Sistema Regional de Información
en línea para Revistas Científicas de América Latina,
el Caribe, España y Portugal

Background: Lyophilized plasma is widely used in external quality assessment for fibrinogen testing, where sample homogeneity and stability are critical. This study evaluated these factors, addressing challenges in sample preparation to enhance the quality of medical services. Objective: To assess the homogeneity and stability of fibrinogen in lyophilized plasma according to ISO 13528:2022 and ISO Guide 35:2010 standards. Methods: The study utilized experimental freeze-dried control samples containing fibrinogen. Random sampling was performed using Microsoft Excel 16, and one-way ANOVA was applied to assess sample homogeneity. Stability at different time points and temperatures was evaluated using t-tests. Key variables included: Mean (central tendency), Standard Deviation (data dispersion), Homogeneity (consistency within a batch, assessed via P-values), and Stability (maintenance of values over time under varied storage conditions). Results: The fibrinogen values of the standard samples demonstrated good homogeneity (p= 0.890> 0.05). Freeze-dried samples stored at 2–8°C remained stable over 5 months, with t-test p‑values of 0.114, 0.242, and 0.391, all > 0.05. Samples stored at –20°C were stable over 3 months (p= 0.520, 0.761, and 0.353). Additionally, short-term stability assessments on days 1, 3, 5, and 7 yielded p-values of 0.093, 0.742, 0.057, and 0.270, respectively, indicating no significant changes and confirming overall stability. Conclusion: Lyophilized plasma containing the fibrinogen index is both homogeneous and stable when stored at 2-8°C and -20°C, as well as during transportation. These significant findings pave the way for further research and potential advancements in coagulation testing.

Introduction: To reduce the rate of patients with visual impairments associated with glaucoma, it is necessary to identify the affected population and those at risk. Objectives: To determine the systemic risk factors associated with primary open-angle glaucoma. Methods: A case-control study was conducted in the adult population treated at the Las Tunas Ophthalmology Center from 2019 to 2020. The study group consisted of 182 patients and the control group of 384 individuals, selected using simple random sampling. The variables studied were: high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, migraine, and family history of glaucoma. The data collected were collected using the Molinet-validated survey. Risk factors were variables with an OR > 1. Those with a lower limit of the 95% confidence interval (OR) above 1 were considered significant. The chi-square test was used to determine statistical association, with significance being given when p ≤ 0.05. Results: A family history of glaucoma and the presence of migraine had statistically significant effects on the likelihood of receiving a diagnosis of the disease. Conclusions: Risk factors for primary open-angle glaucoma in the adult population include a family history of glaucoma, migraine, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes mellitus. Of these, a family history of glaucoma and migraine have the greatest effect on the likelihood of being diagnosed with this disease.

Introduction: Multinodular goiter is one of the most common diagnoses in endocrine surgery. The symptoms of this condition are primarily due to the enlargement of the nodules. Objective: To evaluate percutaneous ethanol injection as first-line treatment in patients diagnosed with benign nontoxic multinodular goiter. Methods: A longitudinal, prospective study was conducted in 75 patients with a diagnosis of benign nontoxic multinodular goiter and 85 nodules treated with percutaneous ethanol injection. Qualitative variables were described as absolute frequencies and percentages, and numerical variables as means and standard deviations. Student's t test for related samples was used to assess changes in initial and final nodule volumes. Results: The mean total volume of ethanol injected was 13.42 ± 11.06 mL; with 3.53 ± 2.67 treatment sessions per nodule. The efficacy of the technique was 100% and clinical success was complete in 100% of patients at 12 months post-treatment follow-up. The side effects that occurred were burning (43.5%), transient dysphonia (2.4%) and moderate pain (4.7%). No complications occurred. Conclusions: Percutaneous ethanol injection as first-line treatment in patients with benign nontoxic multinodular goiter is safe and effective, guarantees clinical success and avoids surgical treatment in these patients.

Introduction: Academic stress is a circumstance experienced by dental students due to the demands inherent in their theoretical and clinical training. Its persistence can have an impact on their physical and emotional well-being. Objective: To analyze the effect of interventions based on Mindfulness to reduce academic stress in dental students. Methods: A systematic literature review was carried out following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Studies published in English between 2015 and 2024 were included, extracted from the Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, EBSCOhost, ProQuest databases and the Google Scholar search engine. Initially, 1751 articles were identified, of which only 5 met the established eligibility criteria. Boolean operators AND, OR and NOT were used for the search strategy to optimize the precision and relevance of the results. Results: The studies included different methodological approaches: randomized controlled trials, mixed and longitudinal designs. Interventions ranged from mindfulness-based meditation and hybrid programs to self-care strategies. The results demonstrated a significant reduction in stress, as well as improvements in psychological health and coping strategies. Meditation stood out for its impact on emotional regulation in high academic demand contexts. Conclusions: Mindfulness-based interventions are effective tools for reducing stress and improving the emotional well-being of dental students. The format, duration and structure of the interventions are crucial to their effectiveness.

Introduction: Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease of tropical distribution. Oral lesions, although possible, are rare and usually painless. Objective: To describe the unusual presentation of lepromatous leprosy in a patient. Clinical Case: A 41-year-old male patient with white skin presented with a history of recurrent aphthous lesions on the oral mucosa since January 2022. Despite multiple consultations and treatment, his clinical condition remained unresolved. He was admitted to a closed institution and diagnosed with lepromatous leprosy two years after the onset of symptoms. He is currently undergoing treatment and is progressing favorably. Conclusions: This case highlights the difficulty of diagnosing leprosy when oral lesions are the presentation, as this disease is rarely considered in these clinical settings.

Introduction: Orotracheal intubation with submental shunt is a useful method to secure the airway in surgery of patients with midface fractures requiring intermaxillary fixation. Objective: Describe the management of a patient with complex midface fractures using the orotracheal intubation method with submental shunt. Clinical Case: A 42-year-old male patient presented with complex midline fractures without respiratory distress requiring immediate airway support. On the eighth day of hospitalization, surgical repair of the facial trauma was undertaken. Since intermaxillary fixation was not required for the procedure, and nasal intubation was contraindicated due to the bone deformity, orotracheal intubation with a submental shunt was performed to achieve intraoperative mechanical ventilation. All surgical objectives were met. The patient recovered from the anesthetic and surgical procedures without complications. Conclusions: The submental shunt orotracheal intubation method is a useful technique in managing the airway of patients with midface trauma, in whom nasal intubation is contraindicated.

Introduction: Primary duodenal lymphoma is an extremely rare entity affecting older male patients and usually has a poor prognosis. Objective: To describe the clinical presentation and clinicopathological characteristics of primary duodenal lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue. Clinical case: 63-year-old male patient with nonspecific gastrointestinal symptoms, diagnosed with primary duodenal lymphoma, an extremely rare location. This case stands out for its rarity, the importance of differential diagnosis and the use of endoscopic and histopathological tools to identify this poorly documented entity. Conclusions: Primary duodenal lymphoma is an extremely rare neoplasm. It is crucial to differentiate it from other intestinal lymphomas in relation to its morphological, histopathological and immunophenotypic characteristics.

Introduction: In preclinical studies of the vaccine SOBERANA®02, it was essential to verify the efficacy of the immune response against SARS-CoV-2 in animal models. In a challenge assay, animals immunized with the vaccine antigen are exposed to the virus in a controlled manner. Objectives: To evaluate the immunogenicity and protection of FR02 antigen against SARS-CoV-2 in the Syrian golden hamster model. Methods: Immunized hamsters were challenged with the viral variant D614G. Body weight, respiratory signs, presence of viral RNA in nasopharynx and lung tissue were monitored. Cultures were performed on Vero E6 cells and histopathological analysis of the lungs. Unvaccinated infected animals and unvaccinated and uninfected animals were used as controls. Results: Immunized hamsters showed no signs of disease; viral RNA concentrations in nasopharynx and lungs were lower than unvaccinated infected hamsters, with reduced viral load (6 logarithms) in the lungs on the day of peak viral replication, and undetectable in 27.7%. A cytopathic effect was observed in 5.8% of viral cultures in the lungs of immunized vs. non-immunized infected animals, in which it occurred in 100%. Immunized hamsters had lower rates of acute lung damage and overall histological damage.    Conclusions: The immune response generated in immunized animals conferred protection against infection, severe lung damage and the development of symptomatic disease in hamsters.

Introduction: Retinal vein occlusion is the second leading cause of vision loss due to retinal vascular disease, with a progressive increase in prevalence in the present century. It is associated with multiple risk factors. Objective: To describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics and identify relations between potential risk factors and retinal vein occlusion. Methods: An observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study was conducted in the Retina-Vitreous Department of the Ramón Pando Ferrer Cuban Institute of Ophthalmology between January and December 2022. The sample consisted of 410 eyes of 380 patients diagnosed with retinal vein occlusion. The variables studied were age, sex, skin color, personal history of systemic and ocular pathologies, associated risk factors, and anatomical and angiographic classification. Absolute numbers and relative frequencies, to describe relation to risk factors with ages group. Results: The age group 65 and older, white skin color, and male sex predominated. Central retinal vein occlusion was more frequent and presented a non-ischemic angiographic form. Associated risk factors were hypertension, diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, obesity, smoking, and open-angle glaucoma. Conclusions: Retinal vein occlusions are associated with a history of systemic and ocular disease, as well as other risk factors such as hypertension, open-angle glaucoma, smoking, and obesity, which favor progression to the ischemic form and increase the risk of complications.

Introduction: Urinary tract infections, primarily caused by the bacterium Escherichia coli, have shown increasing resistance to traditional antibacterial treatments. Given this problem, the use of natural compounds, such as those found in Vaccinium floribundum (Mortiño) and Baccharis linearifolia (Sacha Thola), is proposed as a therapeutic alternative. Objective: To evaluate the antibacterial activity of hydroalcoholic extracts of Vaccinium floribundum and Baccharis linearifolia against Escherichia coli ATCC 25922. Methods: An experimental study was conducted using hydroalcoholic extracts obtained from the leaves and fruits of V. floribundum and the leaves of B. linearifolia. Antibacterial activity was determined using the agar diffusion method at different concentrations. Inhibition zones were measured and statistically analyzed using ANOVA. Results: Both extracts showed antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, with inhibition zones ranging from 6.0 mm to 10.9 mm. Intermediate concentrations (2.5%) generated the largest zones. No statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed between treatments. Conclusions: The extracts evaluated showed an inhibitory effect on Escherichia coli, especially at intermediate concentrations. Further studies are recommended to optimize the extraction process and evaluate its therapeutic application.