Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

Development of the Platysma Muscle and the Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System (Human Specimens at 8–17 Weeks of Development)

There is controversy regarding the description of the different regions of the face of the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) and its relationship with the superficial mimetic muscles. The purpose of this study is to analyze the development of the platysma muscle and the SMAS in human specimens at 8–17 weeks of development using an optical microscope. Furthermore, we propose to study the relationship of the anlage of the SMAS and the neighbouring superficial mimetic muscles. The facial musculature derives from the mesenchyme of the second arch and migrates towards the different regions of the face while forming premuscular laminae. During the 8th week of development, the cervical, infraorbital, mandibular, and temporal laminae are observed to be on the same plane. The platysma muscle derives from the cervical lamina and its mandibular extension enclosing the lower part of the parotid region and the cheek, while the SMAS derives from the upper region. During the period of development analyzed in this study, we have observed no continuity between the anlage of the SMAS and that of the superficial layer of the temporal fascia and the zygomaticus major muscle. Nor have we observed any structure similar to the SMAS in the labial region

Cambio climático, movimientos sociales y políticas públicas : una vinculación necesaria

El cambio climático amenaza los sistemas humanos y biofísicos de nuestro mundo. Durante las dos últimas décadas a través de Naciones Unidas se creo el Panel Intergubernamental de Cambio Climático (IPCC), se generó el Protocolo de Kioto y se han realizado casi una veintena de Conferencias de las Partes (COP) con el objetivo de reducir las emisiones de CO2 a niveles seguros sin resultados positivos. Un horizonte sombrío de degradación ambiental y catástrofes se cierne sobre la humanidad. Mitigación, adaptación, riesgo, incertidumbre entre otros son conceptos que dominan la academia, y las consideraciones acerca de qué es mejor para los países subdesarrollados y en vías de desarrollo son parte del debate en las altas esferas de la política internacional. Lo global tiende a imponerse sobre lo local; sin embargo la ciudadanía, los actores y movimientos sociales poseen percepciones, perspectivas y otras lecturas de las agendas oficiales que pueden ser trascendentales en el futuro. Este libro es una contribución a la polémica sobre cambio climático desde la mirada crítica de varios autores latinoamericanos que buscan la discusión interdisciplinaria, la solidaridad intelectual y la esperanza.Contenido: Prólogo; Claudio Lara 11; Introducción / Julio C. Postigo 15; Sección 1: Aproximaciones críticas a agendas contenciosas; La adaptación al cambio climático: el reto de las dobles agendas / Andrea Lampis 29; Cambio climático, retórica política y crisis ambiental: una nueva interfase entre ciencias naturales y ciencias sociales / Germán Palacio 51; La construcción de agendas cientí&#64257; cas sobre cambio climático y su in&#64258;uencia en la territorialización de políticas públicas: re&#64258;exiones a partir del caso chileno / Gustavo Blanco y María Ignacia Fuenzalida 75; Sección 2: Más allá de la perspectiva del riesgo; Gestión del agua en el contexto de la globalización. Una aproximación de análisis desde la perspectiva de la sociedad del riesgo / Mirta Malvares Miguez 105; Cambio climático: riesgo o comunidad en la crisis ambiental / Pablo Chacón Cancino y Julio C. Postigo 125; Sección 3: La naturaleza transescalar del cambio climático, los movimientos sociales y las políticas públicas; Relevancia de la gestión de los residuos sólidos en las políticas urbanas sobre cambio climático. Lecciones de un caso de estudio (Puente Gallego, Rosario, 1995-2003) / Mirta Geary 149; Desencuentros y (potenciales) sinergias entre las respuestas de campesinos y autoridades regionales frente al cambio climático en el sur andino peruano / Julio C. Postigo 181; Cambio climático y con&#64258; icto socioambiental. Apuntes sobre el antagonismo entre el pueblo mapuche, el Estado chileno y las empresas / Fernando de la Cuadra 217; Las políticas públicas y una energética solar sustentable constituyen instrumentos idóneos para combatir el cambio climático / Julio Torres Martínez 239; Movimientos sociales y con&#64258; ictos socioambientales. El caso de la minería en el Perú / Sofía Castro Salvador 267; Re&#64258;exiones &#64257;nales / Julio C. Postigo 295

Origin of the styloglossus muscle in the human fetus

The origin of the styloglossus muscle was histologically studied bilaterally in nine human fetuses (18 sides). In all cases, the muscle originated in Reichert's cartilage, which gives rise to the temporal styloid process. We identified three types of variation: type A, an accessory muscle fascicle originating from the mandibular angle, found in 7 cases (12 sides); type B, where the styloglossus muscle was attached to the mandibular angle by fibrous tracts, found in three cases (4 sides); and type C, where an accessory muscle fascicle arose from the fibrous tract connecting Reichert's cartilage to the mandibular angle; found in one case. In all cases (2 sides), the styloglossus muscle was innervated by the hypoglossal nerve. Relationships between the styloglossus muscle and vasculonervous elements of the prestyloid and retrostyloid spaces were analysed