Burden of Mitral Regurgitation in Spain from 2016-2021: An Analysis by Aetiology and Sex.

: Mitral regurgitation (MR) is the second most common valve disease in Europe, and differences between men and women have been described in relation to aetiology or management, which might impact the decision for intervention and patients' clinical and economic outcomes. Thus, the objective was to analyse the burden of MR in Spain by aetiology and sex, and the management of all patients suffering from MR being admitted to hospital between 2016-2021. : An analysis was carried out with the Ministry of Health's database, including all patients in public and subsidised hospitals and defining two groups, general MR and those patients undergoing Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge repair (TEER), using a descriptive analysis of patients' characteristics, use of resources, and outcomes; standardised rates were calculated and observed outcomes were described.

Do sexual differences in life strategies make male lizards more susceptible to parasite infection?

Female and male hosts may maximise their fitness by evolving different strategies to compensate for the costs of parasite infections. The resulting sexual dimorphism might be apparent in differential relationships between parasite load and body condition, potentially reflecting differences in energy allocation to anti-parasitic defences. For example, male lacertids with high body condition may produce many offspring while being intensely parasitised.

Effect of Solar Pre-Drying and Yeast Starter Inoculation Treatments on the Chemical Composition of Cocoa ( L.) Beans from Southwestern Colombia.

In Southwestern Colombia, cocoa clones are cultivated in which productivity characteristics predominate over bean quality. In this study, cocoa beans of the CCN-51 clone harvested in the Tumaco region (Nariño, Colombia) were fermented following four different treatments: (1) spontaneously (at room temperature for 120 h) in traditional conditions (Control); (2) traditional processing with a pre-drying (sun-dried for 24 h) treatment (PD); (3) with fermentation (for 120 h) after inoculation of a yeast starter culture (YS); and (4) including both treatments, pre-drying and yeast inoculation (PD + YS). Chemical composition, fatty acids, total polyphenol, methylxanthines (theobromine and caffeine) and lactic acid content of cocoa beans were determined.

Coping with drought? The hidden microhabitat selection and underground movements of amphisbaenians under summer drought conditions.

Habitat selection is a dynamic process that depends on many environmental variables that can vary with weather conditions. This is important because, within a context of global change, extreme weather events, such as severe droughts, are predicted to become more frequent. We examined the patterns of microhabitat selection and underground movements (using PIT-tag telemetry) of a strictly fossorial reptile, the North African checkboard amphisbaenian , during the summer drought period.

Dispersive ππ→KK[over ¯] Amplitude and Giant CP Violation in B to Three Light-Meson Decays at LHCb.

The LHCb collaboration has recently reported the largest CP violation effect from a single amplitude, as well as other giant CP asymmetries in several B-meson decays into three charmless light mesons. It is also claimed that this is predominantly due to ππ→KK[over ¯] rescattering in the final state, particularly in the 1 to 1.5 GeV region.

Intersexual and body size-related variation in chemical constituents from feces and cloacal products involved in intraspecific communication of a fossorial amphisbaenian.

Background: Many animals rely on chemical cues for intraspecific communication. This is especially important in fossorial animals because visual restrictions of the underground environment limit the opportunities for visual communication. Previous experiments showed the ability of the amphisbaenian to discriminate between several categories of conspecifics based on chemical cues alone.

Genetic diversity, phylogenetic position, and co-phylogenetic relationships of Karyolysus, a common blood parasite of lizards in the western Mediterranean.

The genus Karyolysus was originally proposed to accommodate blood parasites of lacertid lizards in Western Europe. However, recent phylogenetic analyses suggested an inconclusive taxonomic position of these parasites of the order Adeleorina based on the available genetic information. Inconsistencies between molecular phylogeny, morphology, and/or life cycles can reflect lack of enough genetic information of the target group.

Hidden but Potentially Stressed: A Non-Invasive Technique to Quantify Fecal Glucocorticoid Levels in a Fossorial Amphisbaenian Reptile.

To understand wildlife responses to the changing environment, it is useful to examine their physiological responses and particularly their endocrine status. Here, we validated an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) to non-invasively quantify fecal corticosterone metabolites (FCM) in the fossorial amphisbaenian reptile from North Africa. We supplemented animals assigned to the treatment group with corticosterone dissolved in oil applied non-invasively on the skin for several days, while control groups received the oil-alone solution.

Sexual selection, feather wear, and time constraints on the pre-basic molt explain the acquisition of the pre-alternate molt in European passerines.

Avian feathers need to be replaced periodically to fulfill their functions, with natural, social, and sexual selection presumably driving the evolution of molting strategies. In temperate birds, a common pattern is to molt feathers immediately after the breeding season, the pre-basic molt. However, some species undergo another molt in winter-spring, the pre-alternate molt.

Applying reflective multicriteria decision analysis to understand the value of therapeutic alternatives in the management of gestational and peripartum anaemia in Spain.

Background: The objective of the FeminFER project was to assess the value of ferric carboxymaltose following a multicriteria decision analysis in obstetrics and gynaecology in Spain.

Methods: Ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) and ferrous sulphate were evaluated using the EVIDEM framework. Ten stakeholders participated to collect different perspectives.

Mercury Levels in Feathers of Penguins from the Antarctic Peninsula Area: Geographical and Inter-Specific Differences.

Polar regions, symbols of wilderness, have been identified as potential sinks of mercury coming from natural and anthropogenic sources at lower latitudes. Changes in ice coverage currently occurring in some areas such as the Antarctic Peninsula could enhance these phenomena and their impacts on local biota. As long-lived species at the top of food chains, seabirds are particularly sensitive to this highly toxic metal with the capacity to be biomagnified.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of the SAPIEN 3 transcatheter aortic valve implant in patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis.

Introduction And Objectives: Transcatheter aortic valve implant has become a widely accepted treatment for inoperable patients with aortic stenosis and patients at high surgical risk. Its indications have recently been expanded to include patients at intermediate and low surgical risk. Our aim was to evaluate the efficiency of SAPIEN 3 vs conservative medical treatment (CMT) or surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in symptomatic inoperable patients at high or intermediate risk.

Going underground: short- and long-term movements may reveal the fossorial spatial ecology of an amphisbaenian.

Background: The movement and spatial ecology of an animal depends on its morphological and functional adaptations to its environment. In fossorial animals, adaptations to the underground life help to face peculiar ecological challenges, very different from those of epigeal species, but may constrain their movement ability.

Methods: We made a long-term capture-recapture study of the strictly fossorial amphisbaenian reptile Trogonophis wiegmanni to analyze its long-term movement patterns.

Non-invasive ventilation and airway exchange catheter using a novel adapter in a difficult airway patient with post-extubation respiratory failure.

Post-extubation respiratory failure in patients with difficult airway is considered a challenge for the health team. Some intratracheal devices such as airway exchange catheters (AECs) could be used during scheduled tube removing to ensure a rapid access to airway in the case of requiring emergent reintubation. Nevertheless, using such devices could impede adequate non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIMV) support because of the air leaks generated by interfering with mask interfaces.

A Qualitative Research for Defining Meaningful Attributes for the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease from the Patient Perspective.

Introduction: Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are chronic, inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Each class and type of medication available for the treatment of IBD has distinct characteristics and long-term effects that a patient may consider. We present the results of qualitative research that aimed to develop a descriptive framework that outlines the most relevant disease and/or treatment attributes for IBD treatment decisions and focuses on the patient perspective.

Hormonal control of seasonal color change in female spiny-footed lizards: an observational and experimental approach.

Breeding coloration of females often signals aspects of their reproductive status, suggesting a link between color and sex steroid hormones. In this study, we examined the relationships between 2 sex steroid hormones (progesterone and β-estradiol) and reproductive coloration in female spiny-footed lizards . We first explored natural variation in female plasma hormone levels and coloration during their reproductive cycle.

Applying Reflective Multicriteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) to Patient-Clinician Shared Decision-Making on the Management of Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors (GEP-NET) in the Spanish Context.

Introduction: Unresectable, well-differentiated nonfunctioning gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) can be monitored (watchful waiting, WW) or treated with systemic therapy such as somatostatin analogues (SSAs) to delay progression. We applied a reflective multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) shared-decision framework (previously developed for the USA) to explore what matters to Spanish patients and clinicians considering GEP-NET treatment options.

Methods: The EVIDEM-derived framework was updated and adapted to the Spanish context.

Social preferences for health states associated with acute myeloid leukemia for patients undergoing treatment in the United Kingdom.

Background: Health state (HS) utility values for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a hematological malignancy, are not available in the United Kingdom (UK). This study aims to develop clinically sound HSs for previously untreated patients with AML and to assign utility values based on preferences of the general UK population.

Methods: This study was conducted in the UK and comprised 2 stages.

Using a multidimensional unfolding approach to assess multiple sclerosis patient preferences for disease-modifying therapy: a pilot study.

Purpose: Multidimensional unfolding is a multivariate method to assess preferences using a small sample size, a geometric model locating individuals and alternatives as points in a joint space. The objective was to evaluate relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patient preferences toward key disease-modifying therapy (DMT) attributes using multidimensional unfolding.

Patients And Methods: A cross-sectional pilot study in RRMS patients was conducted.

Colonial, more widely distributed and less abundant bird species undergo wider population fluctuations independent of their population trend.

Understanding temporal variability in population size is important for conservation biology because wide population fluctuations increase the risk of extinction. Previous studies suggested that certain ecological, demographic, life-history and genetic characteristics of species might be related to the degree of their population fluctuations. We checked whether that was the case in a large sample of 231 European breeding bird species while taking a number of potentially confounding factors such as population trends or similarities among species due to common descent into account.

[Neonatal intussusception].

Intussusception in infants and young children is a relatively common entity with a well defined clinical picture and a favorable outcome in most cases.The neonatal intussusceptions is extremely rare and does not have a well-defined clinical picture since its clinical manifestations vary according to the gestational time it occurs, the response of the injured intestine and the gestational age of the child concerned. Two new cases of neonatal intussusceptions are presented and a review of the world literature is performed.

MODE OF ATTACHMENT AND PATHOLOGY CAUSED BY PARORCHITES ZEDERI IN THREE SPECIES OF PENGUINS: PYGOSCELIS PAPUA, PYGOSCELIS ADELIAE, AND PYGOSCELIS ANTARCTICA IN ANTARCTICA.

We identified and compared gross and microscopic lesions associated with the cestode, Parorchites zederi, in the digestive tracts of three species of penguins (Spheniscidae): the Chinstrap ( Pygoscelis antarctica ), Gentoo ( Pygoscelis papua ), and Adélie penguins ( Pygoscelis adeliae ). The gastrointestinal tracts of 79 recently dead individuals (71 chicks and eight adults) were collected in locations throughout the Antarctic Peninsula during summer field trips in 2006-09. Parorchites zederi was found in the small intestine of 37 animals (47%), and 23 (62%) of these had parasite-associated lesions.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of quadrivalent influenza vaccine in Spain.

Influenza has a major impact on healthcare systems and society, but can be prevented using vaccination. The World Health Organization (WHO) currently recommends that influenza vaccines should include at least two virus A and one virus B lineage (trivalent vaccine; TIV). A new quadrivalent vaccine (QIV), which includes an additional B virus strain, received regulatory approval and is now recommended by several countries.

[Hereditary angioedema in Medellín (Colombia): Clinical evaluation and quality of life appraisal].

Introduction: Hereditary angioedema is an autosomal dominant primary immunodeficiency caused by a deficiency of the C1 inhibitor protein and characterized by recurrent episodes of subcutaneous and mucosal edema. Unpredictable and frequent crisis of angioedema affect the quality of life of individuals suffering this kind of disorder.

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics of a family with an index case of hereditary angioedema and to determine the impact of this disease on their quality of life.