Prospective study to evaluate quality of life in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative rare disease characterized by symptoms and signs in the upper and lower motor neurons, leading to progressive neuro-degeneration and muscle atrophy. Our objective was to analyse the quality of life (QoL) in patients with ALS and compare with general population and with patients with cancer. Prospective study from consecutive ALS patients in one center.

Repeated Pulses of Methyl-Prednisolone in Adults Hospitalized With COVID-19 Pneumonia and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A Preliminary Before-After Study (CortiCOVID Study).

Introduction: The use of systemic corticosteroids in severely ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is controversial. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of corticosteroid pulses in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.

Methods: A quasi-experimental study, before and after, was performed in a tertiary referral hospital, including admitted patients showing COVID-19-associated pneumonia.

Prognostic Significance of Incidental Deep Vein Thrombosis in Patients with Cancer Presenting with Incidental Pulmonary Embolism.

In symptomatic acute pulmonary embolism (PE), the presence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a risk factor for 30- and 90-day mortality. In patients with cancer and incidental PE, the prognostic effect of concomitant incidental DVT is unknown. In this retrospective study, we examined the effect of incidental DVT on all-cause mortality in such patients.

Differential biomarker profiles between unprovoked venous thromboembolism and cancer.

Background: The relationship between cancer and venous thromboembolic disease (VTD) are complex because the activated coagulation factors are not only involved in thrombosis but also in malignant processes, such as angiogenesis and metastasis.

Objective: To compare phenotypes of extracellular vesicles (EVs), and levels of D-dimer, soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin) and antigenic tissue factor (TF) between unprovoked VTD patients, who did not develop cancer during one-year follow-up, and those with advanced stage of cancer but not associated with VTD.

Methods: A prospective study in which we included 138 unprovoked VTD patients and 67 advanced cancer patients, who did not develop thrombosis.

Interleukin 6 as a marker of depression in women with sleep apnea.

Depression is common in women with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), but objective markers of depression have not yet been explored in such patients. We hypothesized that inflammation and antioxidant biomarkers may be associated with depression in a cohort of OSA women. We conducted a multicentre, cross-sectional study in 247 women diagnosed with moderate-to-severe OSA.

A Case-Control Analysis of the Impact of Venous Thromboembolic Disease on Quality of Life of Patients with Cancer: Quality of Life in Cancer (Qca) Study.

Although there is published research on the impact of venous thromboembolism (VTE) on quality of life (QoL), this issue has not been thoroughly investigated in patients with cancer-particularly using specific questionnaires. We aimed to examine the impact of acute symptomatic VTE on QoL of patients with malignancies. This was a multicenter, prospective, case-control study conducted in patients with cancer either with (cases) or without (controls) acute symptomatic VTE.

Effect of continuous positive airway pressure on inflammatory, antioxidant, and depression biomarkers in women with obstructive sleep apnea: a randomized controlled trial.

Study Objectives: The effect of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on mediators of cardiovascular disease and depression in women with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is unknown. We aimed to assess the effect of CPAP therapy on a variety of biomarkers of inflammation, antioxidant activity, and depression in women with OSA.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter, randomized controlled trial in 247 women diagnosed with moderate-to-severe OSA (apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] ≥ 15).

Relationship between the endothelial dysfunction and the expression of the β1-subunit of BK channels in a non-hypertensive sleep apnea group.

Study Objectives: Vascular damage must be diagnosed early in patients with hypertension. In this regard, endothelial dysfunction (ED) is an early sign of vascular disease and a predictor of cardiovascular diseases. In obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), intermittent hypoxia triggers ED, but mechanisms are not clear.

Risk Of Recurrence After Withdrawal Of Anticoagulation In Patients With Unprovoked Venous Thromboembolism: External Validation Of The Vienna Nomogram And The Dash Prediction Score.

Introduction: Scales for predicting venous thromboembolism (VTE) recurrence are useful for deciding the duration of the anticoagulant treatment. Although there are several scales, the most appropriate for our setting has not been identified. For this reason, we aimed to validate the DASH prediction score and the Vienna nomogram at 12 months.

D-dimer and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels to predict venous thromboembolism recurrence after discontinuation of anticoagulation for cancer-associated thrombosis.

Background: Optimal duration of anticoagulation for cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT) remains unclear. This study assessed D-dimer (DD) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels after the withdrawal of anticoagulation treatment to predict the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) recurrence among patients with CAT.

Methods: Prospective, multicentre study to evaluate CAT with ≥3 months of anticoagulation that was subsequently discontinued.

Primary Care Physicians Can Comprehensively Manage Patients with Sleep Apnea. A Noninferiority Randomized Controlled Trial.

General practitioners play a passive role in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) management. Simplification of the diagnosis and use of a semiautomatic algorithm for treatment can facilitate the integration of general practitioners, which has cost advantages. To determine differences in effectiveness between primary health care area (PHA) and in-laboratory specialized management protocols during 6 months of follow-up.

Tinzaparin in cancer associated thrombosis beyond 6months: TiCAT study.

Introduction: The safety and efficacy of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) treatment in patients with cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT) beyond 6months are unknown. Our aim was to determine the safety of long-term tinzaparin use in patients with CAT.

Methods: We performed a prospective, open, single arm, multicentre study in patients with CAT receiving treatment with tinzaparin.

Patient-reported outcomes and considerations in the management of COPD: focus on aclidinium.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex heterogeneous disease, in which several factors combine to give the final clinical expression. Both early and more recent studies have shown that forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), despite being an extremely important parameter to predict the progression of the disease, is a poor surrogate marker for symptoms perception. Accordingly, patient-reported outcomes (PROs) have gained popularity as a measure of the impact of treatment from the patients' perspective, since they represent the individuals' perception of their health status, beyond any physiological limitations.

Gamma glutamyl transferase and oxidative stress in obstructive sleep apnea: a study in 1744 patients.

Objective: We analyze a large population of patients to determine whether gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels are increased in sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSA) and whether these levels are related to clinical characteristics or polygraphic indexes.

Methods: A cross-sectional study in a population of 1744 patients referred for OSA suspicion was conducted. The following variables were determined: glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, aspartate aminotransferase (GOT), alanine aminotransferase (GPT), GGT, body mass index, waist-hip ratio (WHR), and overnight sleep study.

Results from an audit feedback strategy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in-hospital care: a joint analysis from the AUDIPOC and European COPD audit studies.

Background: Clinical audits have emerged as a potential tool to summarize the clinical performance of healthcare over a specified period of time. However, the effectiveness of audit and feedback has shown inconsistent results and the impact of audit and feedback on clinical performance has not been evaluated for COPD exacerbations. In the present study, we analyzed the results of two consecutive nationwide clinical audits performed in Spain to evaluate both the in-hospital clinical care provided and the feedback strategy.