Segmentación y seguimiento de estructuras en imágenes laparoscópicas

La estimación de la posición 3D de las diferentes estructuras que aparecen en cirugía laparoscópica es una medida de gran importancia para el desarrollo de aplicaciones para la formación y aprendizaje de futuros cirujanos. Para dicha estimación se hace necesaria una etapa previa de segmentación de estructuras y de seguimiento de las mismas a lo largo de la secuencia de imágenes que compone la intervención. En este trabajo de investigación se propone un método de segmentación semiautomática basada en la combinación de sobresegmentación y crecimiento de regiones y un algoritmo de seguimiento de la estructura segmentada. Para el desarrollo de estos algoritmos se utilizan técnicas de tratamiento de imágenes junto con métodos basados en la estadística paramétrica y no paramétrica

Editor multimedia de vídeo laparoscópico para formación de habilidades cognitivas

La cirugía de mínima invasión (CMI) es un tipo de cirugía que, dado el elevado número de ventajas que presenta frente a la cirugía abierta tradicional, está siendo cada vez más utilizada en los centros hospitalarios de todo el mundo. Sin embargo, su inconveniente principal es que requiere la adquisición de nuevas habilidades motoras y cognitivas. Es en el terreno de las habilidades cognitivas, donde cobra especial interés la formación mediante los vídeos quirúrgicos, principal fuente de información de las intervenciones de CMI. Este trabajo aborda el diseño e implementación de un editor multimedia de vídeo laparoscópico capaz de añadir información útil a los vídeos originales, ofreciendo al usuario una serie de funcionalidades, con el fin de ayudar a la formación de los cirujanos. La validación llevada a cabo muestra cómo el usuario no sólo considera la herramienta aquí presentada de gran utilidad, sino también usable

Meaning in Life: A Major Predictive Factor for Loneliness Comparable to Health Status and Social Connectedness

Objective: Loneliness is the subjective distress of feeling alone and has a strong impact on wellbeing and health. In addition to well-known predictors like isolation and poor health, a better understanding of the psychological determinants of loneliness would offer effective targets for future complementary interventions. Methods: In this cross-sectional observational study (N = 2,240), we compared the explanatory power of several important risk factors of loneliness with the affective, motivational, and cognitive aspects of the Meaning in Life (MiL) construct. Different nested linear models were compared including socio-demographic, lifestyles, social-connectedness, and self-rated health variables, to assess the overlapping and non-overlapping explanatory power of each of them. Results: Health status and MiL were found to be the most important predictors of loneliness, followed by social connectedness and, with a much lower weight, lifestyles, and socio-demographic factors. Within the MiL factor, the most cognitive component, sense of coherence, had a greater explanatory power than the more affective and motivational ones. Conclusion: Reduced MiL, the capacity of an individual to attach 'value and significance' to life, is a crucial predictor to the feeling of loneliness. These results suggest that programs aiming to combat loneliness should go well beyond situational interventions and include more cognitive, value-centered interventions that enable individuals to define and pursue a meaningful vital plan

Valorización de residuos de diferentes industrias en la fabricación de baldosas cerámicas

Ponència presentada al IX Simposio Iberoamericano de Ingeniería de Residuos, Panamá, del 20 al 24 de setembre de 2021En el marco de la economía circular y la valorización de residuos, el presente trabajo trata sobre la posibilidad de fabricar azulejos cuyos soportes incluyen residuos en su formulación. Los azulejos son baldosas cerámicas indicadas para el revestimiento de paredes que se caracterizan por porosidades y absorciones de agua elevadas. Los residuos seleccionados para formar parte de los soportes sostenibles porosos son tiesto triturado de baldosas cocidas defectuosas, residuos de polvo de mármol y cenizas volantes de central térmica. Los residuos de baldosas cocidas son materiales de interés para la reutilización por su semejanza en composición con el producto a desarrollar. El polvo de mármol, proveniente de la manufactura y manipulación mecánica de bloques de mármol, tiene utilidad como fuente de óxido de calcio en sustitución del carbonato cálcico comúnmente utilizado para generar porosidad. Las cenizas volantes, provenientes de la combustión de carbón en centrales térmicas, son materiales de naturaleza vítrea que han sufrido un proceso térmico a elevada temperatura y por ello son susceptibles de poder integrarse en composiciones de soportes cerámicos. Los resultados obtenidos ponen de manifiesto la correcta formulación de soportes sostenibles porosos a partir de estos residuos en combinación con otros materiales arcillosos en distintas proporciones. De este modo, es posible fabricar soportes porosos para azulejo utilizando un porcentaje de residuos superior a 50 %, obteniéndose unas propiedades en cocido (densidad aparente, contracción lineal y absorción de agua) y unas propiedades mecánicas adecuadas para esta tipología de producto.Within the framework of the circular economy and waste recovery, this work deals about the possibility of manufacturing ceramic wall tiles whose bodies include wastes in their formulation. These wall tiles are characterised by high porosity and water absorption. The wastes selected to form part of the sustainable porous bodies are crushed scraps of defective fired tiles, marble dust residues and fly ash from thermal power stations. Fired tile waste is a material with interest for reuse due to its compositional similarity to the product to be developed. Marble dust, from the manufacture and mechanical handling of marble blocks, is useful as a source of calcium oxide, replacing the calcium carbonate commonly used to generate porosity. Fly ash, from the combustion of coal in thermal power stations, is a vitreous material that has undergone a thermal process at high temperature and, therefore, it can be integrated into ceramic body compositions. The obtained results show a correct formulation of sustainable porous bodies from these wastes in combination with other clay materials in different proportions. In this way, it is possible to produce porous bodies for wall tiles using a percentage of waste higher than 50 %, obtaining suitable firing properties (bulk density, linear shrinkage and water absorption) and notable mechanical properties for the final product

Residual stresses in porcelain tiles. Measurement and process variables assessment

This research addresses the residual stresses phenomenon taking place during the manufacture of porcelain tiles. Residual stresses were quantified by the strain relaxation slotting method. The method is based on the fact that stresses are released when a slot is made leading to a curvature change. Once the method was validated, the impact of process variables such as starting body composition, temperature and cooling rate of firing cycle was investigated. Findings showed that cooling rate was the most influencing variable whereas Young’s modulus of fired specimens also play a significant role. Symmetry of the parabolic residual stress profile denoted homogenous cooling on upper and lower tile surfaces during the cooling step. In addition, it was observed that polishing of a stressed tile gives rise to a decreasing of deformation as a consequence of stress release by mechanical grinding

PREVIRNEC A new platform for cognitive tele-rehabilitation

Acquired Brain Injury (ABI), either caused by vascular or traumatic nature, is one of the most important causes for neurological disabilities. People who suffer ABI see how their quality of life decreases, due to the affection of one or some of the cognitive functions (memory, attention, language or executive functions). The traditional cognitive rehabilitation protocols are too expensive, so every help carried out in this area is justified. PREVIRNEC is a new platform for cognitive tele-rehabilitation that allows the neuropsychologist to schedule rehabilitation sessions consisted of specifically designed tasks, plus offering an additional way of communication between neuropsychologists and patients. Besides, the platform offers a knowledge management module that allows the optimization of the cognitive rehabilitation to this kind of patients

The Barcelona Brain Health Initiative: Cohort description and first follow-up

The Barcelona Brain Health Initiative is a longitudinal cohort study that began in 2017 and aims to understand and characterize the determinants of brain health maintenance in middle aged adults. A cohort of 4686 individuals between the ages of 40 and 65 years free from any neurological or psychiatric diseases was established, and we collected extensive demographic, socio-economic information along with measures of self-perceived health and lifestyles (general health, physical activity, cognitive activity, socialization, sleep, nutrition and vital plan). Here we report on the baseline characteristics of the participants, and the results of the one-year follow-up evaluation. Participants were mainly women, highly educated, and with better lifestyles compared with the general population. After one year 60% of participants completed the one-year follow-up, and these were older, with higher educational level and with better lifestyles in some domains. In the absence of any specific interventions to-date, these participants showed small improvements in physical activity and sleep, but decreased adherence to a Mediterranean diet. These changes were negatively associated with baseline scores, and poorer habits at baseline were predictive of an improvement in lifestyle domains. Of the 2353 participants who completed the one-year follow-up, 73 had been diagnosed with new neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases. Changes in vital plan at follow-up, as well as gender, sleep quality and sense of coherence at baseline were shown to be significant risk factors for the onset of these diagnoses. Notably, gender risk factor decreased in importance as we adjusted by sleep habits, suggesting its potential mediator effects. These findings stress the importance of healthy lifestyles in sustaining brain health, and illustrate the individual benefit that can be derived from participation in longitudinal observational studies. Modifiable lifestyles, specifically quality of sleep, may partially mediate the effect of other risk factors in the development of some neuropsychiatric conditions

Continuous renal replacement therapy in children after cardiac surgery

ObjectiveThe objective was to study the clinical course of children requiring continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) after cardiac surgery and to analyze the factors associated with mortality.MethodsA prospective observational study was performed that included all children requiring CRRT after cardiac surgery, comparing these patients with other critically ill children requiring CRRT. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the influence of each factor on mortality.ResultsEighty-one (4.9%) of 1650 children undergoing cardiac surgery required CRRT; 65 of them (80.2%) presented multiorgan failure. Children starting CRRT after cardiac surgery had lower mean arterial pressure and lower urea and creatinine levels, and were more likely to require mechanical ventilation than other children on CRRT. The incidence of complications was similar. Cardiac surgery increased the probability of requiring CRRT for more than 14 days. Mortality was 43% in children receiving CRRT after cardiac surgery and 29% in other children (P = .05). Factors associated with mortality in the univariate analysis were age less than 12 months, weight less than 10 kg, higher Pediatric Risk of Mortality Score, hypotension, lower urea and creatinine on starting CRRT, and use of hemofiltration. In the multivariate analysis, the only factor associated with mortality was hypotension on starting CRRT (hazard ratio, 4.01; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-13.4; P = .024).ConclusionsAlthough only a small percentage of children undergoing cardiac surgery required CRRT, mortality in these patients was high. Hypotension at the time of starting the technique was the only factor associated with a higher mortality

Traumatic Brain Injury Modifies the Relationship Between Physical Activity and Global and Cognitive Health: Results From the Barcelona Brain Health Initiative

Physical activity has many health benefits for individuals with and without history of brain injury. Here, we evaluated in a large cohort study the impact of physical activity on global and cognitive health as measured by the PROMIS global health and NeuroQoL cognitive function questionnaires. A nested case control study assessed the influence of a history of traumatic brain injury (TBI) on the effects of physical activity since underlying pathophysiology and barriers to physical activity in individuals with TBI may mean the effects of physical activity on perceived health outcomes differ compared to the general population. Those with a history of TBI (n = 81) had significantly lower Global health (β = -1.66, p = 0.010) and NeuroQoL cognitive function (β = -2.65, p = 0.006) compared to healthy adults (n = 405). A similar proportion of individuals in both groups reported being active compared to being insufficiently active ( X2(1) = 0.519 p = 0.471). Furthermore, the effect of physical activity on global health (β = 0.061, p = 0.076) and particularly for NeuroQoL (β = 0.159, p = 0.002) was greater in those with a history of TBI. Individuals with a history of TBI can adhere to a physically active lifestyle, and if so, that is associated with higher global and cognitive health perceptions. Adhering to a physically active lifestyle is non-trivial, particularly for individuals with TBI, and therefore adapted strategies to increase participation in physical activity is critical for the promotion of public health

The Barcelona Brain Health Initiative : Cohort description and first follow-up

The Barcelona Brain Health Initiative is a longitudinal cohort study that began in 2017 and aims to understand and characterize the determinants of brain health maintenance in middle aged adults. A cohort of 4686 individuals between the ages of 40 and 65 years free from any neurological or psychiatric diseases was established, and we collected extensive demographic, socio-economic information along with measures of self-perceived health and lifestyles (general health, physical activity, cognitive activity, socialization, sleep, nutrition and vital plan). Here we report on the baseline characteristics of the participants, and the results of the one-year follow-up evaluation. Participants were mainly women, highly educated, and with better lifestyles compared with the general population. After one year 60% of participants completed the one-year follow-up, and these were older, with higher educational level and with better lifestyles in some domains. In the absence of any specific interventions to-date, these participants showed small improvements in physical activity and sleep, but decreased adherence to a Mediterranean diet. These changes were negatively associated with baseline scores, and poorer habits at baseline were predictive of an improvement in lifestyle domains. Of the 2353 participants who completed the one-year follow-up, 73 had been diagnosed with new neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases. Changes in vital plan at follow-up, as well as gender, sleep quality and sense of coherence at baseline were shown to be significant risk factors for the onset of these diagnoses. Notably, gender risk factor decreased in importance as we adjusted by sleep habits, suggesting its potential mediator effects. These findings stress the importance of healthy lifestyles in sustaining brain health, and illustrate the individual benefit that can be derived from participation in longitudinal observational studies. Modifiable lifestyles, specifically quality of sleep, may partially mediate the effect of other risk factors in the development of some neuropsychiatric conditions