Introduction The purpose of this study is to describe the incidence rate (IR) per 100,000 inhabitants of arthroplasty in Chile between 2004 and 2019, emphasizing knee and hip arthroplasty. Methods This is a cross-sectional study. Patients who underwent arthroplasty between 2004 and 2019 were identified in the free access database of the Chilean Department of Statistics and Health Information (DEIS), which depends directly on the Ministry of Health. This register stores all hospital discharges of the country from private or public health centers. The trend during the period of study was analyzed using Spearman's correlation. Results From a total of 111,303 patients, 133,518 arthroplasties were performed. Hip arthroplasty (HA) accounted for 73.35%, followed by knee arthroplasty (KA) (23,92%). A significant upward trend was found in HA (rho=0.95, p<0.000) and KA (rho=0.98, p<0.000). Most of the surgeries were done within the Public Health Network (61,6%), but 20% of patients affiliated with public insurance underwent arthroplasty in a private center. Patients above 60 years of age affiliated with private insurance underwent 1.8 HA and 2.5 KA for every one HA and KA undergone by patients of the same age group who were affiliated with public insurance. Conclusion HA was more frequent than KA. A significant gap was found in the incidence of arthroplasty as compared to countries belonging to the Organization for Cooperation and Economic Development, given by a less aged population and by inequity in health access. Wider coverage and a national registry for arthroplasty must be considered in Chilean health policies.

We assessed the efficacy of fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab in combination (FCR) as frontline treatment in patients with follicular lymphoma (FL) followed by rituximab maintenance. Seventy-five untreated patients with FL received FCR followed by maintenance with rituximab 375 mg/m(2) weekly during 4 weeks and every 6 months for 2 years. The overall response rate was 100%, with 89% complete remission (CR) and 11% partial remission (PR). Molecular remission was observed in all but one patient. Only eight patients completed all therapy planned. With a median follow-up of 47 months, the 5-year overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and event-free survival (EFS) were 77%, 93%, and 72%, respectively. Age below 60 and low Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (FLIPI) correlated with a better EFS. Ten patients died due to toxic complications. The FCR regimen is highly effective in untreated patients with FL, with 89% CR, including molecular responses, and a low progression rate. However, the high incidence of treatment-related mortality makes this regimen unsafe and it cannot be recommended as an upfront therapy in FL.

To describe the trends of orthopedic surgery in Chile since 2004 in terms of the number and gender of surgeons, the incidence of procedures per 100,000 inhabitants (IR), and access by health insurance and type of health center. MethodsA cross-sectional study was designed. Three databases were analyzed: the free access database of the Chilean Department of Statistics and Health Information (DEIS), which had information on all procedures performed in health institutions in Chile from 2004 to 2020. Then, the orthopedic surgeon registry was requested from the National Superintendence of Health (NSH). Finally, the database of the Chilean Society of Orthopaedic Surgeons (SCHOT) was analyzed. Spearman's correlation was used to determine significant trends during the analyzed period. ResultsThe NSH reported 1770 orthopedic surgeons in 2020; 56% were affiliated with SCHOT. An upward trend in the proportion of female orthopedic surgeons was found, from 4.8% in 2004 to 7.6% in 2020. Since 2004, the IR of orthopaedic surgeries has been increasing significantly in both health insurances; the growth in public insurance follows a linear model (R 2 = 0.970) of parameters β 0 = -55982.6 (p <0.000) and β 1 = 28.02 (p <0.000) while in private insurance, the growth is also linear (R 2 = 0.890) but with a greater slope: β 0 = -104136 (p <0.000) and β 1 = 52.15 (p <0.000). A significant downward trend was found in the proportion of surgeries performed in the public health network (rho = -0.797, p = 0.0002). ConclusionsThere is a significant increase in the number of orthopedic surgeons and the number of procedures per 100,000 inhabitants. Nevertheless, there is evident inequity in access to orthopedic surgery in Chile and low gender diversity.

Background and objective Fludarabine in combination with cyclophosphamide (FC) plus rituximab (R) is an effective treatment for newly diagnosed as well as relapsed follicular lymphoma (Tam 2004; Keating 2005; Sacchi 2007). Maintenance treatment with R, after different induction treatments, improves overall and progression-free survival (Forstpointner 2006; van Oers 2006). Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the FC-R regime followed by maintenance doses of R. Patients and Methods We present an intermediate report of the one-arm study in which 75 previously untreated patients with a diagnosis of follicular non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in Ann Arbor stage II–IV were included between October 2004–2006. Seventy four were assessed for safety after receiving at least one FC-R dose (F: 3x25 mg/m2 and C: 1 g/m2; R: 375mg/m2), and 72 for response to treatment. Patients aged 53.4 years in average, one in five showed bulky disease and 72.2% Ann Arbor IV staging. FLIPI index determined 23.9% patients with low (0–1) score, 38% with intermediate (2) and 38% with poor score (3). A total of 47 patients presented some molecular alteration in PB or BM. Results Induction therapy was delivered throughout 4–6 courses, resulting in 91% complete responses (CR) and 9% partial responses (PR) (Table 1). From the patients who presented monoclonal population at diagnosis, 40 were evaluated for molecular response after induction and only 1 remained MDR positive for bcl2/IgH. Overall survival (OS) at 24 months was 87.5%, and two patients presented progressive disease within this period. The median OS has not been reached at this evaluation. To the date, 262 adverse effects grade 3–4 (32.6%) have been documented (80.9% neutropenias) and 80 infectious complications were recorded (23.8% grade 3–4). Three patients died from respiratory diseases, two from acute leukemia, and six from other causes. Table 1 EVOLUTION OF RESPONSE Evaluated Response at End of Induction Therapy Evaluated Response Post-Course 3 Assesable End Ind. (n=67) Missing End Ind. (n=5) CR: complete response; uCR: unconfirmed CR; PR: partial response; NE: not evaluated; WD: withdrawn; EX: exitus. Assesable PC3 (n=70) CRITERIA CR PR NE WD EX 14 CR 12 - 1 1 - 32 uCR 31 - 1 - - 24 PR 16 6 - - 2 2 Missing PC3 (NE) 2 - - - - 72 Total 61 6 2 1 2 Conclusions The FC-R has proven a potent antitumoral activity in untreated follicular lymphoma patients, rendering very high clinical and molecular responses. However, as reported in similar studies (Hochster 2007 ASCO), the high incidence of prolonged neutropenias and lymphopenias developed as consequence of the chemotherapy regime, questions the safety of the induction treatment.

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