Abstract
Objective
Vertebroplasty is a percutaneous minimally invasive procedure indicated for vertebral collapse pain treatment. Among the known complications of the procedure is the augmented risk ...of new vertebral fractures. There are no specific studies in this patient population describing the risk of new vertebral fractures after vertebroplasty. This study analyzed risk factors associated with new vertebral fractures after vertebroplasty in patients with multiple myeloma.
Methods
Observational retrospective study in patients with multiple myeloma. The data collection took place from January 1, 2010, to December 30, 2017, at the National Cancer Institute. Clinical data and procedural variables such as cement volume, cement leaks, fracture level, number of treated vertebrae, pedicular disease, and cement distribution pattern, with two years follow-up, were analyzed with the Wilcoxon test, and a logistic regression model was used to identify risk factors related to new vertebral fractures. A confidence interval of 95% was used for analysis.
Results
At one-year follow-up, 30% of fractures were reported after vertebroplasty, most of them at low thoracic and lumbar level (50% adjacent level). Vertebroplasty was most commonly performed at the thoracolumbar and lumbar area. We demonstrated a 70.7% median numerical rating scale reduction at one-year follow-up; a significant decrease in opioid consumption occurred only during the first month.
Conclusions
Pedicle involvement, disc leakage, cement volume, thoracolumbar and lumbar level, and number of treated vertebrae by intervention are important risk factors when performing vertebroplasty. Prospective randomized studies are needed to evaluate these factors in this specific population.
The potential of Initiators for Continuous Activator Regeneration Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ICAR ATRP) to determine reliable Arrhenius parameters for ATRP activation/deactivation of ...macrospecies is illustrated using styrene as monomer and CuBr2/TPMA (TPMA: tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine) as deactivator. Regression is based on an extensive set of experimental data limited to conversions below 0.50 to avoid the interference of diffusional limitations on the activation/deactivation process and recorded at temperatures below 90 °C to avoid the influence of thermal self-initiation. Diffusional limitations on termination are accounted for based on literature data. The activation energy for the activation and deactivation reaction involving macrospecies are respectively 29 and 1.7 kJ mol–1. The corresponding pre-exponentional factors are 6.9 × 105 and 1.8 × 107 L mol–1 s–1. At 70 °C, the corresponding rate coefficients amount to 2.2 × 10 and 9.9 × 106 L mol–1 s–1, confirming the relatively high activity of CuBr/TPMA as ATRP catalyst.
Most organisations consider human beings as a resource, a position that adopts a functionalist perspective and focuses on ways in which companies operate. The purpose of this study is to expose the ...type of human being that is configured in the light of the ethical–spiritual that can be deduced from the text of the Matthean Beatitudes. On reviewing the literature related to ‘organisations and spirituality’, several studies related to humanism, business, religion and spirituality were found. However, the absence of a study from the theological–biblical viewpoint in association with the business field was observed. A general conclusion deduced after using the hermeneutics of Matthew 5:3–10 is that from the Beatitudes, spiritual growth of individual and community is possible, thus enabling to understand the type of human resource that is required by companies today. Moreover, the unacceptable conviction or practice that human beings are considered as a resource or means, and not, as will be argued in the study, as beings recognised and treated as an end in themselves forms the basis of this study. This problem is critically addressed from the Christian ethical–spiritual approach that is constructed from the theological hermeneutics of the Matthean Beatitudes. Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implication: The context from which the research is undertaken takes as vantage point the unacceptable conviction or practice that human beings are considered as a resource or a means, and not, as will be argued in the article, as beings recognised and treated as an end in themselves. The unacceptable contextual reality is critically addressed from both a Christian ethical–spiritual itinerary that is constructed from the theological hermeneutics of the Matthean beatitudes as well as in dialogue with the business reality, specifically business administration.
HPV infrequently persists and progresses to cervical cancer. We examined host genetic factors hypothesized to play a role in determining which subset of individuals infected with oncogenic human ...papillomavirus (HPV) have persistent infection and further develop cervical pre-cancer/cancer compared to the majority of infected individuals who will clear infection.We evaluated 7140 tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 305 candidate genes hypothesized to be involved in DNA repair, viral infection and cell entry in 416 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 3 (CIN3)/cancer cases, 356 HPV persistent women (median: 25 months), and 425 random controls (RC) from the 10,049 women Guanacaste Costa Rica Natural History study. We used logistic regression to compute odds ratios and p-trend for CIN3/cancer and HPV persistence in relation to SNP genotypes and haplotypes (adjusted for age). We obtained pathway and gene-level summary of associations by computing the adaptive combination of p-values. Genes/regions statistically significantly associated with CIN3/cancer included the viral infection and cell entry genes 2',5' oligoadenylate synthetase gene 3 (OAS3), sulfatase 1 (SULF1), and interferon gamma (IFNG); the DNA repair genes deoxyuridine triphosphate (DUT), dosage suppressor of mck 1 homolog (DMC1), and general transcription factor IIH, polypeptide 3 (GTF2H4); and the EVER1 and EVER2 genes (p<0.01). From each region, the single most significant SNPs associated with CIN3/cancer were OAS3 rs12302655, SULF1 rs4737999, IFNG rs11177074, DUT rs3784621, DMC1 rs5757133, GTF2H4 rs2894054, EVER1/EVER2 rs9893818 (p-trends</=0.001). SNPs for OAS3, SULF1, DUT, and GTF2H4 were associated with HPV persistence whereas IFNG and EVER1/EVER2 SNPs were associated with progression to CIN3/cancer. We note that the associations observed were less than two-fold. We identified variations DNA repair and viral binding and cell entry genes associated with CIN3/cancer. Our results require replication but suggest that different genes may be responsible for modulating risk in the two critical transition steps important for cervical carcinogenesis: HPV persistence and disease progression.
PurposeThe RESPIRA cohort aims to describe the nature, magnitude, time course and efficacy of the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination, population prevalence, and household ...transmission of COVID-19.ParticipantsFrom November 2020, we selected age-stratified random samples of COVID-19 cases from Costa Rica confirmed by PCR. For each case, two population-based controls, matched on age, sex and census tract were recruited, supplemented with hospitalised cases and household contacts. Participants were interviewed and blood and saliva collected for antibodies and PCR tests. Participants will be followed for 2 years to assess antibody response and infection incidence.Findings to dateRecruitment included 3860 individuals: 1150 COVID-19 cases, 1999 population controls and 719 household contacts from 304 index cases. The age and regional distribution of cases was as planned, including four age strata, 30% rural and 70% urban. The control cohort had similar sex, age and regional distribution as the cases according to the study design. Among the 1999 controls recruited, 6.8% reported at enrolment having had COVID-19 and an additional 12.5% had antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Compliance with visits and specimens has been close to 70% during the first 18 months of follow-up. During the study, national vaccination was implemented and nearly 90% of our cohort participants were vaccinated during follow-up.Future plansRESPIRA will enable multiple analyses, including population prevalence of infection, clinical, behavioural, immunological and genetic risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 acquisition and severity, and determinants of household transmission. We are conducting retrospective and prospective assessment of antibody levels, their determinants and their protective efficacy after infection and vaccination, the impact of long-COVID and a series of ancillary studies. Follow-up continues with bimonthly saliva collection for PCR testing and biannual blood collection for immune response analyses. Follow-up will be completed in early 2024.Trial registration numberNCT04537338.
El presente artículo de reflexión realiza una lectura sobre la resurrección en clave relacional. Para ello, se parte de la explicación sintética de los paradigmas griego-dual y hebraico-bíblico. ...Posteriormente, se expone la comprensión de la resurrección en Pablo y en algunos Padres de la Iglesia. Por último, se propone una lectura de la resurrección en clave antropológico-relacional. La temática se analiza desde una revisión documental de la filosofía, la teología y la psicología humanista. Se encuentra que el paradigma griego platónico sobre la inmortalidad del alma, en relación con el paradigma hebraico-bíblico, referente a la integralidad de la persona, sobrepone en la tradición del cristianismo hasta hoy. Además, se halla que la muerte es límite y posibilidad, carencia e identidad; no es acto liberador, sino acontecimiento pleromático.
Introduction. The estimation of the viability of Ischaemum rugosum Salisb. with the tetrazolium test is a measure
for the study of the weed’s biological dynamic. Objective. To evaluate the factors ...that affect the viability of I. rugosum
Salisb using the tetrazolium test. Materials and methods. The work was carried out in the Laboratorio Oficial de
Analisis de Calidad de Semillas del Centro para Investigaciones en Granos y Semillas of the Universidad de Costa
Rica, San José, Costa Rica; in October 2015. I. rugosum Salisb. seeds were subjected to these treatments prior to the
tetrazolium test: seed storage (room temperature: 23,9 °C and refrigerated temperature: 5 °C), imbibition (embedded
and not embedded), caryopsid cut (with cut and without cut) and propagation unit (small caryopsis, large caryopsis,
and spikelet). Seeds stained uniformly were counted as viable. Results. There was a significant interaction between
storage temperature and propagation unit, the use of large caryopsis had a greater advantage over the small caryopsis
(12.18 to 1) or the spikelet (181.27 to 1) and this result was stronger under room temperature. There was a significant
interaction between propagation unit and cut, all the seeds required cutting so that tetrazolium could dye the tissues, the
effect on the large seed was more conclusive than on the spikelet (1326.1 to 1) and that in the small one (7.39 to 1). The
interaction of storage and imbibition temperatures and cutting and imbibition was significant. The seeds subjected to
room temperature, embedded (41.26 to 1) and with cutting and imbibition (18.17 to 1) were more viable. Conclusion.
The imbibition and cutting facilitated staining, the large seed and storage at room temperature influenced the viability
of I. rugosum Salisb.
Introducción. La estimación de la viabilidad de Ischaemum rugosum Salisb. con la prueba de tetrazolio es una
medida para el estudio de la dinámica biológica de esta maleza. Objetivo. Evaluar los factores que afectan la viabilidad
de I. rugosum Salisb. mediante la prueba de tetrazolio. Materiales y métodos. El trabajo se realizó en el Laboratorio
Oficial de Análisis de Calidad de Semillas del Centro para Investigaciones en Granos y Semillas de la Universidad
de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica; en octubre de 2015. Las semillas de I. rugosum Salisb. se sometieron a los
siguientes tratamientos previo a la prueba de tetrazolio: almacenamiento de semilla (temperatura ambiente: 23,9 °C
y temperatura refrigerada: 5 °C), imbibición (embebida y no embebida), corte de la cariópside (con corte y sin corte)
y unidad propagativa (cariópside pequeña, cariópside grande y espiguilla). Se contaron como viables las semillas
teñidas de manera uniforme. Resultados. Hubo interacción significativa entre temperatura de almacenamiento y
unidad propagativa, la cariópside grande tuvo una mayor ventaja con respecto a cariópside pequeña (12,18 a 1) o la
espiguilla (181,27 a 1) y este resultado fue más contundente bajo temperatura ambiente. Hubo interacción significativa
entre unidad propagativa y corte, todas las semillas requirieron de corte para que el tetrazolio lograra teñir los tejidos,
fue más concluyente el efecto en la semilla grande que en la espiguilla (1326,1 a 1) y que en la pequeña (7,39 a 1). La
interacción de las temperaturas de almacenamiento e imbibición y corte e imbibición fue significativa. Las semillas
sometidas a temperatura ambiente, embebidas (41,26 a 1) y con corte e imbibición (18,17 a 1) fueron más viables.
Conclusión. La imbibición y el corte facilitaron la tinción, la semilla grande y el almacenamiento en temperatura
ambiente influyeron sobre la viabilidad de I. rugosum Salisb.
Background. We examined host genetic factors to identify those more common in individuals whose human papillomavirus (HPV) infections were most likely to persist and progress to cervical ...intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 (CIN3) and cancer. Methods. We genotyped 92 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 49 candidate immune response and DNA repair genes obtained from 469 women with CIN3 or cancer, 390 women with persistent HPV infections (median duration, 25 months), and 452 random control subjects from the 10,049-woman Guanacaste Costa Rica Natural History Study. We calculated odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association of SNP and haplotypes in women with CIN3 or cancer and HPV persistence, compared with random control subjects. Results. A SNP in the Fanconi anemia complementation group A gene (FANCA) (G501S) was associated with increased risk of CIN3 or cancer. The AG and GG genotypes had a 1.3-fold (95% CI, 0.95–1.8-fold) and 1.7-fold (95% CI, 1.1–2.6-fold) increased risk for CIN3 or cancer, respectively (Ptrend=.008; referent, AA). The FANCA haplotype that included G501S also conferred increased risk of CIN3 or cancer, as did a different haplotype that included 2 other FANCA SNPs (G809A and T266A). A SNP in the innate immune gene IRF3 (S427T) was associated with increased risk for HPV persistence (Ptrend=.009). Conclusions. Our results require replication but support the role of FANCA variants in cervical cancer susceptibility and of IRF3 in HPV persistence.
Objective. To determine the face, content, constructvalidity, and reliability of the functional social supportdomain of Perinatal Infant Care Social Support (PICSS)translated into Spanish and adapted ...for first-time mothersof term babies.
Methods. Validation study of the functionalsocial support domain of PICSS, which has 22 itemswith response options from 1 to 4; higher scores indicategreater social support. A translation, back-translation, andcultural adaptation process took place along with an expertreview to evaluate face and content validity. In total, 210mothers participated to establish construct validity andthe reliability of the domain. The content validity index andfactor analysis were used to identify the structure of thedomain. Reliability was estimated using Cronbach’s alphacoefficient.
Results. Linguistic and cultural adaptationswere performed, along with validation and reliability. Face validity for mothers was the following: high comprehension (94%); and forexperts: high comprehension (95.83%), high clarity (96.53%), and high precision(92.82%). In relevance and pertinence, the content validity index was high (0.97).Construct validation identified two factors that explained 76% of the variance of thedomain evaluated: factor 1 “Supporting presence -emotional and appraisal support”(13 items, 39%) and factor 2 “Practical support -informational and instrumentalsupport-” (9 items, 37%). Cronbach’s alpha value was 0.97.
Conclusion. Given the robust psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the functional socialsupport domain of PICSS, this may be used to identify the functional social supportin the mothers.
Introduction. The germination of Ischaemum rugosum Salisb. is uneven due to the presence of latency, a
process that affects its management and research. Objective. To evaluate three methods for ...breaking dormancy in
I. rugosum Salisb. seeds that allow its uniform germination under controlled conditions. Materials and methods.
Three experiments were carried out at the Laboratorio Oficial de Análisis de Calidad de Semillas del Centro para
Investigaciones en Granos y Semillas of the Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica; from May to June 2016.
In the first experiment, potassium nitrate and distilled water, two imbibition times, and a control without imbibition
were tested. In the second, the seeds were subjected for three weeks to four constant temperature regimes (15 °C, 30
°C, alternating temperatures 15 and 30 °C, and ambient temperature of 26 °C). In the third, seeds were placed in water
for one hour at different degrees of heat (23, 30, 45, and 65 °C), a control without imbibition was used. Results. In the
first experiment, the best treatments were 16 and 24 h of imbibition with potassium nitrate. In the second experiment
temperature was a significant factor, germination was reached with three temperatures used, only with 15 °C there was
no germination. In the third experiment the temperature in the water was a significant factor, the highest germination
occurred in the treatment at 23 °C, while at 65 °C no germination occurred. Conclusion. The use of hot water as a way
to break latency was ruled out. It is concluded that the best treatments were KNO3
at 0.25 % for 16 or 24 h, while the
use of water was only effective in the time of 16 h, in all three cases alternating temperatures between 15 and 30 ° C.
Introducción. La germinación de Ischaemum rugosum Salisb. es desuniforme debido a la presencia de
latencia, proceso que afecta su manejo e investigación. Objetivo. Evaluar tres métodos para la ruptura de latencia
en semillas de I. rugosum Salisb. que permitan su germinación uniforme en condiciones controladas. Materiales y
métodos. Tres experimentos se ejecutaron en el Laboratorio Oficial de Análisis de Calidad de Semillas del Centro
para Investigaciones en Granos y Semillas de la Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica; de mayo a junio
del 2016. En el primero se probaron nitrato de potasio y agua destilada, dos tiempos de imbibición, y un testigo
sin imbibición. En el segundo se sometieron las semillas durante tres semanas a cuatro regímenes de temperatura
constante (15 °C, 30 °C, temperaturas alternas 15 y 30 °C, y temperatura ambiental a 26 °C). En el tercero las
semillas se colocaron en agua durante una hora a diferentes grados de calor (23, 30, 45 y 65 °C), se utilizó un testigo
sin imbibición. Resultados. En el primer experimento los mejores tratamientos fueron 16 y 24 h de imbibición con
nitrato de potasio. En el segundo experimento la temperatura fue un factor significativo, se alcanzó la germinación
con tres temperaturas empleadas, solo con 15 °C no hubo germinación. En el tercer experimento la temperatura en
el agua fue un factor significativo, la mayor germinación ocurrió en el tratamiento a 23 °C, mientras que a 65 °C no
ocurrió germinación. Conclusión. Se descartó el uso de agua caliente como forma para romper latencia. Se concluye
que los mejores tratamientos fueron KNO3
al 0,25 % por 16 o 24 h, mientras que el uso de agua solo fue efectiva en
el tiempo de 16 h, en los tres casos alternando las temperaturas entre 15 y 30 °C.
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