosos foram temporariamente suspensos, como serviços odontológicos agendados para consultas. Considerando essa situação e que esse vírus pode se tornar endêmico na população humana, é necessário estabelecer protocolos de biossegurança que permitam reativar as práticas odontológicas e, por sua vez, gerar garantias aos operadores, pessoal de apoio, pacientes e meio ambiente. Dos mesmos. Nesse contexto, é de grande importância o desenvolvimento de um protocolo com profissionais especialistas em tratamentos ortodônticos e no manejo da pandemia, para delinear processos de qualidade que garantam um ambiente seguro e minimizem os riscos de infecção.