Assessment of Quality of Life Following Diagnosis in Patients with Cervicofacial Non-melanoma Skin Cancer

Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is the most common neoplasm. The characteristics of this disease (location in aesthetically sensitive areas, the appearance of successive tumors during follow-up, and high rates of survival) are such that the concept of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is of particular importance. The aim of the present study was to describe and analyses patient quality of life following diagnosis with cervicofacial NMSC. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on patients with cervicofacial NMSC, confirmed by skin biopsy. In each case, when the definitive diagnosis of NMSC was established, the patient completed the Skin Cancer Index questionnaire and demographic data, health status, and sun exposure habits were recorded. The study population was composed of 220 patients with histologically confirmed cervicofacial NMSC. The mean score obtained for the Skin Cancer Index questionnaire was 54.1 (SD 21.9), in which the social-aesthetic component had a mean score of 76.7 (SD 26.2), while the emotional component had a mean score of 23 (SD 25.1). Male patients, those with secondary or higher education, and those who had no history of anxiety or depression had significantly higher mean scores for HRQoL. This study demonstrated that the diagnosis of cervicofacial NMSC significantly impacts HRQoL and that certain population groups (women, persons with only primary or no education qualifications, and those a history of anxiety or depression) are more susceptible. The questionnaire scores obtained were lower than those reported in previous studies on this topic and reflect a particularly strong impact on emotional aspects of patient quality of life

Combined Sodium Hypochlorite and 940 nm Diode Laser Treatment Against Mature E. Faecalis Biofilms in-vitro

INTRODUCTION: Laser irradiation has been introduced in endodontic treatment due to its bactericidal effect. The aim of this study is to evaluate the bactericidal efficacy of a 940 nm diode laser alone or in combination with 5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) against mature biofilms of E. Faecalis.METHODS: Sixty-eight (60 for the three groups, 4 for SEM and 4 as negative controls) single-rooted human central incisors were prepared and contaminated with E. Faecalis. After two weeks of incubation, specimens were randomly divided in three groups; group 1 (n =20), the teeth were irradiated with a 940 nm diode laser; group 2 (n=20), specimens were rinsed with 5% NaOCl; group 3 (n=20), the teeth were rinsed with 5% NaOCl and then were irradiated with 940 nm diode laser. Four teeth were used to observe the biofilms by SEM. Intracanal bacteria sampling was done, and the samples were plated to determinate the CFU count.RESULTS: At 24 hours and 7 days, group 3 showed a significant difference (P=0,02; P=0,00) in disinfection if compared to group 1 but did not show this difference if compared to group 2 (P=1, P=0,66), although group 3 obtaining a more extensive disinfection. Groups 1 and 2 did not show difference after 24 hours (P=0,09) but showed a significant difference 7 days afterwards (P=0,04).CONCLUSION: The combination of sodium hypochlorite and diode laser light (940 nm) has a synergistic effect, intensifying the bactericidal action

Detection of kinase domain mutations in BCR::ABL1 leukemia by ultra-deep sequencing of genomic DNA

The screening of the BCR::ABL1 kinase domain (KD) mutation has become a routine analysis in case of warning/failure for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) Philadelphia (Ph)-positive patients. In this study, we present a novel DNA-based next-generation sequencing (NGS) methodology for KD ABL1 mutation detection and monitoring with a 1.0E-4 sensitivity. This approach was validated with a well-stablished RNA-based nested NGS method. The correlation of both techniques for the quantification of ABL1 mutations was high (Pearson r = 0.858, p < 0.001), offering DNA-DeepNGS a sensitivity of 92% and specificity of 82%. The clinical impact was studied in a cohort of 129 patients (n = 67 for CML and n = 62 for B-ALL patients). A total of 162 samples (n = 86 CML and n = 76 B-ALL) were studied. Of them, 27 out of 86 harbored mutations (6 in warning and 21 in failure) for CML, and 13 out of 76 (2 diagnostic and 11 relapse samples) did in B-ALL patients. In addition, in four cases were detected mutation despite BCR::ABL1 < 1%. In conclusion, we were able to detect KD ABL1 mutations with a 1.0E-4 sensitivity by NGS using DNA as starting material even in patients with low levels of disease

Treatment with tocilizumab or corticosteroids for COVID-19 patients with hyperinflammatory state: a multicentre cohort study (SAM-COVID-19)

Objectives: The objective of this study was to estimate the association between tocilizumab or corticosteroids and the risk of intubation or death in patients with coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) with a hyperinflammatory state according to clinical and laboratory parameters. Methods: A cohort study was performed in 60 Spanish hospitals including 778 patients with COVID-19 and clinical and laboratory data indicative of a hyperinflammatory state. Treatment was mainly with tocilizumab, an intermediate-high dose of corticosteroids (IHDC), a pulse dose of corticosteroids (PDC), combination therapy, or no treatment. Primary outcome was intubation or death; follow-up was 21 days. Propensity score-adjusted estimations using Cox regression (logistic regression if needed) were calculated. Propensity scores were used as confounders, matching variables and for the inverse probability of treatment weights (IPTWs). Results: In all, 88, 117, 78 and 151 patients treated with tocilizumab, IHDC, PDC, and combination therapy, respectively, were compared with 344 untreated patients. The primary endpoint occurred in 10 (11.4%), 27 (23.1%), 12 (15.4%), 40 (25.6%) and 69 (21.1%), respectively. The IPTW-based hazard ratios (odds ratio for combination therapy) for the primary endpoint were 0.32 (95%CI 0.22-0.47; p < 0.001) for tocilizumab, 0.82 (0.71-1.30; p 0.82) for IHDC, 0.61 (0.43-0.86; p 0.006) for PDC, and 1.17 (0.86-1.58; p 0.30) for combination therapy. Other applications of the propensity score provided similar results, but were not significant for PDC. Tocilizumab was also associated with lower hazard of death alone in IPTW analysis (0.07; 0.02-0.17; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Tocilizumab might be useful in COVID-19 patients with a hyperinflammatory state and should be prioritized for randomized trials in this situatio

University students knowledge on anti-plagiarism tolls and preventive measures

Existe una creciente preocupación en las instituciones universitarias por el aumento de prácticas deshonestas. Frente a este problema se comprueba en la literatura que es insuficiente utilizar las herramientas antiplagio como instrumento de detección, por lo que se recomienda conjugar con otras estrategias y medidas preventivas. El artículo analiza el conocimiento que poseen los estudiantes universitarios sobre las herramientas antiplagio, las medidas preventivas y sus competencias para evitar el plagio, a fin de comprender y diseñar estrategias conjuntamente con ellos para evitarlo. El diseño de investigación es un estudio descriptivo, con correlaciones causales al emplear análisis factorial con una muestra de 545 estudiantes pertenecientes a seis universidades de España y Portugal, utilizando un instrumento validado con el alpha de Cronbach de .773. Los resultados indican que más de la mitad de los estudiantes desconocen la existencia de plataformas antiplagio (54,1%) y software específico (49,4%), así como la información y orientación para la prevención y la existencia de protocolos y normativas (67%). Existe una correlación significativa de mayor conocimiento cuando los estudiantes son de postgrado; por lo que, se recomienda y propone diferentes medidas y acciones formativas en este sentid

Impact of Digital Contexts in the Training of University Education Students

The Internet is an important source of information and is a real ecosystem for learning that has provided important advances in education, although it has also generated problems, especially in terms of data security, identity theft, and cyber-plagiarism. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we had the opportunity to check levels of development in terms of infrastructures and digital competence, and subsequently detected serious problems in online assessment. In particular, the behaviour and digital competence of future teachers are essential, as they will inevitably be role models for their students. The present study analyses academic cyber-plagiarism derived from digital ecosystems during the pandemic in the academic work of pre-service teachers, advancing studies and warnings regarding Artificial Intelligence as a new learning ecosystem. A validated online questionnaire is used that considers the digital context surrounding training both during and after the pandemic. For the factor analysis, both descriptive and correlational, 324 responses from three Spanish universities are analysed. The confirmatory factor analysis reports four factors: the digital context of the pandemic as an opportunity for plagiarism, the response of the educational community to plagiarism, and both the unconscious and intentional misuse of sources. It is concluded that the digital context of the pandemic provided an opportunity for academic plagiarism, conscious or unconscious, with a clear distinction according to gender and the degree of reference. Finally, it is recommended to promote students’ digital skills to avoid risks such as cyber-plagiarism or authorship theft, using institutional repositories that can provide students with prominence by safely and ethically publishing their intellectual creations. Similarly, national policies are required to address advances in AI in education

Evaluation of a protocol to detect malnutrition and provide nutritional care for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Patients with cancer frequently experience malnutrition, which is associated with higher rates of morbidity and mortality. Therefore, the implementation of strategies for its early detection and for intervention should improve the evolution of these patients. Our study aim is to design and implement a protocol for outpatients starting chemotherapy, by means of which any malnutrition can be identified and treated at an early stage. Before starting chemotherapy for patients with cancer, a complete assessment was made of their nutritional status, using the Nutriscore screening tool. When nutritional risk was detected, an interventional protocol was applied. Of 234 patients included in the study group, 84 (36%) required an individualised nutritional approach: 27 (32.1%) presented high nutritional risk, 12 had a Nutriscore result ≥ 5 and 45 experienced weight loss during chemotherapy. Among this population, the mean weight loss (with respect to normal weight) on inclusion in the study was - 3.6% ± 8.2. By the end of the chemotherapy, the mean weight gain was 0% ± 7.3 (p