Contrasting the clinical and biological characteristics of young and old COPD patients.

Background: The ECLIPSE study was a large, international, prospective, controlled, observational study that included COPD patients (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) grades 2-4), as well as smoking and non-smoking participants with normal spirometry, aged 40-75 years, who were followed-up regularly for 3 years. Here we sought to contrast the clinical and biological characteristics of young COPD controls of similar age and older COPD patients included in ECLIPSE.

Methods: We compared 106 young (<50 years) and 488 old (>70 years) COPD patients, as well as 119 young smokers and 92 nonsmoker controls (<50 years) with normal spirometry.

Ketone Bodies Are Potential Prognostic Biomarkers in Relapsed/Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: Results from the R2-GDP-GOTEL Trial.

Patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who are ineligible for high-dose chemotherapy have limited treatment options and poor life expectancy. The purpose of this study is to identify a serum metabolomic profile that may be predictive of outcome in patients with R/R-DLBCL. This study included 69 R/R DLBCL patients from the R2-GDP-GOTEL trial (EudraCT 2014-001620-299).

Combining Metabolomics and Machine Learning to Identify Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarkers in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Pre- and Post-Radiation Therapy.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally, with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounting for over 85% of cases and poor prognosis in advanced stages. This study explored shifts in circulating metabolite levels in NSCLC patients versus healthy controls and examined the effects of conventionally fractionated radiation therapy (CFRT) and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). We enrolled 91 NSCLC patients (38 CFRT and 53 SBRT) and 40 healthy controls.

PSMA PET/CT SUVmax as a prognostic biomarker in patients with metachronous metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC).

Background: Metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) is treatment-resistant and generally considered incurable. The development of prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission-computed tomography (PSMA PET/CT) has generated immense expectations due to its diagnostic accuracy in prostate cancer (PCa). PSMA expression of the primary tumor, quantified by SUVmax, is a predictor of oncological outcomes.

A Descriptive Study of 103 Primary Cutaneous B-Cell Lymphomas: Clinical and Pathological Characteristics and Treatment from the Spanish Lymphoma Oncology Group (GOTEL).

Primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas (PCBCLs) are B-cell lymphomas that can occur in the skin without evidence of extracutaneous involvement. The 2005 WHO/EORTC classification of cutaneous lymphomas and its 2018 update have distinguished three main categories based on clinicopathological, immunohistochemical, and genetic characteristics: primary cutaneous marginal zone lymphoma (PCMZL), primary cutaneous follicle centre lymphoma (PCFCL), and primary cutaneous diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, leg type (PCDLBCL-LT). PCMZL and PCFCL are clinically indolent, while PCDLBCL-LT is an aggressive lymphoma.

Early detection of deterioration in COVID-19 patients by continuous ward respiratory rate monitoring: a pilot prospective cohort study.

Background: Tachypnea is among the earliest signs of pulmonary decompensation. Contactless continuous respiratory rate monitoring might be useful in isolated COVID-19 patients admitted in wards. We therefore aimed to determine whether continuous monitoring of respiratory patterns in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 predicts subsequent need for increased respiratory support.

Variation of Plasma Damage-Associated Molecular Patterns in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors after Standard of Care Systemic Treatment.

Background: Immunogenic cell death (ICD) is known for releasing damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) from tumor cells. We aimed to find ICD signals by assessing the variation of plasmatic DAMPs (HMGB1, S100A8) before-after standard of care (SoC) systemic treatment in patients with advanced solid tumors.

Methods: Patients scheduled to start a new line of systemic treatment were included.

Opportunistic genetic screening increases the diagnostic yield and is medically valuable for care of patients and their relatives with hereditary cancer.

Background: Multigene panel testing by next-generation sequencing (MGP-NGS) enables the detection of germline pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants (PVs/LPVs) in genes beyond those associated with a certain cancer phenotype. Opportunistic genetic screening based on MGP-NGS in patients with suspicion of hereditary cancer reveals these incidental findings (IFs).

Methods: MGP-NGS was performed in patients who fulfilled the clinical criteria to undergo genetic testing according to the Catalan Health Service guidelines.

SUCNR1 signaling in adipocytes controls energy metabolism by modulating circadian clock and leptin expression.

Adipose tissue modulates energy homeostasis by secreting leptin, but little is known about the factors governing leptin production. We show that succinate, long perceived as a mediator of immune response and lipolysis, controls leptin expression via its receptor SUCNR1. Adipocyte-specific deletion of Sucnr1 influences metabolic health according to nutritional status.

Immunohistochemical Algorithm for the Classification of Muscle-Invasive Urinary Bladder Carcinoma with Lymph Node Metastasis: An Institutional Study.

Muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma represents 20% of newly diagnosed cases of bladder cancer, and most cases show aggressive biological behavior with a poor prognosis. It is necessary to identify biomarkers that can be used as prognostic and predictive factors in daily clinical practice. In our study, we analyzed different antibodies in selected cases of muscle-invasive urinary bladder carcinoma and lymph node metastasis to identify immunohistochemical types and their value as possible prognostic factors.

Utility of ctDNA Liquid Biopsies from Cancer Patients: An Institutional Study of 285 ctDNA Samples.

Liquid biopsy has improved significantly over the last decade and is attracting attention as a tool that can complement tissue biopsy to evaluate the genetic landscape of solid tumors. In the present study, we evaluated the usefulness of liquid biopsy in daily oncology practice in different clinical contexts. We studied ctDNA and tissue biopsy to investigate , , , and mutations from 199 cancer patients between January 2016 and March 2021.

Detailed stratified GWAS analysis for severe COVID-19 in four European populations.

Given the highly variable clinical phenotype of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a deeper analysis of the host genetic contribution to severe COVID-19 is important to improve our understanding of underlying disease mechanisms. Here, we describe an extended genome-wide association meta-analysis of a well-characterized cohort of 3255 COVID-19 patients with respiratory failure and 12 488 population controls from Italy, Spain, Norway and Germany/Austria, including stratified analyses based on age, sex and disease severity, as well as targeted analyses of chromosome Y haplotypes, the human leukocyte antigen region and the SARS-CoV-2 peptidome. By inversion imputation, we traced a reported association at 17q21.

Usefulness of the Urine Methylation Test (Bladder EpiCheck) in Follow-Up Patients with Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer and Cytological Diagnosis of Atypical Urothelial Cells-An Institutional Study.

Urothelial bladder cancer is a heterogeneous disease and one of the most common cancers worldwide. Bladder cancer ranges from low-grade tumors that recur and require long-term invasive surveillance to high-grade tumors with high mortality. After the initial contemporary treatment in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, recurrence and progression rates remain high.

Elevated plasma levels of epithelial and endothelial cell markers in COVID-19 survivors with reduced lung diffusing capacity six months after hospital discharge.

Background: Some COVID-19 survivors present lung function abnormalities during follow-up, particularly reduced carbon monoxide lung diffusing capacity (DLCO). To investigate risk factors and underlying pathophysiology, we compared the clinical characteristics and levels of circulating pulmonary epithelial and endothelial markers in COVID-19 survivors with normal or reduced DLCO 6 months after discharge.

Methods: Prospective, observational study.

Role of respiratory intermediate care units during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Rationale: The SARS-CoV2 pandemic increased exponentially the need for both Intensive (ICU) and Intermediate Care Units (RICU). The latter are of particular importance because they can play a dual role in critical and post-critical care of COVID-19 patients. Here, we describe the setup of 2 new RICUs in our institution to face the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and discuss the clinical characteristics and outcomes of the patients attended.

Once-daily 1 g ceftriaxone optimizes exposure in patients with septic shock and hypoalbuminemia receiving continuous veno-venous hemodiafiltration.

Purpose: Ceftriaxone total and unbound pharmacokinetics (PK) can be altered in critically ill patients with septic shock and hypoalbuminemia receiving continuous veno-venous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF). The objective of this study was to determine the dosing strategy of ceftriaxone that maximizes the probability of maintaining the concentration above the MIC of the susceptible bacteria (≤2 mg/L by the EUCAST) for a 100% of the dosing interval (100% ƒT).

Methods: In a prospective PK study in the intensive care units of two tertiary Spanish hospitals, six timed blood samples were collected per patient; for each sample, ceftriaxone total and unbound concentrations were measured using a liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry method.

Low birth weight as a potential risk factor for severe COVID-19 in adults.

The identification of factors predisposing to severe COVID-19 in young adults remains partially characterized. Low birth weight (LBW) alters cardiovascular and lung development and predisposes to adult disease. We hypothesized that LBW is a risk factor for severe COVID-19 in non-elderly subjects.

Severe acute kidney injury in critically ill COVID-19 patients.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is frequent in Coronavirus Infection Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Factors associated with AKI in COVID-19 intensive care unit (ICU) patients and their outcomes have not been previously explored.

Methods: Prospective observational study of COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICUs of the Hospital Clínic of Barcelona (Spain), from March 25th to April 21st, 2020, who developed AKI stage 2 or higher (AKIN classification).