CRIS

Permanent URI for this communityhttps://investigadores.udd.cl/handle/123456789/1

Browse

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 8 of 8
  • Some of the metrics are blocked by your 
    Item type:Publication,
    Evaluating a Memory Clinic Using the RE-AIM Model. The Experience of the “Memory and Neuropsychiatry Clinic” in Hospital Del Salvador, Chile
    (2021)
    Tomas Leon
    ;
    Loreto Castro
    ;
    Franco Mascayano
    ;
    Brian Lawlor
    ;
    <jats:p>The development of healthcare services for dementia is key to improving access to care and post-diagnostic support for people living with dementia. Memory Units have emerged as a new healthcare service composed of multidisciplinary teams with the goal of improving diagnosis and/or management of dementia patients. The main objective of this study was to describe and evaluate the Reach and Effectiveness of a Memory Unit in a public hospital in Chile, using the RE-AIM model, a multi-component model that allows for the evaluation of the implementation of ongoing healthcare programs. Regarding “R” (Reach): from March 2018 up to June 2019, a total of 510 patients were referred and assessed. Most patients came from primary care (51.9%) and from outpatient services at the Hospital Salvador (39.2%), particularly from the Neurology (63.3%) and Psychiatry (16.0%) departments. We estimated that our Memory Unit assessed 5.39% of all of the dementia patients living in the area of referral. With respect to “E” (Effectiveness): 419 patients are still being followed up at the Memory Unit. Ninety-one patients (18%) were discharged. Of these, 55 (66%) were referred to primary healthcare, 28 (31%) to other outpatient services, 9 (10%) to a specialized mental healthcare center, and 9 (10%) to a daycare center. Due to the short period of time that the Memory Unit has been operating, no other RE-AIM dimensions could be evaluated at this juncture. To our knowledge, this is the first implementation study of a Memory Unit in Latin America, and the first using the RE-AIM model. Although cultural differences worldwide might play a role in the lack of international guidelines, the publication of the experience of the first year of this unit in Chile could inform new countries about this process. Ongoing challenges include continuing to collect data to complement the RE-AIM evaluation and developing a protocol that can be adopted elsewhere in Chile and Latin America. Further studies are needed to assess the benefits of a Memory Unit in comparison to regular care and to develop a model that assures continuity and coordination of care for people with dementia.</jats:p>
    Scopus© Citations 8  2
  • Some of the metrics are blocked by your 
    Item type:Publication,
    Validation of the simplified modified Rankin scale for stroke trials: Experience from the ENCHANTED alteplase-dose arm
    (2020)
    Xiaoying Chen
    ;
    Jingwei Li
    ;
    Craig S Anderson
    ;
    Richard I Lindley
    ;
    Maree L Hackett
    <jats:sec><jats:title>Background and aims</jats:title><jats:p> The structured, simplified modified Rankin scale questionnaire (smRSq) may increase reliability over the interrogative approach to scoring the modified Rankin scale (mRS) in acute stroke research and practice. During the conduct of the alteplase-dose arm of the international ENhanced Control of Hypertension ANd Thrombolysis StrokE stuDy (ENCHANTED), we had an opportunity to compare each of these approaches to outcome measurement. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods</jats:title><jats:p> Baseline demographic data were recorded together with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Follow-up measures obtained at 90 days included mRS, smRSq, and the 5-Dimension European Quality of life scale (EQ-5D). Agreements between smRSq and mRS were assessed with the Kappa statistic. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify baseline predictors of Day 90 smRSq and mRS scores. Treatment effects, based on Day 90 smRSq/mRS scores, were tested in logistic and ordinal logistic regression models. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p> SmRSq and mRS scores had good agreement (weighted Kappa 0.79, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.78–0.81), while variables of age, atrial fibrillation, diabetes mellitus, pre-morbid mRS (1 vs. 0), baseline NIHSS scores, and imaging signs of cerebral ischemia, similarly predicted their scores. Odds ratios for death or disability, and ordinal shift, 90-day mRS scores using smRSq were 1.05 (95% CI 0.91–1.20; one-sided P = 0.23 for non-inferiority) and 0.98 (95% CI 0.87–1.11; P = 0.02 for non-inferiority), similar to those using mRS. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusions</jats:title><jats:p> This study demonstrates the utility of the smRSq in a large, ethnically diverse clinical trial population. Scoring of the smRSq shows adequate agreement with the standard mRS, thus confirming it is a reliable, valid, and useful alternative measure of functional status after acute ischemic stroke. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Clinical Trial registration</jats:title><jats:p> URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT01422616. </jats:p></jats:sec>
    Scopus© Citations 9  7
  • Some of the metrics are blocked by your 
    Item type:Publication,
    Breaking the breach in Latin America: A pilot study of mechanical thrombectomy in the public healthcare system in Chile
    (2020)
    Rodrigo Rivera
    ;
    Cristian Amudio
    ;
    Enzo Brunetti
    ;
    Pascual Catalan
    ;
    Juan Gabriel Sordo
    <jats:sec><jats:title>Background</jats:title><jats:p> Mechanical Thrombectomy (MT) is the standard of care for treatment of large vessel occlusion stroke. Until the beginning of 2020 MT was not funded nor widely implemented at the public healthcare level in Chile. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Objective</jats:title><jats:p> To describe the results of a pilot program created to provide access to public MT in Santiago - Chile. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods</jats:title><jats:p> Analysis from a prospectively collected database of MT cases performed between September 2017 and September 2019 in one center. A stroke network was developed with a single MT capable stroke center and five primary stroke centers. The primary efficacy endpoint was the rate of functional independence (mRS 0-2) at 90 days. Successful reperfusion was defined as 2 b-3 according to the thrombolysis in cerebral infarction scale. Safety outcomes include the rates of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage and 90-day mortality. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p> A total of 100 patients were treated over the study period. Their mean age was 62.8 ± 11.8 years and median baseline National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) measurement was 17. Seventy-seven percent of the patients received intra venous thrombolysis. Successful reperfusion was achieved in 95% of the cases. NIHSS at 24 hours showed a median drop of 7 points from baseline (p &lt; 0.00001) and 50% of the follow-up patients were functionally independent at 90 days. Symptomatic Intracerebral hemorrhage occurred in 5% of the patients and 90-day all case mortality was 11%. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusions</jats:title><jats:p> We demonstrated the feasibility of a publicly funded MT program in Chile, with similar results as other international randomized control trials. </jats:p></jats:sec>
    Scopus© Citations 10  4
  • Some of the metrics are blocked by your 
    Item type:Publication,
    Atovaquone/Proguanil Resistance in an Imported Malaria Case in Chile
    (2021)
    Stella M. Chenet
    ;
    Alan Oyarce
    ;
    Jorge Fernandez
    ;
    Rafael Tapia-Limonchi
    ;
    <jats:title>ABSTRACT</jats:title><jats:p>In November 2018, we diagnosed a cluster of falciparum malaria cases in three Chilean travelers returning from Nigeria. Two patients were treated with sequential intravenous artesunate plus oral atovaquone/proguanil (AP) and one with oral AP. The third patient, a 23-year-old man, presented with fever on day 29 after oral AP treatment and was diagnosed with recrudescent falciparum malaria. The patient was then treated with oral mefloquine, followed by clinical recovery and resolution of parasitemia. Analysis of day 0 and follow-up blood samples, collected on days 9, 29, 34, 64, and 83, revealed that parasitemia had initially decreased but then increased on day 29. Sequencing confirmed Tyr268Cys mutation in the <jats:italic>cytochrome b</jats:italic> gene, associated with atovaquone resistance, in isolates collected on days 29 and 34 and <jats:italic>P. falciparum dihydrofolate reductase</jats:italic> mutation Asn51Ile, associated with proguanil resistance in all successfully sequenced samples. Molecular characterization of imported malaria contributes to clinical management in non-endemic countries, helps ascertain the appropriateness of antimalarial treatment policies, and contributes to the reporting of drug resistance patterns from endemic regions.</jats:p>
      4Scopus© Citations 5
  • Some of the metrics are blocked by your 
    Item type:Publication,
    Seroprevalence of Natural and Acquired Immunity against the SARS-CoV-2 Virus in a Population Cohort from Two Chilean Cities, 2020–2022
    (2023)
    Loreto Núñez-Franz
    ;
    Muriel Ramírez-Santana
    ;
    ;
    Macarena Said
    ;
    <jats:p>Background: Chile has achieved the highest coverage for vaccines against the SARS-CoV-2 virus worldwide. Objective: To assess the progression of immunity (natural and acquired by vaccine) in a cohort from two Chilean cities. Methods: Individuals (n = 386) who participated in three phases of population-based serial prevalence studies were included (2020–2021 and 2022). Presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was measured in serum. Data including time of vaccination and type of vaccine received were analysed with descriptive statistics. Results: Seroprevalence was 3.6% in the first round and increased to 96.9% in the second and 98.7% in the third. In the third round, 75% of individuals who had received the basal full scheme were seropositive at 180 days or more since their last dose; 98% of individuals who received one booster dose were seropositive at 180 days or more, and 100% participants who received two boosters were seropositive, regardless of time since their last dose. Participants receiving mRNA vaccines had higher seroprevalence rates over time. Conclusions: The high vaccination coverage in Chile enabled the population to maintain high levels of antibodies. Vaccination boosters are essential to maintain immunity over time, which also depends on the type of vaccine administered.</jats:p>
      1Scopus© Citations 12
  • Some of the metrics are blocked by your 
    Item type:Publication,
    Multisite Detection of Tn
    <i>1549</i>
    -Mediated
    <i>vanB</i>
    Vancomycin Resistance in Multidrug-Resistant Enterococcus faecalis ST6 in Texas and Florida
    (2023)
    Shelby R. Simar
    ;
    Truc T. Tran
    ;
    Kirsten B. Rydell
    ;
    Diana Panesso
    ;
    German A. Contreras
    <jats:p> In the United States, <jats:italic>vanB</jats:italic> -mediated resistance in enterococci is rare. We characterized three sequence type (ST) 6, vancomycin-resistant <jats:named-content content-type="genus-species">Enterococcus faecalis</jats:named-content> isolates causing bacteremia in unique patients in spatiotemporally distinct settings. </jats:p>
      7  1Scopus© Citations 3
  • Some of the metrics are blocked by your 
    Item type:Publication,
    Association between spontaneous internal carotid artery dissection and perivascular adipose tissue attenuation on computed tomography angiography
    (2023)
    Kevin Cheng
    ;
    Andrew Lin
    ;
    ;
    Tomas Bernstein
    ;
    Paulo Zuñiga
    <jats:sec><jats:title>Background:</jats:title><jats:p> Spontaneous cervical artery dissection (sCAD) is a leading cause of ischemic stroke in young patients. Studies using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography have suggested vessel wall inflammation to be a pathogenic factor in sCAD. Computed tomography (CT) attenuation of perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) is an established non-invasive imaging biomarker of inflammation in coronary arteries, with higher attenuation values reflecting a greater degree of vascular inflammation. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Objectives:</jats:title><jats:p> We evaluate the CT attenuation of PVAT surrounding the internal carotid artery (PVAT<jats:sub>carotid</jats:sub>) with and without spontaneous dissection. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods:</jats:title><jats:p> Single-center prospective observational study of 56 consecutive patients with CT-verified spontaneous dissection of the internal carotid artery (ICA). Of these patients, six underwent follow-up computed tomography angiography (CTA). Twenty-two patients who underwent CTA for acute neurological symptoms but did not have dissection formed the control group. Using semi-automated research software, PVAT<jats:sub>carotid</jats:sub> was measured as the mean Hounsfield unit (HU) attenuation of adipose tissue within a defined volume of interest surrounding the ICA. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results:</jats:title><jats:p> PVAT<jats:sub>carotid</jats:sub> was significantly higher around dissected ICA compared with non-dissected contralateral ICA in the same patients (−58.7 ± 10.2 vs −68.9 ± 8.1 HU, p &lt; 0.0001) and ICA of patients without dissection (−58.7 ± 10.2 vs −69.3 ± 9.3 HU, p &lt; 0.0001). After a median follow-up of 89 days, there was a significant reduction in PVAT<jats:sub>carotid</jats:sub> around dissected ICA (−57.5 ± 13.4 to −74.3 ± 10.5 HU, p &lt; 0.05), while no change was observed around non-dissected contralateral ICA (−71.0 ± 4.4 to −74.1 ± 4.1 HU, p = 0.19). ICA dissection was an independent predictor of PVAT<jats:sub>carotid</jats:sub> following multivariable adjustment for age and the presence of ICA occlusion. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion:</jats:title><jats:p> PVAT<jats:sub>carotid</jats:sub> is elevated in the presence of sCAD and may decrease following the acute event. </jats:p></jats:sec>
      3  1Scopus© Citations 5
  • Some of the metrics are blocked by your 
    Item type:Publication,
    Visual-spatial processing impairment in the occipital-frontal connectivity network at early stages of Alzheimer’s disease
    (2023)
    Iván Plaza-Rosales
    ;
    Enzo Brunetti
    ;
    Rodrigo Montefusco-Siegmund
    ;
    Samuel Madariaga
    ;
    Rodrigo Hafelin
    <jats:sec><jats:title>Introduction</jats:title><jats:p>Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia worldwide, but its pathophysiological phenomena are not fully elucidated. Many neurophysiological markers have been suggested to identify early cognitive impairments of AD. However, the diagnosis of this disease remains a challenge for specialists. In the present cross-sectional study, our objective was to evaluate the manifestations and mechanisms underlying visual-spatial deficits at the early stages of AD.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods</jats:title><jats:p>We combined behavioral, electroencephalography (EEG), and eye movement recordings during the performance of a spatial navigation task (a virtual version of the Morris Water Maze adapted to humans). Participants (69–88 years old) with amnesic mild cognitive impairment–Clinical Dementia Rating scale (aMCI–CDR 0.5) were selected as probable early AD (eAD) by a neurologist specialized in dementia. All patients included in this study were evaluated at the CDR 0.5 stage but progressed to probable AD during clinical follow-up. An equal number of matching healthy controls (HCs) were evaluated while performing the navigation task. Data were collected at the Department of Neurology of the Clinical Hospital of the Universidad de Chile and the Department of Neuroscience of the Faculty of Universidad de Chile.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>Participants with aMCI preceding AD (eAD) showed impaired spatial learning and their visual exploration differed from the control group. eAD group did not clearly prefer regions of interest that could guide solving the task, while controls did. The eAD group showed decreased visual occipital evoked potentials associated with eye fixations, recorded at occipital electrodes. They also showed an alteration of the spatial spread of activity to parietal and frontal regions at the end of the task. The control group presented marked occipital activity in the beta band (15–20 Hz) at early visual processing time. The eAD group showed a reduction in beta band functional connectivity in the prefrontal cortices reflecting poor planning of navigation strategies.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Discussion</jats:title><jats:p>We found that EEG signals combined with visual-spatial navigation analysis, yielded early and specific features that may underlie the basis for understanding the loss of functional connectivity in AD. Still, our results are clinically promising for early diagnosis required to improve quality of life and decrease healthcare costs.</jats:p></jats:sec>
    Scopus© Citations 16  1