Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Background: Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. // Methods: We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung's disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. // Findings: We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung's disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middle-income countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in low-income countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. // Interpretation: Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Análisis cuantitativo de variables hemodinámicas de la aorta obtenidas de 4D flow Quantitative analysis of hemodynamic variables of the aorta by 4D flow MRI

Objetivo: Los parámetros hemodinámicos son de gran utilidad para realizar un adecuado diagnóstico. Sin embargo, debido a la gran cantidad de variables que pueden obtenerse, el análisis global de todas ellas puede ser complejo. Para facilitar esta tarea, nosotros proponemos crear un modelo que permita clasificar distintas variables hemodinámicas entre las pertenecientes a un individuo sano o a uno patológico. Para ello, usaremos técnicas de minería de datos que permitan identificar y encontrar relaciones entre distintos parámetros hemodinámicos de la aorta obtenidos a través de flujo multidimensional (4D flow) por resonancia magnética. Método: Una secuencia 4D flow de todo el corazón y los grandes vasos fue adquirida utilizando resonancia magnética en 19 voluntarios sanos y 2 pacientes (uno con una coartación aórtica y otro con una coartación aórtica reparada). Retrospectivamente, los datos fueron reformateados a lo largo de la aorta, originándose 3 cortes en los voluntarios y 30 cortes en cada paciente. En cada corte la aorta fue segmentada y distintos parámetros fueron cuantificados: área, velocidad máxima, velocidad mínima, flujo y volumen, calculándose en los cuatro últimos su valor máximo, promedio, desviación estándar, curtosis, sesgo, proporción de tiempo en alcanzar el valor máximo, entre otros. Teniendo un total de 26 variables por cada corte. Se aplicó la técnica de árboles de decisión tipo CART (por sus siglas en inglés) para clasificar los datos. Para validar el modelo, 2 cortes extras fueron generados por cada voluntario y 20 cortes por cada paciente. Resultados: La técnica CART, mediante la utilización de sólo 7 variables, puede clasificar las imágenes de los voluntarios y pacientes con una tasa de error del 14,1%, una sensibilidad de 82,5% y una especificidad de 89.4%. Conclusiones: 4D flow provee una gran cantidad de datos hemodinámicos que son difíciles de analizar. En este trabajo demostramos que al utilizar minería de datos se pueden clasificar imágenes a partir de parámetros hemodinámicos relevantes y sus relaciones para apoyar el diagnóstico de alteraciones cardiovasculares.Objective: Hemodynamic parameters are critical to perform a proper diagnosis. However, due to the large number of variables that can be obtained, overall analysis may represent a complex task. To facilitate this, we propose to create a model for classifying different hemodynamic variables between those belonging to a healthy individual and to a pathological patient. For this purpose, we employed data mining techniques to identify relationships among various aortic hemodynamic parameters obtained through multi-dimensional (4D flow) MR imaging. Method: A 4D flow sequence of whole heart and great vessels was acquired using MRI in 19 healthy volunteers and 2 patients (one with aortic coarctation and one with repaired coarctation of the aorta). Retrospectively, data were reformatted along the aorta; three MRI acquisitions were performed for volunteers and 30 sequences for each patient. In each slice the aorta was segmented and various parameters were quantified: area, maximum velocity, minimum velocity, flow and volumen, with following values being calculated for last four parameters: maximum, average, standard deviation, kurtosis, skewness, proportion of time to reach the maximum value, among others. A total of 26 variables for each acquisition were obtained. In order to classify data, the CART Technique (Classification and Regression Trees) was applied. To validate the model, two extra projections were generated per each volunteer and 20 slice per each patient. Results: By using only 7 variables, the CART Technique allows discrimination between images performed either on volunteers or patients with an error rate of 14.1%, a sensitivity of 82.5%, and a specificity of 89.4%. Conclusions: 4D flow MR imaging provides a wealth of hemodynamic data that can be difficult to analyze. In this paper we demonstrate that by using data mining techniques it is possible to classify images from relevant hemodynamic parameters and their relationships in order to support the diagnosis of cardiovascular disorders

Evolución de aminas volátiles en merluza (Merluccius australis), merluza (Merluccius capensis) y rosada (Xiphiurus capensis) durante el almacenamiento a -18ºC

8 páginasPeer reviewe

Prediction of precooking times for albacore (Thunnus alalunga) by computer simulation

13 páginas, 1 tabla, 9 figurasA semi-empirical model of precooking of albacore was developed. This model was used in a simulation program to predict the optimal (minimum) precooking times. The simulations showed close agreement with experimental results. Regression equations were also calculated relating the precooking times with the initial total fish weight and its initial temperature. These equations can easily be used in albacore canning factories without having to use a computerThis work was supported by a research grant from the Comision Asesora de Investigacion Cientifica y Tecnica (PR 84-0042, 43, Spain).Peer reviewe

Efficiency of early selection in Calycophyllum spruceanum and Guazuma crinita, two fast-growing timber species of the Peruvian Amazon

'Bolaina' (Guazuma crinita, Malvaceae) and 'capirona' (Calycophyllum spruceanum, Rubiaceae) are fast-growing Amazonian timber trees. In Peru, they are increasingly being used in agroforestry systems and plantations, and interest in developing improved germplasm is growing. However, tree improvement incurs both direct costs and interest costs on investments; because of this, early selection is of interest. We examine the efficiency of early selection at 13 or 17 months after field trial establishment. These are compared with selection after 49 or 53 months using two efficiency metrics: one based on discounted response to selection per unit of present value of cost, the second on net discounted revenues, using discount rates of 5%, 10% and 15%. Our metrics differed from those used in previous studies by taking into account direct costs as well as costs of capital. We found that in most scenarios early selection was attractive, partly due to direct cost savings. We conclude that, in evaluating the efficient of early selection, lack of consideration of direct costs may produce erroneous results. We also explore some general implications of the results.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

Medición de presiones relativas en aorta torácica y arteria pulmonar de voluntarios sanos y pacientes con Tetralogía de Fallot reparada utilizando la secuencia 4D Flow de resonancia magnética cardíaca Relative pressure measurement in thoracic aorta and pulmonary artery in healthy volunteers and patients with Tetralogy of Fallot repaired by 4D Flow cardiovascular MRI

Objetivo. Utilizar 4D Flow y las ecuaciones de Navier-Stokes para obtener mapas de presiones relativas (PR) en la Aorta y Arteria Pulmonar (AP) de voluntarios y pacientes con Tetralogía de Fallot reparada (TOFr). Métodos. En 10 voluntarios y 6 pacientes con TOFr se adquirió la secuencia 4D flow del corazón y sus principales vasos. La raíz de la Aorta Ascendente se utilizó como referencia para calcular las PR a esta zona en cinco puntos distintos. Además, se midió la PR de la AP derecha e izquierda respecto a la AP. Resultados. Los pacientes con TOFr tuvieron diferencias de PR entre los valores máximos y mínimos más grandes que los voluntarios en la AP (p<0,05). Adicionalmente, las PR de la aorta tuvieron una excelente correlación con datos publicados utilizando 4D flow y mediante cateterización. Conclusiones. 4D Flow podría constituir una nueva herramienta diagnóstica, no invasiva, ni operador dependiente, en el manejo de patologías CV.<br>Objective. To validate the utility of 4D Blood Flow and Navier-Stokes equations to create relative pressure (RP) maps in the aorta and pulmonary artery (PA) in healthy volunteers and patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). Methods. A 4D flow sequence of whole heart and its major vessels was acquired in 10 healthy volunteers and 6 patients with repaired TOF. The root of the ascending aorta was used as the reference point to calculate RP along five different points of this area. In addition, relative pressure of both right and left PA was measured as correlated to absolute pressure. Results. Patients with repaired TOF showed greater pulmonary artery (PA) relative pressure differences between maximum and minimum values when compared to volunteers (p <0.05). Additionally, aortic relative pressures had an excellent correlation with published data, whether using 4D flow or by catheterization. Conclusions. 4D Flow MRI may represent a new non-invasive and non operator-dependent diagnostic tool in CV disease management