Improvement of non-adherence and reduction of BP values in patients with difficult-to-treat hypertension: the ATHAN clinical trial.

Hypertension treatment and blood pressure (BP) control reduce cardiovascular disease burden. However, prevalence of controlled BP is overall insufficient and lack of adherence to treatment is a suggested major contributor. This prospective, randomized clinical trial was designed to evaluate whether a specific 3-month (m) action plan to improve therapeutic adherence results in a decrease in BP.

Quality assurance of add-on testing in plasma samples: stability limit for 29 biochemical analytes.

Introduction: Clinical laboratories should guarantee sample stability in specific storage conditions for further analysis. The aim of this study is to evaluate the stability of plasma samples under refrigeration for 29 common biochemical analytes usually ordered within an emergency context, in order to determine the maximum allowable period for conducting add-on testing.

Materials And Methods: A total of 20 patient samples were collected in lithium heparin tubes without gel separator.

Periodic verification of results' comparability between several analyzers: experience in the application of the EP31-A-IR guideline.

Objectives: To assess the usefulness of the EP31-A-IR guideline published by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) to perform the periodic verification of results' comparability between several analyzers.

Methods: Twenty-four biochemistry parameters that could be measured in different analyzers were included: albumin, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, amylase, aspartate aminotransferase, calcium, chloride, C-reactive protein, creatine kinase, creatinine, direct bilirubin, gamma glutamyl transferase, glucose, lactate dehydrogenase, magnesium, phosphate, potassium, sodium, total bilirubin, total cholesterol, total protein, triglycerides, urea and uric acid. In accordance with the EP31-A-IR guideline: (1) Patient samples were selected considering the concentration or activity of interest.

A Mediterranean Diet with an Enhanced Consumption of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Pistachios Improves Pregnancy Outcomes in Women Without Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Sub-Analysis of the St. Carlos Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Prevention Study.

Aims: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of a Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), enhanced with extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) and nuts, on a composite of adverse maternofoetal outcomes of women with normoglycemia during pregnancy.

Methods: This was a sub-analysis of the St Carlos gestational diabetes mellitus Prevention Study. Only normoglycemic women were analysed (697).

A Mediterranean diet with additional extra virgin olive oil and pistachios reduces the incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM): A randomized controlled trial: The St. Carlos GDM prevention study.

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) prevalence is increasing and becoming a major public health concern. Whether a Mediterranean diet can help prevent GDM in unselected pregnant women has yet to be studied.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, randomized controlled trial to evaluate the incidence of GDM with two different dietary models.

A novel TP53 germline inframe deletion identified in a Spanish series of Li-fraumeni syndrome suspected families.

Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) is an autosomal dominant, inherited tumor predisposition syndrome associated with heterozygous germline mutations in the TP53 gene. The molecular diagnosis of LFS is important to develop strategies for early detection and access to the genetic counseling. Our study evaluated germline TP53 mutations in Spanish families with a history suggestive of LFS.

Quantification of Very Low Concentrations of Leukocyte Suspensions In Vitro by High-Frequency Ultrasound.

Accurate measurement of very low cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) white blood cell (WBC) concentration is key to the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis, lethal if not promptly treated. Here we show that high frequency ultrasound (HFUS) can detect CSF WBC in vitro in concentrations relevant to meningitis diagnosis with a much finer precision than gold standard manual counting in a Fuchs-Rosenthal chamber. WBC concentrations in a mock CSF model, in the range 0-50 WBC/μL, have been tested and compared to gold standard ground truth.