Publications by authors named "Jose Abal-Arca"

Background: Occupational exposure to silica is related to autoimmune diseases and features of autoimmunity, mainly autoantibodies. The study objectives were to estimate the prevalence of silicosis with associated autoimmune findings or diagnosed autoimmune diseases in Spain, and to assess the clinical and functional characteristics of affected patients.

Methods: This is a multicentre prospective study in patients diagnosed with silicosis.

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Introduction: This study was aimed to identify risk factors associated with unfavorable outcomes (composite outcome variable: mortality and need for mechanical ventilation) in patients hospitalized in Galicia with COVID-19 pneumonia.

Methods: Retrospective, multicenter, observational study carried out in the 8 Galician tertiary hospitals. All Patients admitted with confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia from 1st of March to April 24th, 2020 were included.

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Polymorphisms in DNA repair pathways may play a relevant role in lung cancer survival in never-smokers. Furthermore, they could be implicated in the response to chemotherapy and toxicity of platinum agents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of various genetic polymorphisms in the BER and NER DNA repair pathways on survival and toxicity in never-smoker LC patients.

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Introduction: Currently there is lack of data regarding the impact of a home telehealth program on readmissions and mortality rate after a COPD exacerbation-related hospitalization.

Objective: To demonstrate if a tele-monitoring system after a COPD exacerbation admission could have a favorable effect in 1-year readmissions and mortality in a real-world setting.

Methods: This is an observational study where we compared an intervention group of COPD patients treated after hospitalization that conveyed a telehealth program with a followance period of 1 year with a control group of patients evaluated during one year before the intervention began.

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We aimed to evaluate lung cancer survival in never-smokers, both overall and specifically by sex, exposure to residential-radon, age, histological type, and diagnostic stage. We included lung cancer cases diagnosed in a multicentre, hospital-based, case-control-study of never-smoker patients, diagnosed from January-2011 to March-2015 (Lung Cancer Research In Never Smokers study). 369 never-smokers (79% women; median age 71 years; 80% adenocarcinoma; 66% stage IV) were included.

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Discriminating between malignant pleural effusion (MPE) and benign pleural effusion (BPE) remains difficult. Thus, novel and efficient biomarkers are required for the diagnosis of pleural effusion (PE). The aim of this study was to validate calprotectin as a diagnostic biomarker of PE in clinical settings.

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Background: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between do-it-yourself activities entailing the exposure to carcinogenic substances and the risk of lung cancer.

Methods: We pooled individual data from different case-control studies conducted in Northwestern Spain which investigated residential radon and lung cancer. Cases had an anatomopathologically confirmed primary lung cancer and controls were selected at the pre-surgery unit with uncomplicated surgeries.

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Objectives: To analyze the relationship of GSTT1, GSTM1, XRCC1 (rs25487), ERCC1 (rs11615, rs3212986), ERCC2 (rs13181), XRCC3 (rs861539), OGG1 (rs1052133), and Alpha-1-Antitrypsin mutations (AAT) with the risk of lung cancer in never-smokers, and ascertain if there is an effect modification between these polymorphisms and residential radon exposure.

Material And Methods: We designed a multicenter hospital-based case-control study in a radon-prone area. 322 cases and 338 controls, all never-smokers, were included.

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Background: Using a pooled case-control study design, including only never-smokers, we have assessed the association of residential radon exposure with the subsequent occurrence of lung cancer. We also investigated whether residential radon poses a different risk specifically for adenocarcinoma.

Methods: We pooled individual data from different case-control studies conducted in recent years in Northwestern Spain which investigated residential radon and lung cancer.

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Background: Lung cancer (LC) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The differential clinical and functional features among LC patients with or without COPD have not been defined.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to examine the prevalence and underdiagnosis rate of COPD in LC patients and to compare the clinical and functional features of LC patients with and without COPD.

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Background: Lung cancer is the deadliest cancer in developed countries but the etiology of lung cancer risk in never smokers (LCRINS) is largely unknown. We aim to assess the effects of alcohol consumption, in its different forms, on LCRINS.

Methods: We pooled six multi-center case-control studies developed in the northwest of Spain.

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Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure is a main risk factor of lung cancer in never smokers. Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) mutations and ALK translocations are more frequent in never smokers' lung cancer than in ever-smokers. We performed a multicenter case-control study to assess if ETS exposure is associated with the presence of EGFR mutations and its types and if ALK translocations were related with ETS exposure.

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Introduction: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is the most aggressive histologic type of lung cancer, and accounts for approximately 10%-15% of all cases. Few studies have analyzed the effect of residential radon. Our aim is to determine the risk factors of SCLC.

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The aim of this study was to assess if residential radon exposure might cause EGFR mutations or ALK rearrangements in never-smokers.We designed a multicentre case-control study in a radon-prone area (Galicia, Spain); only lung cancer cases were included in the study. We obtained residential radon measurements and clinical information for all the participants.

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Our aim was to describe the characteristics of a case-series of never-smoker small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cases.Cases of SCLC were selected from a prospective, multicenter, hospital-based case-control study performed in Spain. Participants were never-smokers older than 30 years with an anatomo-pathological confirmation of primary lung cancer.

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Background: Never-smokers comprise up to 25% of all lung cancer cases. They could have different molecular pathways for lung cancer induction compared with smokers. Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency is a hereditary trait whose main characteristic is early onset of lung emphysema.

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Background: For patients that are expected to survive for longer, the risk of complications combined with the need for more vacuum drainage bottles have become barriers to the placement of indwelling pleural catheter (IPC), since these could increase costs.

Objetives: The objective of the current article is to determine the cost and efficiency of treating malignant pleural effusion (MPE) with IPC in Spanish hospitals.

Methods: We compared the cost associated with the use of IPC per outpatient and per inpatient.

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Purpose: The aim of this study is to assess if there is a relationship between residential radon and lung cancer histological types and patients' age at diagnosis.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a multicenter hospital-based case-control study with eight participating hospitals. We included 216 never-smoking cases with primary lung cancer and 329 never-smoking controls.

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Lung cancer has multiple risk factors and tobacco is the main one. Diet plays a role, but no clear effect has been consistently observed for different fruit and vegetable consumption. We aim to assess the association between fruit and vegetable consumption and lung cancer risk through a hospital-based case-control study in Spanish population.

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The aim of the study was to assess the effect of residential radon exposure on the risk of lung cancer in never-smokers and to ascertain if environmental tobacco smoke modifies the effect of residential radon. We designed a multicentre hospital-based case-control study in a radon-prone area (Galicia, Spain). All participants were never-smokers.

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Introduction: Radon exposure has been classified as the second cause of lung cancer, after tobacco, and the first in never smokers. GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes deletion increase the risk of lung cancer. We aim to know whether the risk of lung cancer because of residential radon is modulated by these genetic polymorphisms.

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Introduction: The current edition of the tumor, node and metastasis (TNM) classification of lung cancer (LC) divides the presence of metastasis (M1) into two categories: M1a and M1b, depending on its anatomical location. To assess this new classification, the survival and the M descriptors of LC patients with metastatic disease registered by the Bronchogenic Carcinoma Cooperative Group of the Spanish Society of Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery II (GCCB-S-II), were analyzed.

Methods: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, with M1a or M1b disease, included in the GCCB-S-II, from April 2009 to December 2010, staged in accordance with the prospective staging project protocol of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC), and with complete TNM staging and follow-up data, were studied.

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Introduction And Objective: To analyze the frequency, clinical characteristics and survival of patients with lung cancer (LC) who have never smoked in comparison to patients who smoke.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective study in patients diagnosed with LC by cytohistology between 1999 and 2011. Survival was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method.

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Introduction And Objectives: The seventh edition of the TNM classification, together with undeniable advantages, has limitations. The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) Staging Committee has designed an international prospective study to improve this classification. A group of thoracic surgeons and pulmonologists was established in the Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR) Oncology area, and created a registry of new lung cancer (LC) cases to participate in this project.

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