Air pollution exposure and its effects on idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: clinical worsening, lung function decline, and radiological deterioration.

Introduction: Major urban pollutants have a considerable influence on the natural history of lung disease. However, this effect is not well known in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effects of air pollution on clinical worsening, lung function, and radiological deterioration in patients with IPF.

Relationship between air pollution exposure and the progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in Madrid: Chronic respiratory failure, hospitalizations, and mortality. A retrospective study.

Introduction: Air pollution has a significant impact on the morbidity and mortality of various respiratory diseases. However, this has not been widely studied in diffuse interstitial lung diseases, specifically in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Objective: In this study we aimed to assess the relationship between four major air pollutants individually [carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO), ozone (O), and nitrogen oxides (NO)] and the development of chronic respiratory failure, hospitalization due to respiratory causes and mortality in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

The equations of ametropia: Predicting myopia.

Why myopia develops, why it is reaching epidemic proportions and what is its cause are questions that puzzle many people. There is an answer to these questions and it is a simple one. This paper makes the connection between ametropic and in particular myopic development and theory to come with a summary of what we know about myopia and its governing equation.

Epigenetic age acceleration changes 2 years after antiretroviral therapy initiation in adults with HIV: a substudy of the NEAT001/ANRS143 randomised trial.

Background: DNA methylation-based estimators of biological age are reliable biomarkers of the ageing process. We aimed to investigate a range of epigenetic ageing biomarkers in a substudy of the NEAT001/ANRS143 clinical trial, which compared ritonavir-boosted darunavir with either raltegravir or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine in antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naive adults.

Methods: We analysed frozen whole blood samples from 168 ART-naive participants with HIV from the NEAT001/ANRS143 trial, before ART initiation and after 2 years of ART (84 participants on ritonavir-boosted darunavir with raltegravir and 84 participants on ritonavir-boosted darunavir with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine).

Cost evolution of biological drugs in rheumatoid arthritis patients in a tertiary hospital: Influential factors on price.

Objective: To assess the evolution of cost per patient/year and the cost per patient/year/drug in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) receiving biological treatments. To analyze and quantify the factors influencing this evolution, such as the optimization of the biological drugs, the use of biosimilars, and official discounts and discounts obtained after negotiated procedures. In addition, to assess specific clinical parameters of disease activity in these patients.

Cost evolution of biological agents for the treatment of spondyloarthritis in a tertiary hospital: influential factors in price.

Background Spending on biological agents has risen dramatically due to the high cost of the drugs and the increased prevalence of spondyloarthritis. Objective To evaluate the annual cost per patient and cost for each biological drug for treating patients with spondyloarthritis from 2009 to 2016, and to calculate factors that affect treatment cost, such as optimizing therapies by monitoring drug serum levels, the use of biosimilar-TNF inhibitors, and official discounts or negotiated rebates in biologicals acquired by the pharmacy department. Method Retrospective, observational study in a Spanish tertiary hospital.

The Severity of Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy Correlates With Multiple Organ Dysfunction in the Hypothermia Era.

Objectives: The objectives are to 1) determine whether there is a positive correlation between the severity of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and multiple organ dysfunction and 2) evaluate the organ dysfunction pattern in infants with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in the hypothermia era.

Design: Retrospective observational study of prospective data collected between April 2009 and December 2012.

Setting: The study took place in the neonatal ICU of Hospital Sant Joan de Déu-Hospital Clínic of Barcelona.

Psychometric Field Study of Hereditary Angioedema Quality of Life Questionnaire for Adults: HAE-QoL.

Background: Hereditary angioedema due to C1 inhibitor deficiency (C1-INH-HAE) may affect health-related quality of life (HRQoL). A specific HRQoL questionnaire for adult patients with C1-INH-HAE, the HAE-QoL, has recently been developed in Spain.

Objective: The objective of this study was to perform a cross-cultural validation and psychometric study of the HAE-QoL in an international setting.

Neurocognitive impairment in patients treated with protease inhibitor monotherapy or triple drug antiretroviral therapy.

Background: In patients who remain virologically suppressed in plasma with triple-drug ART a switch to protease inhibitor monotherapy maintains high rates of suppression; however it is unknown if protease inhibitor monotherapy is associated to a higher rate of neurocognitive impairment.

Methods: In this observational, cross-sectional study we included patients with plasma virological suppression (≥ 1 year) without concomitant major neurocognitive confounders, currently receiving for ≥ 1 year boosted lopinavir or darunavir as monotherapy or as triple ART. Neurocognitive impairment was defined as per the 2007 consensus of the American Association of Neurology.

Efficacy and safety of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-sparing salvage therapy for multidrug-resistant HIV-1 infection based on new-class and new-generation antiretrovirals.

Background: The advent of new antiretrovirals has expanded the therapeutic options for multiple drug-resistant HIV-1 infection. The role of recycled nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) in this scenario remains uncertain.

Methods: Observational study of 122 consecutive patients with prior triple-class failure and multidrug-resistant HIV infection who started a salvage regimen with at least three of the new antiretrovirals darunavir, etravirine, raltegravir and maraviroc.

Neonatal neurological morbidity associated with uterine rupture.

Aims: To compare neonatal neurological morbidity associated with uterine rupture with morbidity associated with a non-reassuring fetal status.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis. Twenty-one cases of term infants delivered after a symptomatic uterine rupture were analyzed and compared with a randomly selected group of 63 infants born after a non-reassuring fetal heart rate pattern.

Compact laser radar and three-dimensional camera.

A novel three-dimensional (3D) camera is capable of providing high-precision 3D images in real time. The camera uses a diode laser to illuminate the scene, a shuttered solid-state charge-coupled device (CCD) sensor, and a simple phase detection technique based on the sensor shutter. The amplitude of the reflected signal carries the luminance information, while the phase of the signal carries range information.

Lopinavir/ritonavir as single-drug therapy for maintenance of HIV-1 viral suppression: 48-week results of a randomized, controlled, open-label, proof-of-concept pilot clinical trial (OK Study).

Objective: This study evaluated maintenance with lopinavir/ritonavir monotherapy vs. continuing lopinavir/ritonavir and 2 nucleosides in HIV-infected patients with suppressed HIV replication.

Design: Randomized, controlled, open-label, multicenter, pilot clinical trial.

Cardiovascular support for low birth weight infants and cerebral hemodynamics: a randomized, blinded, clinical trial.

Background: Maintaining adequate organ blood flow is the target of vasopressor treatment, but the impact of these measures on cerebral perfusion has not yet been evaluated systematically in a randomized, blinded, clinical trial.

Objectives: To explore the effects on brain hemodynamics of 2 different inotropic agents used to treat systemic hypotension among low birth weight (LBW) infants.

Design And Methods: Newborns of <1501 g birth weight or <32 weeks' gestational age, with a mean blood pressure (MBP) lower than gestational age in the first 24 hours of life, were assigned randomly to receive dopamine (DP) (2.

Vesicoureteral reflux: can the urethra be adequately assessed by using contrast-enhanced voiding US of the bladder?

Purpose: To prospectively evaluate contrast material-enhanced voiding ultrasonography (US) for assessment of the urethra by using voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) as the reference standard.

Materials And Methods: This study was approved by the ethics committee on human research. Written informed consent was obtained for all patients.

Noninvasive continuous monitoring of the effects of head position on brain hemodynamics in ventilated infants.

Hypothesis: Laying supine with the head in midline position improves cerebral venous return by preventing functional occlusion of the vessels of the neck.

Objectives: To assess changes in cerebral blood volume (DeltaCBV) and cerebral blood flow (CBF) with the position of the head in ventilated patients using a noninvasive method. The influence of the type of ventilation and birth weight was evaluated.