Harmonically Trapped Quantum Gases

We solve the problem of a Bose or Fermi gas in $d$-dimensions trapped by $\delta \leq d$ mutually perpendicular harmonic oscillator potentials. From the grand potential we derive their thermodynamic functions (internal energy, specific heat, etc.) as well as a generalized density of states. The Bose gas exhibits Bose-Einstein condensation at a nonzero critical temperature $T_{c}$ if and only if $d+\delta >2$, and a jump in the specific heat at $T_{c}$ if and only if $d+\delta >4$. Specific heats for both gas types precisely coincide as functions of temperature when $d+\delta =2$. The trapped system behaves like an ideal free quantum gas in $d+\delta$ dimensions. For $\delta =0$ we recover all known thermodynamic properties of ideal quantum gases in $d$ dimensions, while in 3D for $\delta =$ 1, 2 and 3 one simulates behavior reminiscent of quantum {\it wells, wires}and{\it dots}, respectively.Comment: 14 pages including 3 figures and 3 table

Osteopoiquilosis y síndrome de Buschke-Ollendörf: a propósito de un caso

Presentamos una paciente de 22 años que tras estudios radiológicos rutinarios, muestra una displasia ósea condensante, completamente asintomática e inócua, que afectaba principalmente pelvis y extremidades distales, mientras que las costillas, cráneo y columna dorsolumbar estaban indemnes. Asimismo, aparecen nevus elásticos y fibromas en la piel. Esta entidad no puede confundirse con un carcinoma metastásico esclerosante, esclerosis tuberosa u otras displasias como la melorreostosis.A female patient, 22 years oíd, showing characteristic sclerotic bone images on radiographic examinations is reported. The main locations were on the distal limbs and pelvis. She has also elastic nevi as freckles in the skin. This entity was not stablished as inhered process. The differential diagnosis lies between sclerotic metastasis, neurofibromatosis (Von Recklinghausen), Bourneville disease and other displastyc lesions

Qualitative analysis of organizational innovations in Spanish public hospitals.

[ES] Conocer la opinión de directivos y clínicos de hospitales públicos sobre los institutos clínicos. dio cualitativo que trata de responder a preguntas realizadas a gerentes y clínicos sobre las innovaciones organizativas que afectan a más de un nivel de intervención de la gestión sanitaria. Se aplican como técnicas: a) entrevistas en profundidad semiestructuradas con la finalidad de señalar los comportamientos, experiencias, opiniones, conocimientos y otros aspectos personales e institucionales objeto del estudio, y b) grupos de discusión, con un grupo de discusión control y dos grupos de discusión estudio se busca la interacción de los grupos para obtener distintos tipos de información relativos al desarrollo de las ideas, operatividad, grado de consenso y disenso en los temas tratados. Realizada la comparación entre el grupo de control y los grupos de estudio, se pone de relieve que las nuevas formas organizativas incrementaron el valor en los siguientes conceptos: economía de contratos, delegación de funciones, descentralización administrativa, incentivación, aversión al riesgo, reingeniería de procesos, continuidad asistencial, competitividad, liderazgo, sistemas de información y orientación al cliente. Existe un creciente interés de los clínicos por las innovaciones organizativas hospitalarias, postura ambivalente en los gestores clínicos ante los cambios de rol de sus respectivas responsabilidades. Se evidencia la resistencia a los cambios. No existe un modelo único de «instituto», dependiendo los modelos existentes de influencias particulares en cuanto a factores internos (cohesión y liderazgo) y externos (entorno, tamaño y tecnología). El incipiente desarrollo de innovaciones pone de relieve la necesidad de cambios en el estilo y naturaleza de la estructura directiva (composición, funciones, responsabilidades). [EN] To determine the opinion of chief executive officers (CEOs) and physicians in public hospitals concerning new managerial trends. We performed a qualitative study designed to determine the opinion of CEOs and physicians on the organizational innovations that affect more than one level of health management intervention. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted to identify behavior, experiences, opinions, knowledge and other personal and institutional aspects related to the study's aim. Focus groups (two study groups and one control group) were also used. Interaction between groups was used to obtain different types of information on the development of ideas, operational capacity, and the degree of consensus and disagreement on the subjects discussed. Comparison between the control and the study groups revealed that the new management trends added value in the following areas: economy of contracts, delegation, administrative decentralization, incentives, risk avoidance, process re-engineering, heath care continuity, competitiveness, leadership, information systems and client centeredness. Physicians are showing increased interest in organizational innovations while CEOs are ambivalent about their changing role and respective responsibilities. There is evidence of resistance to change. There is no single institutional model; institutional design depends on internal factors (cohesion and leadership) and external factors (environment, size and technology). The incipient development of innovations reveals the need for changes in the style and characteristics of management structure (composition, functions, responsibilities).S

Modelos de gestión en nutrición clínica. Puntos débiles y puntos fuertes

En el VIº Foro de Debate Abbott-SENPE se establece una discusión multidisciplinar y multiprofesional para buscar el o los modelos de gestión clínica que consideramos más adecuados para la Unidades de Nutrición Clínica y Dietética (UNCyD) en España. Se valoran los puntos débiles y fuertes así como las oportunidades de los actuales sistemas y se concluye en la observación de una cierta disparidad vinculada no solo a las comunidades autónomas sino también a los diferentes tipos de hospital. Se propone, desde SENPE, la creación de un grupo de trabajo que ayude a la normalización de los modelos y a potenciar la cultura del Cuadro de Mandos Integral y de Gestión del Cambio.At the 6th Abbott-SENPE Debate Forum a multidisciplinary and multiprofessional discussion was established in order to seek for the model or the models of clinical management most appropriate for Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics Units (CNAD) in Spain. The weaknesses and strengths as well as opportunities for the current systems were assessed concluding that a certain degree of disparity was observed not only due to regional differences but also to different hospital types. It was proposed, from SENPE, the creation of a working group helping to standardize the models and promote the culture of Integral Control and Change Management

Beyond property: Rural politics and land-use change in the Colombian sugarcane landscape

Analysing the sugarcane landscape in the flat valley of the Cauca River (Colombia) reveals that agricultural industrialization in the region required the concentration of land use by regional industrialists and the corresponding exclusion of landowners and poor peasants from territorial decision-making processes. The analytical lens used in this article, based on the use and control over land and land-based natural commons, allows for the characterization of three periods in a non-linear process of articulation and dispute between poor peasant and capitalist agents in the expansion of the sugarcane monoculture during the 20th century. The different constellations of social agents, governmental nexus, and capital enclosures have enacted through mechanisms that, beyond concentrating land property, have managed to deprive rural ethnic communities from their cultural and environmental heritage, traditional economies, and possible futures.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/151270/1/joac12332_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/151270/2/joac12332.pd

What to consider when pseudohypoparathyroidism is ruled out: IPPSD and differential diagnosis

Background: Pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP) is a rare disease whose phenotypic features are rather difficult to identify in some cases. Thus, although these patients may present with the Albright''s hereditary osteodystrophy (AHO) phenotype, which is characterized by small stature, obesity with a rounded face, subcutaneous ossifications, mental retardation and brachydactyly, its manifestations are somewhat variable. Indeed, some of them present with a complete phenotype, whereas others show only subtle manifestations. In addition, the features of the AHO phenotype are not specific to it and a similar phenotype is also commonly observed in other syndromes. Brachydactyly type E (BDE) is the most specific and objective feature of the AHO phenotype, and several genes have been associated with syndromic BDE in the past few years. Moreover, these syndromes have a skeletal and endocrinological phenotype that overlaps with AHO/PHP. In light of the above, we have developed an algorithm to aid in genetic testing of patients with clinical features of AHO but with no causative molecular defect at the GNAS locus. Starting with the feature of brachydactyly, this algorithm allows the differential diagnosis to be broadened and, with the addition of other clinical features, can guide genetic testing. Methods: We reviewed our series of patients (n = 23) with a clinical diagnosis of AHO and with brachydactyly type E or similar pattern, who were negative for GNAS anomalies, and classify them according to the diagnosis algorithm to finally propose and analyse the most probable gene(s) in each case. Results: A review of the clinical data for our series of patients, and subsequent analysis of the candidate gene(s), allowed detection of the underlying molecular defect in 12 out of 23 patients: five patients harboured a mutation in PRKAR1A, one in PDE4D, four in TRPS1 and two in PTHLH. Conclusions: This study confirmed that the screening of other genes implicated in syndromes with BDE and AHO or a similar phenotype is very helpful for establishing a correct genetic diagnosis for those patients who have been misdiagnosed with "AHO-like phenotype" with an unknown genetic cause, and also for better describing the characteristic and differential features of these less common syndromes

COVID-19 vaccination in patients receiving allergen immunotherapy (AIT) or biologicals:EAACI recommendations

Immune modulation is a key therapeutic approach for allergic diseases, asthma and autoimmunity. It can be achieved in an antigen-specific manner via allergen immunotherapy (AIT) or in an endotype-driven approach using biologicals that target the major pathways of the type 2 (T2) immune response: immunoglobulin (Ig)E, interleukin (IL)-5 and IL-4/IL-13 or non-type 2 response: anti-cytokine antibodies and B-cell depletion via anti-CD20. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination provides an excellent opportunity to tackle the global pandemics and is currently being applied in an accelerated rhythm worldwide. The vaccine exerts its effects through immune modulation, induces and amplifies the response against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). Thus, as there may be a discernible interference between these treatment modalities, recommendations on how they should be applied in sequence are expected. The European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) assembled an expert panel under its Research and Outreach Committee (ROC). This expert panel evaluated the evidence and have formulated recommendations on the administration of COVID-19 vaccine in patients with allergic diseases and asthma receiving AIT or biologicals. The panel also formulated recommendations for COVID-19 vaccine in association with biologicals targeting the type 1 or type 3 immune response. In formulating recommendations, the panel evaluated the mechanisms of COVID-19 infection, of COVID-19 vaccine, of AIT and of biologicals and considered the data published for other anti-infectious vaccines administered concurrently with AIT or biologicals

Genetic landscape of 6089 inherited retinal dystrophies affected cases in Spain and their therapeutic and extended epidemiological implications

Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs), defined by dysfunction or progressive loss of photoreceptors, are disorders characterized by elevated heterogeneity, both at the clinical and genetic levels. Our main goal was to address the genetic landscape of IRD in the largest cohort of Spanish patients reported to date. A retrospective hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out on 6089 IRD affected individuals (from 4403 unrelated families), referred for genetic testing from all the Spanish autonomous communities. Clinical, demographic and familiar data were collected from each patient, including family pedigree, age of appearance of visual symptoms, presence of any systemic findings and geographical origin. Genetic studies were performed to the 3951 families with available DNA using different molecular techniques. Overall, 53.2% (2100/3951) of the studied families were genetically characterized, and 1549 different likely causative variants in 142 genes were identified. The most common phenotype encountered is retinitis pigmentosa (RP) (55.6% of families, 2447/4403). The most recurrently mutated genes were PRPH2, ABCA4 and RS1 in autosomal dominant (AD), autosomal recessive (AR) and X-linked (XL) NON-RP cases, respectively; RHO, USH2A and RPGR in AD, AR and XL for non-syndromic RP; and USH2A and MYO7A in syndromic IRD. Pathogenic variants c.3386G > T (p.Arg1129Leu) in ABCA4 and c.2276G > T (p.Cys759Phe) in USH2A were the most frequent variants identified. Our study provides the general landscape for IRD in Spain, reporting the largest cohort ever presented. Our results have important implications for genetic diagnosis, counselling and new therapeutic strategies to both the Spanish population and other related populations.This work was supported by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) of the Spanish Ministry of Health (FIS; PI16/00425 and PI19/00321), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER, 06/07/0036), IIS-FJD BioBank (PT13/0010/0012), Comunidad de Madrid (CAM, RAREGenomics Project, B2017/BMD-3721), European Regional Development Fund (FEDER), the Organización Nacional de Ciegos Españoles (ONCE), Fundación Ramón Areces, Fundación Conchita Rábago and the University Chair UAM-IIS-FJD of Genomic Medicine. Irene Perea-Romero is supported by a PhD fellowship from the predoctoral Program from ISCIII (FI17/00192). Ionut F. Iancu is supported by a grant from the Comunidad de Madrid (CAM, PEJ-2017-AI/BMD7256). Marta del Pozo-Valero is supported by a PhD grant from the Fundación Conchita Rábago. Berta Almoguera is supported by a Juan Rodes program from ISCIII (JR17/00020). Pablo Minguez is supported by a Miguel Servet program from ISCIII (CP16/00116). Marta Corton is supported by a Miguel Servet program from ISCIII (CPII17/00006). The funders played no role in study design, data collection, data analysis, manuscript preparation and/or publication decisions

Identifying associations between diabetes and acute respiratory distress syndrome in patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure: an analysis of the LUNG SAFE database

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a common co-existing disease in the critically ill. Diabetes mellitus may reduce the risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), but data from previous studies are conflicting. The objective of this study was to evaluate associations between pre-existing diabetes mellitus and ARDS in critically ill patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF). Methods: An ancillary analysis of a global, multi-centre prospective observational study (LUNG SAFE) was undertaken. LUNG SAFE evaluated all patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) over a 4-week period, that required mechanical ventilation and met AHRF criteria. Patients who had their AHRF fully explained by cardiac failure were excluded. Important clinical characteristics were included in a stepwise selection approach (forward and backward selection combined with a significance level of 0.05) to identify a set of independent variables associated with having ARDS at any time, developing ARDS (defined as ARDS occurring after day 2 from meeting AHRF criteria) and with hospital mortality. Furthermore, propensity score analysis was undertaken to account for the differences in baseline characteristics between patients with and without diabetes mellitus, and the association between diabetes mellitus and outcomes of interest was assessed on matched samples. Results: Of the 4107 patients with AHRF included in this study, 3022 (73.6%) patients fulfilled ARDS criteria at admission or developed ARDS during their ICU stay. Diabetes mellitus was a pre-existing co-morbidity in 913 patients (22.2% of patients with AHRF). In multivariable analysis, there was no association between diabetes mellitus and having ARDS (OR 0.93 (0.78-1.11); p = 0.39), developing ARDS late (OR 0.79 (0.54-1.15); p = 0.22), or hospital mortality in patients with ARDS (1.15 (0.93-1.42); p = 0.19). In a matched sample of patients, there was no association between diabetes mellitus and outcomes of interest. Conclusions: In a large, global observational study of patients with AHRF, no association was found between diabetes mellitus and having ARDS, developing ARDS, or outcomes from ARDS. Trial registration: NCT02010073. Registered on 12 December 2013