Neuropsychological Test Barcelona-2: Theoretical and Practical Aspects

The Barcelona test (TB) is an instrument of neuropsychological assessment, developed under the influence of Luria’s ideas, and published in 1990 [1]. It explores the main cognitive functions and allows the design of graphic profiles similar to those of the Boston Test for the diagnosis of aphasia. Objective: To present the theoretical and practical characteristics of a new version of the test, the Test Barcelona-2. The new and computerized versions of test structure is described here with six modules established: (1) Language-attention-orientation; (2) Reading and writing; (3) Motorpraxis; (4) Perception-gnosis; (5) Memory; (6) Abstraction-execution. As a novelty, test allows the selection for specific profiles: alpha, beta, abbreviated, aphasia, andecological-forensic approach. The types of variables condition a different statistical approach and a differentiated form of graphic expression. The new test presents a modular structure, which allows determining intra- and inter-module dissociations. Computerization greatly facilitates the work of the clinician. In the case of aphasia the test allows to differentiate easily all its clinical forms. Keywords: Test Barceona-2, neuropsychological test; computerized workstation, modular structur

Ischemic aetiology, self-reported frailty, and gender with respect to cognitive impairment in chronic heart failure patients

Background: decisive information on the parameters involved in cognitive impairment in patients with chronic heart failure is as yet lacking. Our aim was to determine the functional and psychosocial variables related with cognitive impairment using the mini-mental-state examination (MMSE) with age-and education-corrected scores. Methods: a cohort study of chronic heart failure patients included in an integrated multidisciplinary hospital/primary care program. The MMSE (corrected for age and education in the Spanish population) was administered at enrolment in the program. Analyses were performed in 525 patients. Demographic and clinical variables were collected. Comprehensive assessment included depression (Yesavage), family function (family APGAR), social network (Duke), dependence (Barthel Index), frailty (Barber), and comorbidities. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were performed to determine the predictors of cognitive impairment. Results: cognitive impairment affected 145 patients (27.6 %). Explanatory factors were gender (OR: 2.77 (1.75-4.39) p  3.5 (OR: 0.59 (0.35-0.99) p = 0.048), and beta-blocker treatment (OR: 0.36 (0.17 to 0.76, p = 0.007)). No association was found between cognitive impairment and social support or family function. Conclusion: the observed prevalence of cognitive impairment using MMSE corrected scores was 27.6 %. A global approach in the management of these patients is needed, especially focusing on women and patients with frailty, low albumin levels, and ischemic aetiology heart failure

Ischemic aetiology, self-reported frailty, and gender with respect to cognitive impairment in chronic heart failure patients

Decisive information on the parameters involved in cognitive impairment in patients with chronic heart failure is as yet lacking. Our aim was to determine the functional and psychosocial variables related with cognitive impairment using the mini-mental-state examination (MMSE) with age-and education-corrected scores. A cohort study of chronic heart failure patients included in an integrated multidisciplinary hospital/primary care program. The MMSE (corrected for age and education in the Spanish population) was administered at enrolment in the program. Analyses were performed in 525 patients. Demographic and clinical variables were collected. Comprehensive assessment included depression (Yesavage), family function (family APGAR), social network (Duke), dependence (Barthel Index), frailty (Barber), and comorbidities. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were performed to determine the predictors of cognitive impairment. Cognitive impairment affected 145 patients (27.6 %). Explanatory factors were gender (OR: 2.77 (1.75-4.39) p 3.5 (OR: 0.59 (0.35-0.99) p = 0.048), and beta-blocker treatment (OR: 0.36 (0.17 to 0.76, p = 0.007)). No association was found between cognitive impairment and social support or family function. The observed prevalence of cognitive impairment using MMSE corrected scores was 27.6 %. A global approach in the management of these patients is needed, especially focusing on women and patients with frailty, low albumin levels, and ischemic aetiology heart failure

Factores asociados a satisfacción en el primer nivel de atención en cuatro establecimientos de salud peruanos

Objetive: Identify factors associated with satisfaction in the first level of care. Material and Methods: Cross-sectional study using the SERVQUAL survey to measure overall satisfaction and dimensions. Prevalence ratios (PR) were estimated using generalized linear models. Results: Of 120 respondents, 27.5% reported satisfaction. Female sex (RPa: 0.57, IC95%: 0.32-0.99), young (RPa: 0.33, IC95%: 0.19-0.60), adult (RPa: 0.33, IC95%: 0.19-0.60), older adult (RPa: 0.46, 95% CI: 0.28-0.76) and having SIS insurance (RPa: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.57-0.81) were negatively associated to satisfaction. Being treated in gynecology-obstetrics (RPa: 2.15, IC95%: 1.06-4.35), general medicine-specialties (RP: 1.58, IC95%: 1.38-1.81), and being a user (PR: 2.11, IC95%: 1.34-3.33) was positively associated with satisfaction. Conclusions: The satisfaction reported by users and / or companions in the first level of care is low. Female sex, belonging to three of four age groups and having SIS decreased the prevalence of perceived global satisfaction. While being cared for by gynecology-obstetrics, general medicine-specialties, being a user of care increased the level of overall satisfaction.Objetivo: Identificar factores asociados a satisfacción en el primer nivel de atención. Material y Métodos: Estudio transversal utilizando la encuesta SERVQUAL para medir satisfacción de forma global y por dimensiones. Se estimaron razones de prevalencia (RP) utilizando modelos lineales generalizados. Resultados: De 120 encuestados, el 27,5% reportó satisfacción. El sexo femenino (RPa:0,57, IC95%:0,32-0,99), ser joven (RPa:0,33, IC95%:0.19-0.60), adulto (RPa:0,33, IC95%:0,19-0,60), adulto mayor (RPa:0,46, IC95%:0,28-0,76) y tener seguro SIS (RPa:0,68, IC95%:0,57-0,81) se asociaron negativamente a satisfacción. Ser atendido en gineco-obstetricia (RPa:2,15, IC95%:1,06-4,35), medicina general-especialidades (RP:1,58, IC95%:1,38-1,81), y ser usuario (PR:2,11, IC95%:1,34-3,33) se asoció positivamente a satisfacción. Conclusiones: La satisfacción reportada por usuarios y/o acompañantes en primer nivel de atención es baja. El sexo femenino, pertenecer a tres de cuatro grupos etáreos y tener SIS disminuyó la prevalencia de satisfacción global percibida. Mientras que ser atendido por gineco-obstetricia, medicina general-especialidades, ser usuario de la atención incrementó el nivel de satisfacción global

Factors affecting diabetic patient’s long-term quality of life after simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation: a single-center analysis

[Purpose]: Pancreas transplantation (PT) is one of the few ways to restore euglycemia within diabetic patients; however, the high morbidity caused by surgical complications and the need for immunosuppressive therapy has raised controversy about PT improving the health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL). The aim of this study is to assess the long-term (≥ 5 years after PT) HRQoL and to identify the factors affecting it.[Methods]: A single-center, cross-sectional study of 49 sequential PT was performed. All patients conducted a telephone interview to fulfill the modification of Medical Outcome Health Survey Short Form questionnaire (SF-36v2) and were compared to similar post-PT studies from the literature.[Results]: Patients with a history of replacement renal therapy (RRT) or neuropathy undergoing a PT were associated to a worse bodily pain (P = 0.03) and physical function (P = 0.04), respectively, whereas those with retinopathy showed an improved Role Emotional (P = 0.04). Multivariate analysis revealed the presence of RRT as the only independent prognostic factor for a worse bodily pain [relative risk = 3.9; 95% confidence interval (1.1–14.6)], (P = 0.04). Furthermore, nearly all PT recipients (91.8%) claimed an overall better health than prior to PT.[Conclusion]: Our study confirms that PT recipients’ HRQoL improves after PT, showing similar HRQoL scores across different populations and suggests that patients in predialysis could benefit from an improved HRQoL if transplanted on the early stages of the disease

Calidad de vida y estrés en estudiantes de medicina en Cajamarca-Perú-2023

Objectives: Determine the influence of quality of life on the stress of medical students at a university in Cajamarca during 2023. Identify the level of quality of life and the degree of stress, and establish the dimensions of quality of life and others. factors that influence stress. Materials and methods: The present study was basic with a quantitative approach, cross-sectional with a correlational method. The student population was 175 students, and the sample was 106 students. The SISCO SV-21 questionnaire with Cronbach's alpha of 0.85 and the WHOQOL-BREF 26 questionnaire with Cronbach's alpha of 0.89 were used. For the treatment of the collected information, descriptive and inferential statistics were used with a level of significance p<0.05 using the Excel statistical package and the Epi Info system. Results: We found 71.70% high levels of stress and 96 % of a low quality of life. A value of p = 0.317 was found with respect to the relationship of the two variables. Regarding the dimensions of the quality of life that predisposes to have high stress, it was found significant to psychological health (p = 0.0025) and PR of 2.88; and social relationships (p= 0.036). Finally, in relation to gender and presentation of stress (significant p of =0.0084) with PR of 1.37. Conclusion: There is no significant correlation between stress and the quality of life of medical students. There are high levels of stress and a feeling of poor quality of life among students. The female sex, mental health and social relationships are significantly related to high levels of stress.Objetivos: Determinar la influencia de la calidad de vida en el estrés de los estudiantes de medicina de una universidad de Cajamarca durante el 2023. Identificar el nivel de calidad de vida y el grado de estrés, y establecer las dimensiones de calidad de vida y otros factores que influyen en el estrés. Materiales y métodos: El presente estudio fue tipo básico con enfoque cuantitativo, de tipo transversal con método correlacional. La población de estudiantes fue de 175 estudiantes, y la muestra fue de 106 estudiantes. Se usó el cuestionario SISCO SV-21 con alfa de Cronbach del 0.85 y el cuestionario WHOQOL-BREF 26 con alfa de Cronbach del 0.89. Para el tratamiento de la información recolectada, se usó la estadística descriptiva e inferencial con un nivel de significancia p<0.05 usando para ello el paquete estadístico Excel y el sistema Epi Info. Resultados: Encontramos un 71,70% altos niveles de estrés y 96% de una calidad de vida baja. Se halló un valor de p = 0.317 con respecto a la relación de las dos variables. Con respecto a las dimensiones de la calidad de vida que predispone a tener estrés alto, se encontró significativo a la salud psicológica (p = 0.0025) y RP de 2.88; y las relaciones sociales (p= 0.036). Finalmente, en relación a sexo y presentación de estrés (p significativo de =0,0084) con RP de 1.37. Conclusión: No existe correlación significativa entre el estrés y la calidad de vida de los estudiantes de medicina, Existen elevados niveles de estrés y de sensación de mala calidad de vida entre los estudiantes. El sexo femenino, la salud mental y las relaciones sociales se relacionan significativamente con elevados de estrés

GW150914: First search for the electromagnetic counterpart of a gravitational-wave event by the TOROS collaboration

We present the results of the optical follow-up conducted by the TOROS collaboration of the first gravitational-wave event GW150914. We conducted unfiltered CCD observations (0.35-1 micron) with the 1.5-m telescope at Bosque Alegre starting ~2.5 days after the alarm. Given our limited field of view (~100 square arcmin), we targeted 14 nearby galaxies that were observable from the site and were located within the area of higher localization probability. We analyzed the observations using two independent implementations of difference-imaging algorithms, followed by a Random-Forest-based algorithm to discriminate between real and bogus transients. We did not find any bona fide transient event in the surveyed area down to a 5-sigma limiting magnitude of r=21.7 mag (AB). Our result is consistent with the LIGO detection of a binary black hole merger, for which no electromagnetic counterparts are expected, and with the expected rates of other astrophysical transients.Comment: ApJ Letters, in pres

Similaridad del nicho ecológico de Pinus montezumae y P. pseudostrobus (Pinaceae) en México: implicaciones para la selección de áreas productoras de semillas y de conservación

Background and Aims: Ecological niche models have been used to understand how species can change or persist in an environmental and geographical space over time. The aims of the study were i) to model the ecological niche of Pinus montezumae and Pinus pseudostrobus in Mexico, ii) to evaluate and compare the similarity and equivalence of niche suitability between the distribution areas of both species, and iii) to propose potential geographic zones for the delimitation of seed-producing and conservation areas for each species.Methods: We used geographical data on distribution of species and climatic, topographic, elevation and soil data as environmental predictors, which were modeled based on the Maximum Entropy algorithm. The parameters of similarity (I) and equivalence (D) were estimated to know the degree of overlap of the niche of the species. For the selection of seed areas, environmental data were used that defined the distribution of each species and dasometrics of the National Forest and Soil Inventory (INFyS).Key results: The models show that the two species have similar areas of high suitability, distributed in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt and the Sierra Madre del Sur. The highest contribution to the models for Pinus pseudostrobus were the variables average annual temperature (41.3%) and total annual rainfall (14.3%), whereas the soil (31.1%) and altitude (29%) were determinants in P. montezumae. The niche overlap analysis indicates that the observed value of equivalence (D=0.430) is less than the similarity value (I=0.610), suggesting that the species have a similar niche but that this is not equivalent, which could be in the process of diversification.Conclusions: The suitability of the ecological niche is similar for the two pine species, but it is not equivalent as they present differential environmental variables. These results have implications for the selection of potential areas for seed production and conservation of each species.Antecedentes y Objetivos: Los modelos de nicho ecológico se han usado para entender de qué manera las especies pueden cambiar o persistir en un espacio ambiental y geográfico a lo largo del tiempo. Los objetivos del presente estudio fueron i) modelar el nicho ecológico de P. montezumae y P. pseudostrobus en México, ii) evaluar y comparar la similaridad y equivalencia de la idoneidad del nicho entre las áreas de distribución de las dos especies, y iii) proponer zonas geográficas potenciales para la delimitación de áreas productoras de semillas y conservación para cada especie.Métodos: Se usaron datos geográficos para predecir la distribución de especies y climáticos topográficos y edáficos como predictores ambientales, fueron modelados con base en el algoritmo de Máxima Entropía. Se estimaron parámetros de similaridad (I) y equivalencia (D) para conocer el grado de traslape del nicho. Para la selección de áreas semilleras se usaron los datos ambientales que definieron la distribución de cada especie y dasométricos del Inventario Nacional Forestal y de Suelos (INFyS).Resultados clave: Los modelos muestran que las dos especies presentan zonas muy similares de alta idoneidad, distribuidas en la Faja Volcánica Transmexicana y en la Sierra Madre del Sur. Las mayores contribuciones al modelo de Pinus pseudostrobus fueron las variables temperatura promedio anual (41.3%) y precipitación total anual (14.3%), mientras que el suelo (31.1%) y la altitud (29%) fueron determinantes para el modelo de P. montezumae. El traslape de nicho presenta un valor observado de equivalencia (D=0.430) menor al de similaridad (I=0.610), sugiriendo que las especies tienen un nicho similar, pero que este no es equivalente en su totalidad, el cual podría estar en proceso de diversificación.Conclusiones: La idoneidad del nicho ecológico es similar para las dos especies de pino, pero no es equivalente al presentar variables ambientales diferenciales. Estos resultados tienen implicaciones para la selección potencial de áreas productoras de semillas y conservación para cada especie