Cost per year of potential life lost : a proposal to estimate tobacco taxation

Objetivos Determinar y justificar la carga impositiva de los cigarrillos, con base en los años de vida que se pierden por su consumo. Métodos Mediante revisión de literatura se estimó la reducción promedio de la expec¬tativa de vida de un fumador. Se aplicó a cada año perdido el valor empleado en estudios de costo-efectividad, de tres veces el PIB per cápita (COP 16 613.951 de 2015, equivalentes a USD 6 056, aplicando tasa de 1 USD=2 743 COP). A partir de los años de consumo promedio, y de los paquetes que consume en ese lapso, se estimó el impuesto que debería tener cada paquete para que, con un interés de 3 % anual, el fumador al fallecer reuniera el valor correspondiente a los años que pierde. Resultados Dada una reducción promedio de esperanza de vida de seis años, cada fumador debería contribuirle al sistema de salud COP 299 051 115 (USD 109 008). Si en promedio consume 166 paquetes de cigarrillos anuales, durante 50 años, debería reunir COP 2.659 648 (USD 969) cada año, y cada paquete debería tener un impuesto de COP 16 022 (USD 5,84). Conclusiones Si se acepta que el sistema de salud pague hasta tres PIB per cápita por cada año de vida por intervenciones en salud que aporten años, es razonable que aquellas intervenciones que quitan años de vida hagan también un aporte equivalente.Q3Artículo de investigación591-594Objectives Taxes are the most effective measure to reduce tobacco consumption, although this remains a controversial matter. This study presents a method to deter¬mine and justify taxation based on the monetary value of the years of potential life lost due to tobacco consumption. Methods A literature review allowed estimating the average reduction of life expectancy in smokers. The value used in cost-effectiveness studies —three times the GDP per capita (COP 16 613 951 for 2015, equivalent to USD 6 056, applying an exchange rate of USD 1=COP 2743) — was applied to each year lost. Considering the average years of tobacco consumption and the number of packs consumed during that period, the tax that each pack should have was estimated in such a way that, by the time the smoker dies, he or she will have paid for the years lost with an annual interest rate of 3 %. Results Given an average reduction of life expectancy of 6 years, each smoker should contribute to the health system with COP 299 051 115 (USD 109 008). With an annual average consumption of 166 cigarette packs for 50 years, a smoker should pay each year COP 2 659 648 (USD 969), which means that each cigarette pack should have a tax of COP 16 022 (USD 5.84). Conclusions If it is accepted that the health system has to pay up to three times the GDP per capita for each year of life in health interventions that add years, it is reaso¬nable to think that those interventions that take away years of life should also make an equivalent contribution

¿Cuánto cuesta formar a un médico en Colombia?

Introducción: este estudio busca estimar los costos de formar un médico en Colombia, tanto en una universidad pública como privada, desde la perspectiva de la sociedad. Materiales y métodos: se calcularon los costos directos e indirectos en pesos colombianos de 2016 (tasa de cambio promedio 3051 cop por usd), así como el retorno a la inversión, expresado en valor actual neto, retorno sobre la inversión, y tasa interna de retorno y, el periodo de recuperación de la inversión de estudiar medicina frente al contrafactual de estudiar otra carrera. Se empleó una tasa de descuento de 12%. Se realizó un análisis de sensibilidad con varios escenarios. Resultados: en el escenario base, el costo total de la formación de un médico en Colombia es de $80 971.80 usd en una universidad privada y de$54 971.79 usd en una pública (de los cuales $14 436.57 usd son aportados por el Estado). El tiempo de retorno de la inversión es de 3 años y 6 meses en una universidad pública y 7 años y 3 meses en una privada. Aplicando tasas de descuento de 5$80,971.80 at a private university and US $54,971.79 at a public university (of which$14,436.57 is contributed by the State in the latter case). The time to return of investment is 3 years 6 months for study at a public university and 7 years 3 months for study at a public university. Applying discount rates of 5%, 7.5%, and 12%, studying medicine presents a higher return than that obtained by studying in another academic program. Conclusions: The cost of training a medical doctor in Colombia is 70% higher than the cost of training other professionals, but returns are greater due to subsequent higher income. Net returns are higher for graduates of public universities because their initial investment is smaller and their incomes are similar

Dietary supplements in cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease : a literature review

Objetivos: evaluar los efectos del consumo de ácidos grasos omega 3 en forma de suplementos, complementos o alimentos sobre la función cognitiva de los adultos. Métodos: se realizó una revisión de la literatura en las bases de datos Medline y Embase, buscando ensayos clínicos, estudios observacionales, revisiones sistemáticas y estudios experimentales que relacionaran los ácidos grasos omega 3 con función cognitiva y Alzheimer. Resultados: la mayoría de los estudios relacionó la suplementación de cápsulas con omega 3, el consumo de pescado u otros alimentos con contenido de omega 3, con resultados en pruebas de función cognitiva, desenlace de enfermedad o imágenes diagnósticas, encontrando en general efectos benéficos, que parecen ser mayores en personas sanas y con mejor función cognitiva de base. Hubo diferencias en los resultados encontrados en los ensayos clínicos y revisiones sistemáticas, que podrían atribuirse a la variabilidad en las dosis de la suplementación, el tiempo de seguimiento y la manera en que se midió la función y el deterioro cognitivo. Conclusión: el consumo de ácidos grasos omega 3 en forma de suplementos, complementos o alimentos ricos en estos como el pescado parece tener efectos benéficos en la función cognitiva de las personas adultas.Revisión de tema37-45Objectives: To evaluate the effects of omega 3 fatty acids consumption in the form of dietary supplement, complement or food-products presentation on adult cognitive function. Methods: A literature review in two databases (Medline and Embase) was undertaken, searching for clinical trials, observational studies, systematic reviews and experimental studies concerning omega-3 fatty acids and their relation with cognitive function and Alzheimer’s disease. Results: most studies linked supplementation with omega-3 capsules and consumption of fish and other omega-3 containing foods with results in cognitive function testing, outcomes in diseases or diagnostic imaging and found beneficial effects, which seem to be stronger in healthier persons with better cognitive function at baseline. There were differences in the results found in clinical trials and systematic reviews, which could be attributable to the variability in the supplementation dose, the length of follow-up and the methods used to assess cognitive function and decline. Conclusion: the use of omega-3 fatty acids in supplement, complement or food-products presentation seems to have beneficial effects in the cognitive function of healthy adults

A review of the literature on the use of probiotics to treat irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease

Introducción: el síndrome de intestino irritable (SII) y la enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal (EII), son motivos de consulta frecuente. Usualmente su tratamiento se hace en primer nivel de atención, con ajuste de estilo de vida y cambios dietéticos. Los tratamientos farmacológicos tienen eficacia limitada e importantes efectos secundarios, por lo que existe un interés creciente en terapias diferentes, como el uso de probióticos. Métodos: se realizó una revisión de la literatura en las bases de datos Medline y Embase buscando estudios que asociaran suplementos nutricionales con SII o EII, haciendo énfasis en probióticos. Resultados: de un total de 1598 referencias, 43 cumplieron criterios finales de inclusión. El uso de probióticos en SII y EII sugiere ser una terapia que ayuda a mantener los períodos de remisión de la enfermedad, mejorar la calidad de vida y atenuar el proceso fisiopatológico. Conclusiones: el uso de probióticos y prebióticos podría ser una alternativa de soporte nutricional en pacientes seleccionados.Q4Revisión de tema141-149Introduction: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are frequent reasons for medical consultation. Usually they are treated at the first level of attention with adjustment of lifestyle and dietary changes. Pharmacological treatments have limited efficacy and significant side effects, so there is growing interest in other therapies such as the use of probiotics. Methods: This is literature review of studies associating nutritional supplements with IBS or IBD that have an emphasis on probiotics and which found in the Medline and Embase databases. Results: Of a total of 1,598 references, 43 met the final inclusion criteria. The use of probiotics in IBS and IBD suggests a therapy that helps maintain periods of disease remission, improvement of quality of life and attenuation of the pathophysiological process. Conclusions: The use of probiotics and prebiotics could be alternative nutritional support for selected patients

Disease Burden of Gastric Cancer in Disability-Adjusted Life Years in Colombia

Objetivo: el cáncer gástrico es la segunda causa de muerte por cáncer y la quinta neoplasia más frecuente en el mundo. En Colombia, es la primera causa de mortalidad por cáncer. La incidencia y mortalidad anuales son 16,3 y 14,2/100 000 habitantes, respectivamente. El objetivo de este estudio fue estimar su carga de enfermedad, medida en años de vida ajustados por discapacidad (AVAD), en Colombia. Métodos: se desarrolló un estudio con enfoque en prevalencia para el año 2014. Para estimar la prevalencia, se realizó una búsqueda en los registros del Sistema de Información en Protección Social (SISPRO) y el Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE). La duración promedio de los casos prevalentes y la sobrevida estimada se obtuvieron de la literatura local. Los AVAD fueron calculados sumando los años de vida perdidos por muerte prematura (AVPM) y los años de vida vividos con discapacidad (AVVD), según la metodología de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS). Resultados: las prevalencias estimadas para 5 años en población mayor de 15 años fueron 40,9/100 000 en mujeres y 62,5/100 000 en hombres. El total de AVAD fue 293,418, con una tasa de 623/100 000 habitantes, de los cuales el 97,4% corresponde a AVPM. La tasa de AVVD y AVPM para Colombia fue 16 y 607/100 000, respectivamente. Conclusiones: los datos obtenidos de SISPRO y el DANE estiman una alta carga de enfermedad en Colombia. Es necesaria la implementación de estrategias de detección temprana del cáncer para disminuir la carga de la enfermedad y mejorar el pronóstico de los pacientes.Completo326-331Objective: Gastric cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death and the fifth most common neoplasm in the world. In Colombia, it is the leading cause of cancer mortality. The annual incidence and mortality are 16.3/100,000 and 14.2/100,000 inhabitants respectively. The aim of this study was to estimate the disease burden in Colombia as measured in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Methods: This study focuses on prevalence in 2014. To estimate prevalence, a search was made in the registries of the Social Protection Information System (SISPRO) and the National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE). The average duration of cases and estimated survival were obtained from the local literature. DALYs were calculated by adding the years of life lost due to premature death (YLLs) and years of life lived with disability (YLD) according to the methodology of the World Health Organization (WHO). Results: Prevalences estimated for five years in the population older than 15 years were 40.9/100,000 for women and 62.5/100,000 for men. The total DALY was 293,418, with a rate of 623/100,000 inhabitants; 97.4% correspond to YLL. The YLD and YLL for Colombia were 16/100,000 and 607/100,000, respectively. Conclusions: Data obtained from SISPRO and DANE estimate a high disease burden in Colombia. It is necessary to implement early cancer detection strategies to reduce the burden of disease and improve patient prognosis

MicroRNA-654-5p suppresses ovarian cancer development impacting on MYC, WNT and AKT pathways

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecological malignancy due to the silent nature on its early onset and the rapid acquisition of drug resistance. Histologically heterogeneous, it includes several subtypes with different mutational landscapes, hampering the development of effective targeted therapies. Non-coding RNAs are emerging as potential new therapeutic targets in cancer. To search for a microRNA signature related to ovarian carcinomas and study its potential as effective targeted therapy, we examined the expression of 768 miRNA in a large collection of tumor samples and found miR-654-5p to be infraexpressed in ovarian serous carcinomas, the most common and aggressive type. Restoration of miR-654-5p levels reduced tumor cell viability in vitro and in vivo and impaired sphere formation capacity and viability of ovarian cancer patient-derived ascitic cells ex vivo. CDCP1 and PLAGL2 oncogenes were found to be the most relevant direct miR-654-5p targets and both genes convey in a molecular signature associated with key cancer pathways relevant to ovarian tumorigenesis, such as MYC, WNT and AKT pathways. Together, we unveiled the tumor suppressor function of miR-654-5p, suggesting that its restoration or co-targeting of CDCP1 and PLAGL2 may be an effective therapeutic approach for ovarian cancer.This work was supported in part by grants from Instituto de la Mujer Dexeus (DEXEUS-B29/012), CIBER (CB16/12/00328), SGR (2017 SGR 1661), the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad and Fondos FEDER (RTC-2015-3821-1), Instituto Carlos III (PI15/00238 to A.S. and PI17/00564 to M.F.S) and the Miguel Servet Program (CP13/00158 and CPII18/00027 to AS. and CPII16/00006 to MFS). AP and LS were supported by predoctoral VHIR fellowships and CJ by an AGAUR predoctoral fellowship (VHIR: PRED-VHIR-2014-11 and PRED-VHIR-2017; AGAUR: 2017FI_B_00095, respectively)

Evaluation of appendicitis risk prediction models in adults with suspected appendicitis

Background Appendicitis is the most common general surgical emergency worldwide, but its diagnosis remains challenging. The aim of this study was to determine whether existing risk prediction models can reliably identify patients presenting to hospital in the UK with acute right iliac fossa (RIF) pain who are at low risk of appendicitis. Methods A systematic search was completed to identify all existing appendicitis risk prediction models. Models were validated using UK data from an international prospective cohort study that captured consecutive patients aged 16–45 years presenting to hospital with acute RIF in March to June 2017. The main outcome was best achievable model specificity (proportion of patients who did not have appendicitis correctly classified as low risk) whilst maintaining a failure rate below 5 per cent (proportion of patients identified as low risk who actually had appendicitis). Results Some 5345 patients across 154 UK hospitals were identified, of which two‐thirds (3613 of 5345, 67·6 per cent) were women. Women were more than twice as likely to undergo surgery with removal of a histologically normal appendix (272 of 964, 28·2 per cent) than men (120 of 993, 12·1 per cent) (relative risk 2·33, 95 per cent c.i. 1·92 to 2·84; P < 0·001). Of 15 validated risk prediction models, the Adult Appendicitis Score performed best (cut‐off score 8 or less, specificity 63·1 per cent, failure rate 3·7 per cent). The Appendicitis Inflammatory Response Score performed best for men (cut‐off score 2 or less, specificity 24·7 per cent, failure rate 2·4 per cent). Conclusion Women in the UK had a disproportionate risk of admission without surgical intervention and had high rates of normal appendicectomy. Risk prediction models to support shared decision‐making by identifying adults in the UK at low risk of appendicitis were identified

Costo por años de vida perdidos: una propuesta para estimar el impuesto al tabaco

Objetivos Determinar y justificar la carga impositiva de los cigarrillos, con base en los años de vida que se pierden por su consumo.Métodos Mediante revisión de literatura se estimó la reducción promedio de la expectativa de vida de un fumador. Se aplicó a cada año perdido el valor empleado en estudios de costo-efectividad, de tres veces el PIB per cápita (COP 16 613.951 de 2015, equivalentes a USD 6 056, aplicando tasa de 1 USD=2 743 COP). A partir de los años de consumo promedio, y de los paquetes que consume en ese lapso, se estimó el impuesto que debería tener cada paquete para que, con un interés de 3 % anual, el fumador al fallecer reuniera el valor correspondiente a los años que pierde.Resultados Dada una reducción promedio de esperanza de vida de seis años, cada fumador debería contribuirle al sistema de salud COP 299 051 115 (USD 109 008). Si en promedio consume 166 paquetes de cigarrillos anuales, durante 50 años, debería reunir COP 2.659 648 (USD 969) cada año, y cada paquete debería tener un impuesto de COP 16 022 (USD 5,84).Conclusiones Si se acepta que el sistema de salud pague hasta tres PIB per cápita por cada año de vida por intervenciones en salud que aporten años, es razonable que aquellas intervenciones que quitan años de vida hagan también un aporte equivalente.Objectives Taxes are the most effective measure to reduce tobacco consumption, although this remains a controversial matter. This study presents a method to determine and justify taxation based on the monetary value of the years of potential life lost due to tobacco consumption.Methods A literature review allowed estimating the average reduction of life expectancy in smokers. The value used in cost-effectiveness studies —three times the GDP per capita (COP 16 613 951 for 2015, equivalent to USD 6 056, applying an exchange rate of USD 1=COP 2743) — was applied to each year lost. Considering the average years of tobacco consumption and the number of packs consumed during that period, the tax that each pack should have was estimated in such a way that, by the time the smoker dies, he or she will have paid for the years lost with an annual interest rate of 3 %.Results Given an average reduction of life expectancy of 6 years, each smoker should contribute to the health system with COP 299 051 115 (USD 109 008). With an annual average consumption of 166 cigarette packs for 50 years, a smoker should pay each year COP 2 659 648 (USD 969), which means that each cigarette pack should have a tax of COP 16 022 (USD 5.84).Conclusions If it is accepted that the health system has to pay up to three times the GDP per capita for each year of life in health interventions that add years, it is reasonable to think that those interventions that take away years of life should also make an equivalent contribution

Changes in sleep patterns after vagus nerve stimulation, deep brain stimulation or epilepsy surgery : Systematic review of the literature

Q2Q1Revisión4-8Purpose: Perform a systematic review of the literature on the effects of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS),deep brain stimulation (DBS) and epilepsy surgery in subjective and objective sleep parameters.Methods: We performed a literature search in the main medical databases: Medline, Embase, Cochrane,DARE and LILACS, looking for studies that evaluated the effects of VNS, DBS or epilepsy surgery on sleepparameters. In all, 36 studies, coming from 11 countries, including reviews, cohort studies, case series andcase reports were included.Results: VNS induces sleep apnoea dependent of the stimulation variables. This condition can be revertedmodifying these settings. Surgical procedures for epilepsy cause an improvement in objective andsubjective sleep parameters that depend on the success of the procedure evaluated through ictalfrequency control. There is evidence that non-pharmacologic treatment of epilepsy has different effectson sleep patterns.Conclusion: It is advisable to include objective and subjective sleep parameters in the initial evaluationand follow-up of patients considered for invasive procedures for epilepsy control, especially with VNSdue to the risk of sleep apnoea. More high quality studies are needed