Plasma Neurodegenerative Biomarkers in Cognitively Preserved Nonagenarians.

Plasma biomarkers represent promising tools for the screening and diagnosis of patients with neurodegenerative conditions. However, it is crucial to account for the effects of aging on biomarker profiles, especially in the oldest segments of the population. Additionally, biomarkers in this sample can offer in vivo insights into the physiological mechanisms underlying brain aging while concomitantly supporting cognitive preservation.

T Cell Homeostasis Disturbances in a Cohort of Long-Term Elite Controllers of HIV Infection.

Elite controllers (ECs) are people living with HIV (PLWH) able to control HIV replication without antiretroviral therapy and have been proposed as a model of a functional HIV cure. Much evidence suggests that this spontaneous control of HIV has a cost in terms of T cell homeostasis alterations. We performed a deep phenotypic study to obtain insight into T cell homeostasis disturbances in ECs maintaining long-term virologic and immunologic control of HIV (long-term elite controllers; LTECs).

A specific natural killer cells phenotypic signature associated to long term elite control of HIV infection.

Elite controllers (ECs) are an exceptional group of people living with HIV (PLWH) that control HIV replication without therapy. Among the mechanisms involved in this ability, natural killer (NK)-cells have recently gained much attention. We performed an in-deep phenotypic analysis of NK-cells to search for surrogate markers associated with the long term spontaneous control of HIV.

-Related Retinal Dystrophies: Mutational Spectrum in 103 Families from a Spanish Cohort.

, one of the most frequently inherited retinal dystrophy (IRD)-causing genes, implies a high phenotypic variability. This study aims to analyze the mutational spectrum in one of the largest cohorts worldwide, and to describe novel pathogenic variants and genotype-phenotype correlations. A study of 220 patients from 103 families recruited from a database of 5000 families.

Fibroblast growth factor 23 independently predicts adverse outcomes after an acute coronary syndrome.

Aims: Abnormalities of mineral metabolism (MM) have been related to cardiovascular disorders. There are no reports on the prognostic role of MM after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We aim to assess the prognostic role of MM after an ACS.

Androgen receptor polyQ alleles and COVID-19 severity in men: A replication study.

Background: Ample evidence indicates a sex-related difference in severity of COVID-19, with less favorable outcomes observed in men. Genetic factors have been proposed as candidates to explain this difference. The polyglutamine (polyQ) polymorphism in the androgen receptor gene has been recently described as a genetic biomarker of COVID-19 severity.

Estimation of recurrent atherosclerotic cardiovascular event risk in patients with established cardiovascular disease: the updated SMART2 algorithm.

Aims: The 10-year risk of recurrent atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) events in patients with established ASCVD can be estimated with the Secondary Manifestations of ARTerial disease (SMART) risk score, and may help refine clinical management. To broaden generalizability across regions, we updated the existing tool (SMART2 risk score) and recalibrated it with regional incidence rates and assessed its performance in external populations.

Methods And Results: Individuals with coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral artery disease, or abdominal aortic aneurysms were included from the Utrecht Cardiovascular Cohort-SMART cohort [n = 8355; 1706 ASCVD events during a median follow-up of 8.

High SARS-CoV-2 viral load is associated with a worse clinical outcome of COVID-19 disease.

COVID-19 severity and progression are determined by several host and virological factors that may influence the final outcome of SARS-CoV-2-infected patients. The objective of this work was to determine a possible association between viral load, obtained from nasopharyngeal swabs, and the severity of the infection in a cohort of 448 SARS-CoV-2-infected patients from a hospital in Madrid during the first outbreak of the pandemic in Spain. To perform this, we clinically classified patients as mild, moderate and severe COVID-19 according to a number of clinical parameters such as hospitalization requirement, need of oxygen therapy, admission to intensive care units and/or death.

Overcoming PLK1 inhibitor resistance by targeting mevalonate pathway to impair AXL-TWIST axis in colorectal cancer.

New therapeutic targets are revolutionizing colorectal cancer clinical management, opening new horizons in metastatic patients' outcome. Polo Like Kinase1 (PLK1) inhibitors have high potential as antitumoral agents, however, the emergence of drug resistance is a major challenge for their use in clinical practice. Overcoming this challenge represents a hot topic in current drug discovery research.

Time to a Negative SARS-CoV-2 PCR Predicts Delayed Return to Work After Medical Leave in COVID-19 Infected Health Care Workers.

Objective: To investigate whether HCWs return to work (RTW) after COVID-19 was associated with time to a negative viral detection test.

Methods: To evaluate the association of RTW with an undetectable RT-PCR adjusting for different factors.

Results: Three hundred seventy-five HCWs who required medical leave for COVID-19 at a hospital in Madrid.

Ultrafiltration rate adjusted to body weight and mortality in hemodialysis patients.

Background And Aims: Mortality among hemodialysis patients remains high. An elevated ultrafiltration rate adjusted by weight (UFR/W) has been associated with hypotension and higher risk of death and/or cardiovascular events.

Methods: We evaluated the association between UFR/W and mortality in 215 hemodialysis patients.

Urinary Cyclophilin A as Marker of Tubular Cell Death and Kidney Injury.

Despite the term acute kidney injury (AKI), clinical biomarkers for AKI reflect function rather than injury and independent markers of injury are needed. Tubular cell death, including necroptotic cell death, is a key feature of AKI. Cyclophilin A (CypA) is an intracellular protein that has been reported to be released during necroptosis.

Low Intracellular Water, Overhydration, and Mortality in Hemodialysis Patients.

Background: In hemodialysis patients, extracellular water (ECW) overload predicts all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. The primary aim of the present study was to analyze changes in post-dialysis (i.e.

Impact of the antibiotic-cargo from MSNs on Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial biofilms.

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) are promising drug nanocarriers for infection treatment. Many investigations have focused on evaluating the capacity of MSNs to encapsulate antibiotics and release them in a controlled fashion. However, little attention has been paid to determine the antibiotic doses released from these nanosystems that are effective against biofilm during the entire release time.

A Prospective Randomized Trial Comparing the Functional Results of Buddy Taping Versus Closed Reduction and Cast Immobilization in Patients With Fifth Metacarpal Neck Fractures.

Purpose: Although fifth metacarpal neck fractures are typically treated nonsurgically, most often with closed reduction and orthosis immobilization, cast immobilization may not improve outcomes compared with buddy taping without reduction. The aim of this study was to compare functional outcomes of buddy taping versus reduction and cast immobilization in patients with fifth metacarpal neck fractures.

Methods: Adult patients with acute fifth metacarpal neck fractures with less than 70º volar angulation and without rotational deformity were randomly assigned to be treated either with buddy taping or a cast after closed reduction.

Gender, Albuminuria and Chronic Kidney Disease Progression in Treated Diabetic Kidney Disease.

Background: Women are reported to have a lower incidence of renal replacement therapy, despite a higher prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Aim: To analyze diabetic kidney disease (DKD) progression in men and women.

Methods: Prospective cohort: = 261, 35% women, new consecutive nephrology DKD referrals.

Profilin is a marker of severity in allergic respiratory diseases.

Background: The capacity of profilin to induce allergic symptoms in patients with respiratory allergy has been questioned. In this sense, the aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between profilin exposure and induction of symptoms in a prospective case-control study.

Methods: The concentration of profilin as well as pollen levels in the air was measured.

Comparison of impulse oscillometry and spirometry for detection of airway hyperresponsiveness to methacholine, mannitol, and eucapnic voluntary hyperventilation in children.

Background: Forced expiratory maneuvers are usually difficult in young children. Impulse oscillometry (IOS) requires no active cooperation, is noninvasive, rapid, and easy to perform. This study aimed to compare IOS indexes and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) in children for the assessment of bronchial hyperreactivity to methacholine, mannitol, and eucapnic voluntary hyperventilation (EVH).

Criteria for classification of protein-energy wasting in dialysis patients: impact on prevalence.

Malnutrition is highly prevalent in dialysis patients and associated with poor outcomes. In 2008, protein-energy wasting (PEW) was coined by the International Society of Renal Nutrition and Metabolism (ISRNM), as a single pathological condition in which undernourishment and hypercatabolism converge. In 2014, a new simplified score was described using serum creatinine adjusted for body surface area (sCr/BSA) to replace a reduction of muscle mass over time in the muscle wasting category.

Influence of dialysis membrane composition on plasma bisphenol A levels during online hemodiafiltration.

Introduction: Bisphenol A (BPA) is an ubiquitous environmental toxin that is also found in dialyzers. Online hemodiafiltration (OL-HDF) more efficiently clears high molecular weight molecules, and this may improve BPA clearance. However, the BPA contents of dialysis membranes may be a source of BPA loading during OL-HDF.

A decrease in intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) levels is associated with higher mortality in prevalent hemodialysis patients.

Background: The mortality of dialysis patients is 10- to 100-fold higher than in the general population. Baseline serum PTH levels, and more recently, changes in serum PTH levels (ΔPTH) over time, have been associated to mortality in dialysis patients.

Methods: We explored the relationship between ΔPTH over 1 year with mortality over the next year in a prospective cohort of 115 prevalent hemodialysis patients from a single center that had median baseline iPTH levels within guideline recommendations.

[Cryptococcal meningoencephalitis. Epidemiology and mortality risk factors in pre- and post-HAART era].

Introduction And Objective: Cryptococcal meningoencephalitis (CM) is an uncommon entity, but remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with AIDS.

Material And Methods: Review of CM cases in a university hospital. The diagnosis was determined by isolation of Cryptococcus neoformans in cerebrospinal fluid.

Haematuria increases progression of advanced proteinuric kidney disease.

Background: Haematuria has been traditionally considered as a benign hallmark of some glomerular diseases; however new studies show that haematuria may decrease renal function.

Objective: To determine the influence of haematuria on the rate of chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression in 71 proteinuric patients with advanced CKD (baseline eGFR <30 mL/min) during 12 months of follow-up.

Results: The mean rate of decline in eGFR was higher in patients with both haematuria and proteinuria (haemoproteinuria, HP, n=31) than in patients with proteinuria alone (P patients, n=40) (-3.

Effect of ciprofloxacin in the ultrastructure and development of biofilms formed by rapidly growing mycobacteria.

Background: The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of ciprofloxacin at different times on the development and behavior of intrinsic autofluorescence, covered area, thickness and cell viability in a biofilm formed by non-pigmented rapidly growing mycobacteria (NPRGM).Confocal laser scanning microscopy and image analysis were used to study the behavior of ciprofloxacin on biofilms.

Results: Thickness was the most affected parameter, although some species showed changes in other parameters.

Cortisol levels are associated with mortality risk in hemodialysis patients.

Background: End-stage renal disease (ESRD) conveys high mortality risk by complex mechanisms not fully elucidated but possibly linked to hormonal abnormalities, including cortisol. Whereas a high serum cortisol level has recently been linked with increased mortality in the general population, there is scarce information on the clinical associates and prognostic value of cortisol levels in ESRD.

Patients And Methods: Prospective study of prevalent hemodialysis patients (n = 75), mostly non-diabetic (76%), where cortisol levels were assessed and patients were afterwards followed for a median of 20 (interquartile range (IQR) 8 - 31) months.