Trajectories of chronic multimorbidity patterns in older patients: MTOP study.

Background: Multimorbidity is associated with negative results and poses difficulties in clinical management. New methodological approaches are emerging based on the hypothesis that chronic conditions are non-randomly associated forming multimorbidity patterns. However, there are few longitudinal studies of these patterns, which could allow for better preventive strategies and healthcare planning.

Multimorbidity patterns in COVID-19 patients and their relationship with infection severity: MRisk-COVID study.

Background: Several chronic conditions have been identified as risk factors for severe COVID-19 infection, yet the implications of multimorbidity need to be explored. The objective of this study was to establish multimorbidity clusters from a cohort of COVID-19 patients and assess their relationship with infection severity/mortality.

Methods: The MRisk-COVID Big Data study included 14 286 COVID-19 patients of the first wave in a Spanish region.

Assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the Clinical Frailty Scale through correlation with a frailty index.

Background: Care for the elderly patient is a challenge that geriatricians now share with other medical specialties. Frailty has emerged as a key concept. Due to its simplicity and applicability, the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) is gaining increasing acceptance.

The Computer Book of the Internal Medicine Resident: competence acquisition and achievement of learning objectives.

Background: The Computer Book of the Internal Medicine resident (CBIMR) is a computer program that was validated to analyze the acquisition of competences in teams of Internal Medicine residents.

Objectives: To analyze the characteristics of the rotations during the Internal Medicine residency and to identify the variables associated with the acquisition of clinical and communication skills, the achievement of learning objectives and resident satisfaction.

Methods: All residents of our service (n=20) participated in the study during a period of 40 months.

[The Computer Book of the Internal Medicine resident: validity and reliability of a questionnaire for self-assessment of competences in internal medicine residents].

Background: There are no simple and validated instruments for evaluating the training of specialists.

Objectives: To analyze the reliability and validity of a computerized self-assessment method to quantify the acquisition of medical competences during the Internal Medicine residency program.

Methods: All residents of our department participated in the study during a period of 28 months.

Twelve years' experience with methotrexate for GINA treatment step 5 asthma patients.

Background: Certain studies have shown the beneficial effects of methotrexate (MTX) in asthma patients. Here we describe the drug's tolerance and oral corticosteroid sparing capacity in a long-term observational study.

Methods: Forty-four patients with steroid-dependent asthma treated with 10 mg per week of oral MTX were prospectively followed for 91.

Pancoast's syndrome secondary to lung infection with cutaneous fistulisation caused by Staphylococcus aureus.

Apical bronchial carcinoma is the most common cause of Pancoast's syndrome. Of the many other causes reported, infection is a rare one. A literature review is presented and a case of Pancoast's syndrome, secondary to apical lung pneumonia with bronchocutaneous fistulisation caused by Staphylococcus aureus infection, is reported.

Benefits of low weekly doses of methotrexate in steroid-dependent asthmatic patients. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study.

Background: Though several drugs have been tested, the choice of the ideal steroid-sparing agent in steroid-dependent asthmatic patients remains unclear. Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerance of methotrexate in low weekly doses in order to decrease chronic oral steroid requirements in asthmatic patients.

Design: double blind randomized placebo-controlled study.

Four-day, twice daily, quadruple therapy with amoxicillin, clarithromycin, tinidazole and omeprazole to cure Helicobacter pylori infection: a pilot study.

Background: The best regimen for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection has yet to be defined. Four-day quadruple therapy with tetracycline, metronidazole, bismuth, and a proton pump inhibitor has been shown to obtain a very high cure rate. However, the fact that it must be taken four times daily may interfere with compliance.

Two-day quadruple therapy for cure of Helicobacter pylori infection: a comparative, randomized trial.

Objective: We sought to compare a 2-day quadruple therapy with a 14-day triple therapy in the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection.

Methods: Eighty-one consecutive patients with an endoscopically diagnosed peptic ulcer and demonstrated infection by H. pylori were included in the study.

[Pulmonary hypoplasia in adults: embryology, clinical presentation and diagnostic methods. Our experience and review of the literature].

We report five patients diagnosed of pulmonary hypoplasia (PH) in adulthood (age > 18 years, range 45 to 67 years). PH was left-sided in four cases. The malformations found were 2 cases of renal agenesis, 2 diaphragmatic hernias and 1 hiatal hernia.

[Seven-day omeprazole, clarithromycin, and amoxicillin for the therapy of Helicobacter pylori infection].

Background: There are few series reporting efficacy of seven-day therapy with omeprazole, amoxicillin and clarithromycin for cure of Helicobacter pylori infection in Spain. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of this treatment to eradicate H. pylori infection.

[CT in radiation enteritis].

The computed tomography findings of 18 patients who had received radiation therapy for pelvic malignancies were reviewed retrospectively. They include bowel wall thickening, mainly in central areas and in contact with anterior abdominal wall, mesenteric thickening, without masses and rectal and presacral space involvement. The differential diagnosis of these findings is discussed.

Psoas muscle pancreatic pseudocyst: CT--US diagnosis and percutaneous drainage.

We present 2 cases of psoas muscle pancreatic pseudocysts. In both cases there was no clinical or laboratory evidence of recent acute pancreatitis. The route of extension for the pseudocyst from the pancreas to the psoas was the perirenal space.

[Creatine phosphotransferase, B subunit, as a tumor marker. Preliminary results].

Creatine kinase B (CK-B) was evaluated as a tumor marker by radioimmunoassay determination of the isoenzyme in 518 persons (control group, malignant tumors, and several other diseases). Amounts higher than 8 ng/ml (upper normal limit) was observed in 12.6 per 100 of the digestive tumors, 6.

[Pregnancy-specific beta-1 glycoprotein (SP1) as a marker for tumors with or without trophoblastic character].

The pregnancy specific beta-1-glycoprotein (SP1) was measured by radioimmunoassay in 854 persons (control group 103, non-tumoral diseases 212, germinal tumors 30, and non-germinal tumors 509). Amounts higher than 2.5 ng/ml (upper normal limit) were observed in 35 cases with non tumoral diseases (specially chronic liver diseases), 97 of the non-germinal tumors (specially mammary, respiratory and digestive tumors), and 10 of the germinal tumors (pure and mixed choriocarcinomas, and embryonic carcinoma with yolk sac component).