Two-dimensional Quasi-bessel beam synthesis and frequency-scanning leaky-wave launchers

In this paper, a technique to synthesize a 2D frequency-scanned high order Bessel beam in a parallel plates waveguide (PPW) scenario is presented. This technique is based on a one dimensional beam launcher, rather than the more typical axicons or the more recent metasurfaces and antenna arrays for 3D Bessel beam synthesis. With this launcher, it is possible to generate a 2D Bessel beams whose direction can be controlled by changing the frequency of the feeding signal in the Ku band from 14.5 GHz to 15 GHz. It is demonstrated how this can be done by combination of two leaky waves (LW), which can be created by the same 1D structure, scanning at different angles and launched to the PPW region. The beams are generated in a triangular area, with one of its sides being the launcher itself and the other sides are defined by the direction of radiation of each of the forming leaky wave

Guía de Buenas Prácticas de Humanización en Pacientes con Enfermedades Raras. Quo vadis

En los últimos tiempos se ha puesto el foco en la necesidad de humanizar la relación entre personas que se encuentran en situaciones vitales diferentes y que confluyen en el mismo esce­nario: el sistema sanitario. En el contexto sanitario, el concepto de humanización hace referencia al abordaje integral de la perso­na, donde interactúan las dimen­siones biológica, psicológica, social y conductual. Los pacientes con enfermedades raras (EERR) son un colectivo muy sensible a las estrategias de humanización debido a la falta de información sobre la patología, el retraso diagnóstico, la necesidad de desplazamientos largos para acudir a su hospital de referencia y la dificultad de acceso y com­plejidad de los tratamientos

Guía de Buenas Prácticas de Humanización en Pacientes con Enfermedades Raras. Quo vadis

En los últimos tiempos se ha puesto el foco en la necesidad de humanizar la relación entre personas que se encuentran en situaciones vitales diferentes y que confluyen en el mismo esce­nario: el sistema sanitario. En el contexto sanitario, el concepto de humanización hace referencia al abordaje integral de la perso­na, donde interactúan las dimen­siones biológica, psicológica, social y conductual. Los pacientes con enfermedades raras (EERR) son un colectivo muy sensible a las estrategias de humanización debido a la falta de información sobre la patología, el retraso diagnóstico, la necesidad de desplazamientos largos para acudir a su hospital de referencia y la dificultad de acceso y com­plejidad de los tratamientos

Un nuevo índice para caracterizar el estado de conservación de las praderas de Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile

Se presenta el índice de alteración, un índice que sirve para caracterizar el estado de conservación de las praderas de Posidonia

Estudio sistemático de los táxones de la serie Polium, género Teucrium L. en las Cordilleras Béticas

Se reconocen cuatro especies montanas del género Teucrium L. (Serie Polium.subsecc. Polium Cohen. Secc. Polium (Miller) Schreber) en las Cordilleras Bélicas: Teucrium similatum Navarro & Rostía, Teucrium lerrouxi Sennen, Teucrium leonis Sennen y Teucrium bicoloreum Pau. Para cada uno de estos táxones se ofrece su citación completa, sinónimos, tipos nomenclaturales, mapa de distribución, corología, ecología, fitosociología e ilustraciones Se incluye la clave de especies.The four mountain species of the Teucrium genus (Serie Polium. Subsecc. Pohum Cohen. Secc. Polium (Miller) Schreber) in the Betics Ranges are described. A complet citation, sinonimyns, nomenclatural types, mape of distribution, corology, ecology, phitosociology and illustrations are proposed for each taxon and the taxonomic key is included

Treatment adherence and other patient-reported outcomes as cost determinants in multiple sclerosis: a review of the literature

Background: Treatment adherence is one of the key factors for achieving optimal clinical outcomes. In order to assess costs related to adherence to, and persistence and compliance with, disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), a narrative review of the literature was performed. Satisfaction with and preference for DMTs and their delivery devices were also assessed, as both can have an influence on patients’ adherence and persistence. Methods: Electronic databases (MEDLINE, PubMed, Google Scholar, congress proceedings) were searched to identify publications analyzing MS costs related to adherence, persistence, satisfaction, and preferences for MS treatments. Bibliographic references were hand searched. English or Spanish studies published between January 2007 and January 2013 were selected. Results: A total of 398 titles were identified, of which 12 met the inclusion criteria. Six studies evaluated the impact of adherence, persistence, and compliance on treatment costs; four publications analyzed satisfaction with DMTs; and two assessed treatment preferences based on attributes of the delivery device. Increased adherence and persistence were associated with better clinical outcomes, leading to lower relapse risk (odds ratio [OR]: 0.71; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.59–0.85) and a decrease in health care resource use, such as MS-related hospitalizations (OR: 0.63; 95% CI: 0.47–0.83) and emergency department visits (OR: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.60–1.07). This reduction in resource use led to a patient/year total cost reduction (excluding DMT costs) of up to 22%. Conclusion: This review highlights the importance of ensuring adequate adherence in MS patients through treatments and devices better tailored to patients’ needs that could enhance clinical outcomes and reduce MS costs. Understanding the factors underlying satisfaction and compliance with treatment and patients’ preference for certain therapies could help in the development of strategies that can improve adherence

Defining a set of standardised outcome measures for newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma using the Delphi consensus method: the IMPORTA project

Objective: To define a standard set of outcomes and the most appropriate instruments to measure them for managing newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Methods: A literature review and five discussion groups facilitated the design of two-round Delphi questionnaire. Delphi panellists (haematologists, hospital pharmacists and patients) were identified by the scientific committee, the Spanish Program of Haematology Treatments Foundation, the Spanish Society of Hospital Pharmacies and the Spanish Community of Patients with MM. Panellist's perception about outcomes' suitability and feasibility of use was assessed on a seven-point Likert scale. Consensus was reached when at least 75% of the respondents reached agreement or disagreement. A scientific committee led the project. Results: Fifty-one and 45 panellists participated in the first and second Delphi rounds, respectively. Consensus was reached to use overall survival, progression-free survival, minimal residual disease and treatment response to assess survival and disease control. Panellists agreed to measure health-related quality of life, pain, performance status, fatigue, psychosocial status, symptoms, self-perception on body image, sexuality and preferences/satisfaction. However, panellist did not reach consensus about the feasibility of assessing in routine practice psychosocial status, symptoms, self-perception on body image and sexuality. Consensus was reached to collect patient-reported outcomes through the European Organisation for the Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ) Core questionnaire 30 (C30), three items from EORTC-QLQ-Multiple Myeloma (MY20) and EORTC-QLQ-Breast Cancer (BR23), pain Visual Analogue Scale, Morisky-Green and ad hoc questions about patients' preferences/satisfaction. Conclusions: A consensual standard set of outcomes for managing newly diagnosed patients with MM has been defined. The feasibility of its implementation in routine practice will be assessed in a future pilot study

Use of 2-Hydroxypropyl-Beta-Cyclodextrin for Niemann-Pick Type C Disease

Niemann-Pick disease type C (NPD-C) is a rare neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a lysosomal storage disorder. Treatment has been supportive and symptomatic. In animal studies, 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) showed a significant decrease in cerebellar damage, neurological progression, and higher lifespan. Based on these results, HP-β-CD has been tested in NPD-C patients for last 8 years. The first compassionate uses of intravenous HP-β-CD obtained a limited improvement in neurological symptoms, probably associated to the non-permeation of the blood-brain barrier. The change or combination with intrathecal administrations of HP-β-CD achieved higher benefits, especially improvement or stabilization of NPD-C progression. Biomarkers of neurological cholesterol homeostasis are being investigated in order to quantify the response of HP-β-CD treatment. The results of a clinical trial recently published have reproduced the slowing of NPD-C progression in 14 patients treated with a dose-escalation protocol of HP-β-CD intrathecal monthly infusions, with respect to a historical comparison cohort. The safety profile of this therapy is acceptable, being the loss of hearing as the most frequent adverse event. However, some severe toxicities have been reported in relation with HP-β-CD, including chemical meningitis and fever. The short experience with HP-β-CD suggested that it could be effective in the management of NPD-C

Legitimación de la Policía, un estudio sobre políticas de seguridad, participación e integración ciudadana en Bolivia

La inseguridad ciudadana es uno de los principales problemas del mundo, la Policía Boliviana tiene el rol constitucional de preservar el orden y seguridad ciudadano, causando sus métodos y prácticas de los últimos años un fuerte cuestionamiento de la sociedad en su conjunto, por ello la jerarquía policial ha visto como necesario identificar políticas, que desde la participación ciudadana e institucional, permita devolver la legitimidad a la Policía al mismo tiempo que se reduzca la incidencia de delitos. En ese sentido, la presente investigación tiene como objetivo identificar políticas de Seguridad Ciudadana que contribuyan a la legitimación del rol constitucional de la Policía Boliviana incluyendo participación e integración ciudadana; para ello se ha recurrido a consultas a expertos en el diseño, implementación y evaluación de políticas de seguridad ciudadana, de manera que a partir de las conceptualizaciones teóricas actuales se bosqueje una estructura de políticas de seguridad ciudadana que puedan ser implementadas en la Policía Boliviana.A insegurança cidadã é um dos principais problemas do mundo, a Polícia Boliviana tem o papel constitucional de preservar a ordem e a segurança dos cidadãos, causando aos seus métodos e práticas dos últimos anos um forte questionamento da sociedade como um todo, portanto, a hierarquia A polícia considerou necessário identificar políticas que, a partir da participação cidadã e institucional, permitam que a legitimidade seja devolvida à polícia e reduza a incidência de crimes. Nesse sentido, a presente investigação visa identificar políticas de Segurança Cidadã que contribuam para a legitimação do papel constitucional da Polícia Boliviana, incluindo a participação e a integração do cidadão; Para isso, especialistas foram consultados sobre o desenho, implementação e avaliação de políticas de segurança cidadã, de modo que, a partir das conceituações teóricas atuais, seja apresentada uma estrutura de políticas de segurança cidadã que possa ser implementada na Polícia Boliviana