Survival and grade of the glioma prediction using transfer learning

[EN] Glioblastoma is a highly malignant brain tumor with a life expectancy of only 3–6 months without treatment. Detecting and predicting its survival and grade accurately are crucial. This study introduces a novel approach using transfer learning techniques. Various pre-trained networks, including EfficientNet, ResNet, VGG16, and Inception, were tested through exhaustive optimization to identify the most suitable architecture. Transfer learning was applied to fine-tune these models on a glioblastoma image dataset, aiming to achieve two objectives: survival and tumor grade prediction.The experimental results show 65% accuracy in survival prediction, classifying patients into short, medium, or long survival categories. Additionally, the prediction of tumor grade achieved an accuracy of 97%, accurately differentiating low-grade gliomas (LGG) and high-grade gliomas (HGG). The success of the approach is attributed to the effectiveness of transfer learning, surpassing the current state-of-the-art methods. In conclusion, this study presents a promising method for predicting the survival and grade of glioblastoma. Transfer learning demonstrates its potential in enhancing prediction models, particularly in scenarios with limited large datasets. These findings hold promise for improving diagnostic and treatment approaches for glioblastoma patients.S

Antibody conversion rates to SARS-CoV-2 in saliva from children attending summer schools in Barcelona, Spain.

Background: Surveillance tools to estimate viral transmission dynamics in young populations are essential to guide recommendations for school opening and management during viral epidemics. Ideally, sensitive techniques are required to detect low viral load exposures among asymptomatic children. We aimed to estimate SARS-CoV-2 infection rates in children and adult populations in a school-like environment during the initial COVID-19 pandemic waves using an antibody-based field-deployable and non-invasive approach. Methods: Saliva antibody conversion defined as ≥ 4-fold increase in IgM, IgA, and/or IgG levels to five SARS-CoV-2 antigens including spike and nucleocapsid constructs was evaluated in 1509 children and 396 adults by high-throughput Luminex assays in samples collected weekly in 22 summer schools and 2 pre-schools in 27 venues in Barcelona, Spain, from June 29th to July 31st, 2020. Results: Saliva antibody conversion between two visits over a 5-week period was 3.22% (49/1518) or 2.36% if accounting for potentially cross-reactive antibodies, six times higher than the cumulative infection rate (0.53%) assessed by weekly saliva RT-PCR screening. IgG conversion was higher in adults (2.94%, 11/374) than children (1.31%, 15/1144) (p=0.035), IgG and IgA levels moderately increased with age, and antibodies were higher in females. Most antibody converters increased both IgG and IgA antibodies but some augmented either IgG or IgA, with a faster decay over time for IgA than IgG. Nucleocapsid rather than spike was the main antigen target. Anti-spike antibodies were significantly higher in individuals not reporting symptoms than symptomatic individuals, suggesting a protective role against COVID-19. Conclusion: Saliva antibody profiling including three isotypes and multiplexing antigens is a useful and user-friendlier tool for screening pediatric populations to detect low viral load exposures among children, particularly while they are not vaccinated and vulnerable to highly contagious variants, and to recommend public health policies during pandemics

Social factors related to the clinical severity of influenza cases in Spain during the A(H1N1)2009 virus pandemic

Background During the 2009 influenza pandemic, a change in the type of patients most often affected by influenza was observed. The objective of this study was to assess the role of individual and social determinants in hospitalizations due to influenza A (H1N1) 2009 infection. Methods We studied hospitalized patients (cases) and outpatients (controls) with confirmed influenza A (H1N1) 2009 infection. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect data. Variables that might be related to the hospitalization of influenza cases were compared by estimation of the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) and the variables entered into binomial logistic regression models. Results Hospitalization due to pandemic A (H1N1) 2009 influenza virus infections was associated with non-Caucasian ethnicity (OR: 2.18, 95% CI 1.17 − 4.08), overcrowding (OR: 2.84, 95% CI 1.20 − 6.72), comorbidity and the lack of previous preventive information (OR: 2.69, 95% CI: 1.50 − 4.83). Secondary or higher education was associated with a lower risk of hospitalization (OR 0.56, 95% CI: 0.36 − 0.87) Conclusions In addition to individual factors such as comorbidity, other factors such as educational level, ethnicity or overcrowding were associated with hospitalization due to A (H1N1) 2009 influenza virus infections

Spatiotemporal Characteristics of the Largest HIV-1 CRF02_AG Outbreak in Spain: Evidence for Onward Transmissions

Background and Aim: The circulating recombinant form 02_AG (CRF02_AG) is the predominant clade among the human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) non-Bs with a prevalence of 5.97% (95% Confidence Interval-CI: 5.41–6.57%) across Spain. Our aim was to estimate the levels of regional clustering for CRF02_AG and the spatiotemporal characteristics of the largest CRF02_AG subepidemic in Spain.Methods: We studied 396 CRF02_AG sequences obtained from HIV-1 diagnosed patients during 2000–2014 from 10 autonomous communities of Spain. Phylogenetic analysis was performed on the 391 CRF02_AG sequences along with all globally sampled CRF02_AG sequences (N = 3,302) as references. Phylodynamic and phylogeographic analysis was performed to the largest CRF02_AG monophyletic cluster by a Bayesian method in BEAST v1.8.0 and by reconstructing ancestral states using the criterion of parsimony in Mesquite v3.4, respectively.Results: The HIV-1 CRF02_AG prevalence differed across Spanish autonomous communities we sampled from (p < 0.001). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that 52.7% of the CRF02_AG sequences formed 56 monophyletic clusters, with a range of 2–79 sequences. The CRF02_AG regional dispersal differed across Spain (p = 0.003), as suggested by monophyletic clustering. For the largest monophyletic cluster (subepidemic) (N = 79), 49.4% of the clustered sequences originated from Madrid, while most sequences (51.9%) had been obtained from men having sex with men (MSM). Molecular clock analysis suggested that the origin (tMRCA) of the CRF02_AG subepidemic was in 2002 (median estimate; 95% Highest Posterior Density-HPD interval: 1999–2004). Additionally, we found significant clustering within the CRF02_AG subepidemic according to the ethnic origin.Conclusion: CRF02_AG has been introduced as a result of multiple introductions in Spain, following regional dispersal in several cases. We showed that CRF02_AG transmissions were mostly due to regional dispersal in Spain. The hot-spot for the largest CRF02_AG regional subepidemic in Spain was in Madrid associated with MSM transmission risk group. The existence of subepidemics suggest that several spillovers occurred from Madrid to other areas. CRF02_AG sequences from Hispanics were clustered in a separate subclade suggesting no linkage between the local and Hispanic subepidemics

Así soy yo

La finalidad del proyecto es analizar el desarrollo de los niños desde su nacimiento hasta el momento actual. Se trata de elaborar su autobiografía o aspectos de la vida propia de cada uno de ellos como su familia, cómo dieron los primeros pasos, qué comían de pequeños, cómo fue su primer día en el colegio o cuáles eran sus juegos preferidos. Los objetivos son que se formen una adecuada imagen de su esquema corporal; mejorar su autoestima; y que actúen de forma cada vez más autónoma en sus actividades habituales. Para realizar el proyecto se divide el aula en rincones donde se trabajan contenidos y actividades de todas las áreas de Infantil. Se organizan rincones de lógica matemática, de plástica, de construcciones o el rincón de las letras. Las actividades que se llevan a cabo son individuales y en grupo, favoreciendo así hábitos de convivencia, y todos pasan por todos los rincones. Entre las actividades destacan las de orientación espacial; de seriación y de secuenciación; actividades de medición y de lecto-escritura; de plástica, dramatización y búsqueda de información con ayuda de las familias. Se incluye un modelo de los criterios de evaluación , inicial y final, y un ejemplo de todas las fichas elaboradas.Madrid (Comunidad Autónoma). Consejería de Educación. Dirección General de Ordenación AcadémicaMadridMadrid (Comunidad Autónoma). Subdirección General de Formación del Profesorado. CRIF Las Acacias; General Ricardos 179 - 28025 Madrid; Tel. + 34915250893ES

Survival and grade of the glioma prediction using transfer learning

Glioblastoma is a highly malignant brain tumor with a life expectancy of only 3–6 months without treatment. Detecting and predicting its survival and grade accurately are crucial. This study introduces a novel approach using transfer learning techniques. Various pre-trained networks, including EfficientNet, ResNet, VGG16, and Inception, were tested through exhaustive optimization to identify the most suitable architecture. Transfer learning was applied to fine-tune these models on a glioblastoma image dataset, aiming to achieve two objectives: survival and tumor grade prediction.The experimental results show 65% accuracy in survival prediction, classifying patients into short, medium, or long survival categories. Additionally, the prediction of tumor grade achieved an accuracy of 97%, accurately differentiating low-grade gliomas (LGG) and high-grade gliomas (HGG). The success of the approach is attributed to the effectiveness of transfer learning, surpassing the current state-of-the-art methods. In conclusion, this study presents a promising method for predicting the survival and grade of glioblastoma. Transfer learning demonstrates its potential in enhancing prediction models, particularly in scenarios with limited large datasets. These findings hold promise for improving diagnostic and treatment approaches for glioblastoma patients

A randomised controlled trial of a program based on the theory of planned behavior to promote fruit and vegetable intake among schoolchildren: PROFRUVE study protocol

Background: The PROFRUVE study is a controlled intervention based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), which follows those behavioral theories that have proved to be the most effective at changing infant fruit and vegetable (F\/) intake pattern. The main purpose of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention program in increasing FV consumption in schoolchildren aged 8 to 10 and based on TPB. Methods: Eligible classrooms within schools from Vitoria-Gasteiz (Basque Country, Spain) will be randomly assigned to the intervention (classrooms n = 4; children n = 86) or control (classrooms n = 4; children n = 86) group. The intervention group will receive 14 sessions of 60 min during an academic year (October to June). These sessions, designed by a multidisciplinary team, are based on TPB and are directed at modifying determinants of behavior (attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control and intention of consumption), and intake of FV itself. Both the process and the evolution of consumption and determinants of behavior will be evaluated (before, during, shortly after and a year after) using validated surveys, 7 day food records, 24 h reminders and questionnaires. Discussion: This study will provide a valid and useful tool to achieve changes in the consumption of FV at school level. A negative result will be helpful in redefining new strategies in the framework of changing habits in the consumption of FV.This study is supported by the Government of the Basque Country (IT572/13), CIBERobn (Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red, ISCIII), City Council of Vitoria-Gasteiz and University of the Basque Country (Programa de Fomento del Consumo de Fruta y Verdura en la Poblacion Infantil de Vitoria-Gasteiz FASE II US14/15). In order to be founded by the University of the Basque Country, the project "Programa de Fomento del Consumo de Fruta y Verdura en la Poblacion Infantil de Vitoria-Gasteiz FASE II US14/15" was evaluated and peer reviewed by ANEP (National Agency for Evaluation and Forecastig). Arrizabalaga-Lopez M is a PhD fellowship holder from the University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU. This funding source had no role in the design of this study and will not have any role during its execution, analyses, interpretation of the data, or decision to submit results

Empleo de la ultrafiltración extracorpórea aislada para el tratamiento de la insuficiencia cardiaca descompensada: dificultades técnicas y evolución clínica

La ultrafiltración extracorpórea aislada se ha revelado como una posible estrategia terapéutica para pacientes con insuficiencia cardíaca descompensada resistente a diuréticos. Nuestro objetivo fue evaluar la evolución clínica a corto-medio plazo de los pacientes sometidos a ultrafiltración extracorpórea aislada y las incidencias técnicas/clínicas. Material y método: Estudio descriptivo transversal prospectivo en pacientes con insuficiencia cardíaca en estadio III-IV de la New York Heart Association resistentes al tratamiento diurético. La ultrafiltración extracorpórea aislada se realizó con el sistema Dedyca®, usando como acceso vascular un catéter venoso central. La tasa de ultrafiltración se iba ajustando en función de la tensión arterial del paciente. Para evaluar la evolución clínica se realizaron controles clínicos y analíticos antes y 1 mes después de las sesiones de ultrafiltración extracorpórea aislada. Para evaluar las complicaciones técnicas/clínicas se revisaron los registros de enfermería. Resultados: Se estudiaros 6 pacientes, que realizaron una media de 2 sesiones, con una duración media de 5 horas y una ultrafiltración media de 2100cc por sesión. Respecto a las complicaciones técnicas, sólo un paciente presentó coagulación parcial delsistema. Ningún paciente presentó efectos adversos durante la ultrafiltración extracorpórea aislada. Conclusiones: Tras la ultrafiltración extracorpórea aislada, aumenta la diuresis con la misma dosis de diurético e incluso con disminución progresiva. Es una técnica sencilla, sin complicaciones técnicas para enfermeras familiarizadas con técnicas de depuración extracorpórea

Aquí cabemos todos

El trabajo no ha sido publicado. Resumen basado en ficha elaborada por los autoresEl proyecto ha sido realizado por 15 profesores del claustro del colegio La Anunciación. Los principales objetivos buscados son: promover la idea de que la diversidad cultural y, en su caso étnica es un elemento más para todos los individuos; crear una cultura, que sea espacio de dialogo y comunicación entre colectivos sociales diversos; acoger la experiencia real del alumno en la situación de escolarización facilitando su integración; reducir perjuicios sociales hacia las minorías étnicas. Los métodos empleados han sido la instrucción directa, el descubrimiento guiado y el aprendizaje cooperativo. Para la valoración de los resultados se han realizado recogidas de datos y observaciones sistemáticas sobre los alumnos, concluyendo que la experiencia ha incidido no solamente en el ámbito escolar sino también en el familiar y social de los alumnos escolarizados en el centro.Consejería de Educación y Juventud de CantabriaCantabriaES