Subjective symptoms related to GSM radiation from mobile phone base stations : a cross-sectional study

Objectives: We performed a reanalysis of the data from Navarro et al., 2003, in which health symptoms related to microwave exposure from mobile phone base stations (BS) were explored, including data obtained in a retrospective inquiry about fear of exposure from BS. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: La Ñora (Murcia), Spain. Participants: Participants with known illness in 2003 were subsequently disregarded: 88 participants instead of 101 (in 2003) were analysed. Since weather circumstances can influence exposure, we restricted data to measurements made under similar weather conditions. Outcomes and methods: A statistical method indifferent to the assumption of normality was employed: namely, binary logistic regression for modelling a binary response (e.g. suffering fatigue (1) or not (0)), and so exposure was introduced as a predictor variable. This analysis was carried out on a regular basis and bootstrapping [95% percentile method] was used to provide more accurate confidence intervals. Main outcome measures Results: The symptoms most related to exposure were: lack of appetite [odds ratio (OR)] = 1.58, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 1.23-2.03; lack of concentration [OR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.25- 1.89]; irritability [OR = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.23-1.85]; and trouble sleeping [OR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.20-1.84]. Changes in -2 log likelihood showed similar results. Concerns about the BS were strongly related with trouble sleeping [OR = 3.12, 95% CI = 1.10-8.86]. The exposure variable remained statistically significant in the multivariate analysis. The bootstrapped values were similar to the asymptotic confidence intervals. Conclusion: This study confirms our preliminary results. We observed that the incidence of most of the symptoms was related to exposure levels ¿ independently of the demographic variables and some possible risk factors. Concerns about adverse effects from exposure, despite being strongly related with sleep disturbances, do not influence the direct association between exposure and sleep

Navegación autónoma de un multi-rotor: control automático del avance

En este trabajo se desarrollan las funciones de navegación autónoma de un multi-rotor, controlando automáticamente el avance a través del control del ángulo Pitch. El sistema de percepción es un sensor inercial IMU, a partir de cuya información se calcula la velocidad. El control de los otros grados de libertad se realiza mediante el autopiloto comercial embarcado. El estudio abarca los métodos posibles de cálculo de la velocidad, la simulación del sistema y su implementación y prueba

Course of vascular access and relationship with treatment of anemia

Producción CientíficaBackground and objectives: Maintenance of the vascular access is a crucial factor in hemodialysis, but large studies of factors that are predictive of thrombosis are lacking. Design, setting, participants, & measurements: This prospective, multicenter study investigated a cohort to describe the management of vascular access and establish the influence of anemia as a risk factor. The cohort included 1710 patients (aged 64.4 yr; 60% men) who were followed every 3 mo at 119 centers during 12 mo. On inclusion, 9.6% had a catheter, 80.3% had a native arteriovenous fistula, and 10.1% had a polytetrafluoroethylene graft. Results: Low baseline hemoglobin increased the risk for vascular access events. The risk was higher with a polytetrafluoroethylene graft and a catheter versus arteriovenous fistula. The multivariate model included type of vascular access, previous cardiovascular events, and noncorrected anemia. The likelihood of remaining free of vascular access events 12 mo later was 0.727 (baseline hemoglobin 12.0 g/dl), figures similar to those obtained with hemoglobin from the trimester before the event. The Cox model included type of vascular access. Conclusions: Correcting anemia did not increase the risk for vascular access–related events, and anemia that was resistant to treatment identified a subgroup of patients with higher comorbidity and higher likelihood of a vascular access event

Eculizumab in secondary atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome

Background. Complement dysregulation occurs in thrombotic microangiopathies (TMAs) other than primary atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome (aHUS). A few of these patients have been reported previously to be successfully treated with eculizumab. Methods. We identified 29 patients with so-called secondary aHUS who had received eculizumab at 11 Spanish nephrology centres. Primary outcome was TMA resolution, defined by a normalization of platelet count (>150 × 109/L) and haemoglobin, disappearance of all the markers of microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia (MAHA), and improvement of renal function, with a ≥25% reduction of serum creatinine from the onset of eculizumab administration. Results. Twenty-nine patients with secondary aHUS (15 drug-induced, 8 associated with systemic diseases, 2 with postpartum, 2 with cancer-related, 1 associated with acute humoral rejection and 1 with intestinal lymphangiectasia) were included in this study. The reason to initiate eculizumab treatment was worsening of renal function and persistence of TMA despite treatment of the TMA cause and plasmapheresis. All patients showed severe MAHA and renal function impairment (14 requiring dialysis) prior to eculizumab treatment and 11 presented severe extrarenal manifestations. A rapid resolution of the TMA was observed in 20 patients (68%), 15 of them showing a ≥50% serum creatinine reduction at the last follow-up. Comprehensive genetic and molecular studies in 22 patients identified complement pathogenic variants in only 2 patients. With these two exceptions, eculizumab was discontinued, after a median of 8 weeks of treatment, without the occurrence of aHUS relapses. Conclusion. Short treatment with eculizumab can result in a rapid improvement of patients with secondary aHUS in whom TMA has persisted and renal function worsened despite treatment of the TMA-inducing conditionWork in this report was funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III: REDinREN (RD 016/009 Feder Funds), the Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias (13/02502 and ICI14/00350), the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (SAF2015-66287R) and the Autonomous Region of Madrid (S2010/BMD-2316; Grupo de Investigación Complemento-CM). SRdeC is funded by the Seventh Framework Programme European Union Project EURenOmics (305608

Higher versus lower nut consumption and changes in cognitive performance over two years in a population at risk of cognitive decline: a cohort study

Background: Tree nuts and peanuts (henceforth, nuts) are nutrient-dense foods rich in neuroprotective components; thus, their consumption could benefit cognitive health. However, evidence to date is limited and inconsistent regarding the potential benefits of nuts for cognitive function. Objective: To prospectively evaluate the association between nut consumption and 2-y changes in cognitive performance in older adults at cognitive decline risk. Methods: A total of 6,630 participants aged 55 to 75 y (mean age 65.0±4.9 y, 48.4% women) with overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome completed a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire and a comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests at baseline and a 2-y follow-up. Composite cognitive scores were used to assess global, general, attention, and executive function domains. Nut consumption was categorized as Results: Nut consumption was positively associated with 2-y changes in general cognitive function (P-trend Conclusion: Frequent nut consumption was associated with a smaller decline in general cognitive performance over 2 y in older adults at risk of cognitive decline. Randomized clinical trials to verify our findings are warranted

Desarrollo urbótico del semáforo inteligente. Primeras experiencias en un living-lab urbano

Urbotics is defined as the collection of city automated-systems that aids different services of energy management, security, welfare and communication. The introduction of these new technologies makes possible that the city becomes an active city where technology is integrated into intelligent urban design and, so, the city can adapt itself to population needs. One of the most important city problems is the high rate of traffic accidents where vehicles and pedestrians are involved. In this context, Tau Ceramica, Miniatec and the Instituto de Biomecánica de Valencia (IBV) have developed an intelligent traffic-lights: an urbotic application with the aim of improving traffic-lights regulation and car and pedestrian flows in key and/or trouble points of city.La Urbótica es el conjunto de sistemas automatizados que aporta diversos servicios de gestión energética, seguridad, bienestar y comunicación. Gracias a la introducción de estas nuevas tecnologías, la ciudad pasa a ser una ciudad activa: la tecnología se integra en el diseño inteligente de la ciudad y, entonces, ésta es capaz de responder de forma más eficaz a las necesidades de las personas que la habitan. Uno de los problemas más importantes en las ciudades es el alto índice de accidentes de tráfico urbano donde se ven involucrados tanto vehículos como peatones (un tercio de las víctimas de tráfico son peatones). En este contexto, TAU Cerámica, con la colaboración del Instituto de Biomecánica de Valencia (IBV), ha desarrollado un semáforo inteligente, una aplicación urbótica destinada a mejorar la regulación semafórica y los flujos de peatones y vehículos en puntos clave o conflictivos de la trama urbana

Adequacy and prognostic impact of treatment for severe exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

[ES] Objetivo: Definir las características clínicas de los pacientes hospitalizados en servicios de medicina interna (MI) y neumología por exacerbaciones de la EPOC, evaluar la adecuación a las recomendaciones de las guías de práctica clínica y conocer su impacto en el pronóstico de los pacientes. Metodología: Estudio longitudinal retrospectivo. Se incluyeron aleatoriamente pacientes ingresados por exacerbación de EPOC en un hospital de tercer nivel. Se registraron variables demográficas, clínicas (grado de disnea y de obstrucción, exacerbaciones previas, comorbilidades), criterios de adecuación a las guías clínicas GOLD y GesEPOC y datos de reingresos y mortalidad. Se realizó un análisis univariante, multivariante y de supervivencia. Resultados: Se incluyeron 108 pacientes y la edad media fue de 71,48±11,65 años. Los reingresos a los 3 meses fueron un 26,4% y al año un 43,4%. La mortalidad intrahospitalaria fue del 3,9%, a los 3 meses del 21,9%, y al año del 27,4%. Los pacientes ingresados en MI tuvieron una mortalidad más elevada durante el ingreso (p = 0,043), a los tres meses (p = 0,028) y al año (p = 0,007) respecto a los de neumología. La adecuación global a las guías clínicas en la evaluación clínica fue del 63% (menor en los pacientes de MI: 56,1% vs. 73,8%, p = 0,063), y en el tratamiento del 26,9% para la GOLD, y del 28,7% para GesEPOC. La adecuación en el uso de corticoides según GOLD se asoció a menor tasa de reingresos al año (p = 0,041) y mortalidad intrahospitalaria (p = 0,007) y a los 3 meses (p = 0,05). Conclusiones: El perfil clínico de los pacientes es actualmente similar al descrito previamente pero su evolución clínica fue peor. La adecuación global del tratamiento farmacológico a las guías clínicas es baja, y solo el uso adecuado de esteroides sistémicos se asocia a una reducción de la mortalidad precoz y de los reingresos a medio plazo.[EN] Objective: To define the clinical characteristics of patients hospitalised in pneumology and internal medicine departments for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation, to assess the compliance with the recommendations of the clinical practice guidelines and to determine the impact on the patients’ prognosis. Methodology: We conducted a retrospective longitudinal study that randomly included patients hospitalised for COPD exacerbation in a tertiary hospital. We collected demographic and clinical variables (degree of dyspnoea and obstruction, previous exacerbations, comorbidities), readmission and mortality data and criteria for compliance with the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines and the Spanish COPD guidelines (GesEPOC). We performed a univariate, multivariate and survival analysis. Results: The study included 108 patients, and the mean age was 71.48±11.65 years. The readmission rate was 26.4% at 3 months and 43.4% at 1 year. The hospital mortality rate was 3.9%, the mortality rate at 3 months was 21.9%, and the mortality rate at 1 year was 27.4%. The patients hospitalised in the internal medicine department had higher mortality during hospitalisation (p = .043), at 3 months (p = .028) and at 1 year (p = .007) compared with the rates for the pneumology department. Overall compliance with the clinical guidelines was 63% for the clinical evaluation (less for the patients in internal medicine: 56.1% vs. 73.8%, p = .063). For the treatment, the compliance was 26.9% for GOLD and 28.7% for GesEPOC. Compliance with the GOLD guidelines in the use of corticosteroids was associated with a lower rate of long-term readmissions (p = .041) and hospital mortality (p = .007) and 3-month mortality (p = .05). Conclusions: The clinical profile of the patients is currently similar to that previously reported, but their clinical progression was poorer. Overall compliance with the clinical guidelines for drug treatment was low, and only appropriate use of systemic steroids was associated with a reduction in early mortality and in medium-term readmissions