Prevalence and impact of cerebrovascular risk factors in patients with giant cell arteritis: An observational study from the Spanish national registry.

Objective: To assess the prevalence and impact of cerebrovascular risk factors (CRF) on cerebrovascular events (CVE) in patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA).

Methods: Analysis of the patients diagnosed with GCA identified in the Spanish Hospital Discharge Database between 2016 and 2018.

Results: 8,474 hospital admissions from patients diagnosed with GCA were identified.

Impact of severe infections in SLE: an observational study from the Spanish national registry.

Objective: Infections are a common complication of SLE. Our objective was to evaluate their causes and impact on the survival of patients with SLE.

Methods: Analysis of the admissions and death causes in patients diagnosed with SLE from the Spanish Hospital Discharge Database and the infection-related deaths of the Spanish population from the National Statistical Institute, between 2016 and 2018.

Red blood cell distribution width as prognostic factor in sepsis: A new use for a classical parameter.

Purpose: To evaluate Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) as a sepsis prognostic biomarker.

Methods: 203 septic patients admitted to the ICU. Analysis of RDW dynamics, hospital mortality discrimination ability and the added value when incorporated to the SOFA, LODS, SAPS-II and APACHE-II scores using the AUC-ROC.

Usefulness of the hemogram as a measure of clinical and serological activity in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Background And Objectives: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) follow-up is based on clinical, and analytical parameters. We aimed to determine the differences between the Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) between SLE patients and healthy controls and to assess their association with anemia status, classical inflammatory biomarkers and cytokines, disease activity, SLE related factors and treatment received for SLE.

Methods: Seventy-seven patients with SLE according to 2012 SLICC criteria and 80 healthy controls were included.

Impact of lung ultrasound during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: Distinction between viral and bacterial pneumonia.

Introduction: Lung Ultrasound is an accessible, low-cost technique that has demonstrated its usefulness in the prognostic stratification of COVID-19 patients. In addition, according to previous studies, it can guide us towards the potential aetiology, especially in epidemic situations such as the current one.

Patients And Methods: 40 patients were prospectively recruited, 30 with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia and 10 with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).

Serum cytokines to predict systemic lupus erythematosus clinical and serological activity.

We aimed to explore the role of interleukin (IL)-6, interferon-gamma (IFNγ), IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) as predictors of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) clinical and serological activity, and their correlation with the treatment received. We performed a retrospective analysis of 77 patients with SLE according to the 2012 Systemic Lupus International Collaborative Clinics (SLICC) criteria. The outcomes were serological activity (SA), active disease (AD), complete remission (CR), the low-disease activity state (LDAS), and immunosuppressive treatment.

Fidaxomicin monotherapy versus standard therapy combined with bezlotoxumab for treating patients with Clostridioides difficile infection at high risk of recurrence: a matched cohort study.

Background: Both fidaxomicin and bezlotoxumab (used in combination with an antibiotic against Clostridioides difficile) achieve reductions in recurrence rates of C. difficile infection (CDI). However, the two strategies have never been compared.

Point-of-care Ultrasound Diagnosis of Gastric Outlet Obstruction Syndrome.

Gastric Outlet Obstruction (GOO) is a clinical syndrome characterized by postprandial vomiting, epigastric pain, and abdominal distension due to mechanical or motility disorders. The suspicion will mainly rely on abdominal radiological imaging (computed tomography, barium studies) that might not be widely available or even be contraindicated. We report a 65-year-old male who developed progressive epigastralgia, anorexia, and vomiting.

Impact of cardiovascular risk factors in antiphospholipid syndrome: an observational study from the Spanish national registry.

Objectives: To determine the burden and impact of cardiovascular risk factors (CRF) in antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) patients.

Methods: Analysis of the patients diagnosed with APS identified in the Spanish Hospital Discharge Database between 2016 and 2017. We analysed the admissions due to arterial (ATE) and venous thromboembolic events (VTE) and evaluated the incidence and the attributed risk of each CRF.

Trends in Hospital Admissions and Death Causes in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Spanish National Registry.

Background: the admission and death causes of SLE patients might have changed over the last years.

Methods: Analysis of the Spanish National Hospital Discharge database. All individuals admitted with SLE, according to ICD-9, were selected.

Risk Factors for Clostridioides Difficile Diarrhea In Solid Organ Transplantation Recipients.

Background: There is limited knowledge about risk factors for Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) and recurrent CDI in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients.

Methods: A case-control study of CDI in SOT recipients compared with controls (SOT recipients who did not present CDI).

Results: Sixty-seven patients from 1089 SOT recipients (6.

Effective definition of low humoral response to Clostridioides difficile infection.

Background: Determination of the humoral response to Clostridioides difficile (CD) toxins could be of great value in the management of patients with CD infection (CDI).

Methods: A prospective study was conducted on the clinical characteristics and humoral response in patients with CDI. Determination of ELISA IgG CD anti-toxin B (tgcBiomics, Germany) was performed.

[Impact of Lung Ultrasound dUring the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: Distinction Between Viral and Bacterial Pneumonia].

Introduction: Lung ultrasound is an accessible, low-cost technique that has demonstrated its usefulness in the prognostic stratification of COVID-19 patients. In addition, according to previous studies, it can guide us towards the potential aetiology, especially in epidemic situations such as the current one.

Patients And Methods: 40 patients were prospectively recruited, 30 with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia and 10 with community-acquired pneumonia.

Severe Lymphopenia as a Predictor of COVID-19 Mortality in Immunosuppressed Patients.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has a high mortality in certain group of patients. We analysed the impact of baseline immunosuppression in COVID-19 mortality and the role of severe lymphopenia in immunocompromised subjects.

Methods: We analysed all patients admitted with COVID-19 in a tertiary hospital in Madrid between March 1st and April 30th 2020.

Real-life experience with fidaxomicin in Clostridioides difficile infection: a multicentre cohort study on 244 episodes.

The high cost of fidaxomicin has restricted its use despite the benefit of a lower Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) recurrence rate at 4 weeks of follow-up. This short follow-up represents the main limitation of pivotal clinical trials of fidaxomicin, and some recent studies question its benefits over vancomycin. Moreover, the main risk factors of recurrence after treatment with fidaxomicin remain unknown.

Are high doses of prednisone necessary for treatment of interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis?

Introduction: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) as part of systemic sclerosis (SS) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality.

Objectives: To evaluate the use of intravenous pulse cyclophosphamide combined with low and high doses of prednisone in the treatment of ILD in SS is equally effective.

Method: An experimental, exploratory and randomized single-blind clinical trial was conducted at Hermanos Ameijeiras Clinical Surgical Hospital from September 2006 to December 2009, including 23 patients with SS and ILD.