A Phase III Randomized Controlled Trial of Plitidepsin, a Marine-Derived Compound, in Hospitalized Adults With Moderate COVID-19.

Background: Plitidepsin has shown potent preclinical activity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and was generally well tolerated in a phase I trial of hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). NEPTUNO, a phase III, multicenter, randomized, controlled trial, was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of plitidepsin in the management of moderate COVID-19 in hospitalized adult patients.

Methods: Included patients had documented severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, required oxygen therapy, and had adequate organ function.

Alcohol consumption in elderly people. What is the real magnitude of the problem?

The harmful effects of alcohol consumption have been well studied in the general population, but in the group of people over 80 years of age there is not much information regarding its relevance. It is estimated than 30%-40% of this population consumes alcohol regularly and around 10% engage in high-risk consumption. Furthermore, potential interactions between this substance and commonly consumed drugs in this age group, like oral antidiabetics, anticoagulants and antibiotics, may pose a risk of serious complications.

Validation and clinical evaluation of an ultra-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detector method for plasma quantification of micafungin.

Background: Factors associated with interindividual variability in the pharmacokinetics of micafungin have been identified. This variability can cause underexposure and loss of drug efficacy. For this reason, a simple, fast, cost-effective and sensitive ultra-performance liquid chromatography ultraviolet detector (UPLC-UV) method was developed and validated for the quantification of micafungin.

A New Medical Device to Provide Independent Ventilation to Two Subjects Using a Single Ventilator: Evaluation in Lung-Healthy Pigs.

Background: The global crisis situation caused by SARS-CoV-2 has created an explosive demand for ventilators, which cannot be met even in developed countries. Designing a simple and inexpensive device with the ability to increase the number of patients that can be connected to existing ventilators would have a major impact on the number of lives that could be saved. We conducted a study to determine whether two pigs with significant differences in size and weight could be ventilated simultaneously using a single ventilator connected to a new medical device called DuplicARⓇ.

Endoscopy-Related Bleeding and Thromboembolic Events in Patients on Direct Oral Anticoagulants or Vitamin K Antagonists.

Background & Aims: Few prospective studies have assessed the safety of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in elective endoscopy. Our primary aim was to compare the risks of endoscopy-related gastrointestinal bleeding and thromboembolic events in patients on DOACs or vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) in this setting. Secondarily, we examined the impact of the timing of anticoagulant resumption on the risk of delayed bleeding in high-risk therapeutic procedures.

Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy Facilitates Donor Lung Preservation by Reducing Oxidative Damage during Ischemia.

Lung transplantation is a lifesaving therapy for people living with severe, life-threatening lung disease. The high mortality rate among patients awaiting transplantation is mainly due to the low percentage of lungs that are deemed acceptable for implantation. Thus, the current shortage of lung donors may be significantly reduced by implementing different therapeutic strategies which facilitate both organ preservation and recovery.

Stomach-partitioning gastrojejunostomy versus stent placement for the treatment of malignant gastric outlet obstruction.

Introduction: Gastric outlet obstruction is a complication of advanced tumors. It causes upper gastrointestinal obstruction, with progressive malnutrition and reduced survival. Currently, gastrojejunostomy or stent placement (SP) are feasible alternatives for the treatment of malignant gastric outlet obstruction.

Meta-analysis of the rs243865 MMP-2 polymorphism and age-related macular degeneration risk.

Purpose: Several researchers have suggested that the rs243865 (16q13-q21) polymorphism in the promoter region of the metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) gene could be associated with an increased risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD). However, previous results remain inconclusive. To clarify this controversy, we conducted a meta-analysis of the relationship between rs243865 of MMP-2 and AMD.

Multimodal physiotherapy treatment based on a biobehavioral approach for patients with chronic cervico-craniofacial pain: a prospective case series.

The purpose of this prospective case series was to observe and describe changes in patients with chronic cervico-craniofacial pain of muscular origin treated with multimodal physiotherapy based on a biobehavioral approach. Nine patients diagnosed with chronic myofascial temporomandibular disorder and neck pain were treated with 6 sessions over the course of 2 weeks including: (1) orthopedic manual physiotherapy (joint mobilizations, neurodynamic mobilization, and dynamic soft tissue mobilizations); (2) therapeutic exercises (motor control and muscular endurance exercises); and (3) patient education. The outcome measures of craniofacial (CF-PDI) and neck disability (NDI), kinesiophobia (TSK-11) and catastrophizing (PCS), and range of cervical and mandibular motion (ROM) and posture were collected at baseline, and at 2 and 14 weeks post-baseline.

Immediate Breast Reconstruction with Abdominal Free Flap and Adjuvant Radiotherapy: Evaluation of Quality of Life and Outcomes.

Background: The effects of postoperative radiotherapy on free flap-based breast reconstruction are still controversial. Poor outcomes, breast distortion, and fat necrosis have been traditionally documented. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether adjuvant radiotherapy affects the quality of life, satisfaction, and cosmetic result in patients undergoing immediate breast reconstruction with autologous free flap.

Concurrent Pilomatrix Carcinoma and Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma.

Pilomatrix carcinoma is a rare cutaneous tumor derived from follicular matrix cells. It may arise de novo or from a malignant transformation of a pilomatrixoma. The latter process has been associated with impaired immune system surveillance of the host caused by UV radiation or the onset of an underlying malignant neoplasm.

[Wernicke encephalopathy in alcoholic patients].

A 67-year old male was brought to the hospital by his family because he had been suffering from somnolence, bradypsychia and gait disturbance for one week. He lived alone, reported an ethanol intake higher than 100-120 g/day. His diet was limited in quality and amount.

Wernicke encephalopathy in alcoholics with diabetic ketoacidosis.

Wernicke encephalopathy is caused by thiamine deficiency in the central nervous system, and is defined by the triad of confusional symptoms, ocular alterations and ataxia. Some other factors may also predispose alcoholic patients to this deficiency. We report two patients with hyperglicaemia and ketoacidosis due to diabetes mellitus decompensation and chronic alcoholism who developed Wernicke encephalopathy before their hospital admission.

[Biological markers of alcoholism].

Diagnosis of alcoholism is very important, given its high prevalence and possibility of influencing the disease course. For this reason, the so-called biological markers of alcoholism are useful. These are analytic parameters that alter in the presence of excessive alcohol consumption.

Aqueous humor and serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha in clinical uveitis.

Objective: To study the local and systemic behavior of the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in patients with active uveitis.

Methods: TNF-alpha levels were measured in aqueous humor and peripheral blood samples using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay from 23 patients with uveitis and 16 control patients who had been operated on for uncomplicated cataracts.

Results: Aqueous humor and sera of patients with uveitis showed higher levels of TNF-alpha than those of controls (p < 0.

[Aqueous humor and serum interleukin-6 in patients with uveitis].

Purpose: A study on local and systemic behavior of interleukin-6 in patients with active uveitis.

Methods: IL-6 levels were measured in aqueous humor and peripheral blood samples using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) from 23 patients with uveitis and 16 control patients who had been operated for uncomplicated cataracts.

Results: Aqueous humor of patients with uveitis showed higher levels of interleukin-6 than those of controls (p<0.

Silicone granulomatous lymphadenopathy and siliconomas of the breast.

In the present study, two histologically-distinct cases of granulomatous lymphadenitis induced by dimethylpolysiloxane (silicone polymer) implants were studied. Four and six years after implant, and following surgery for breast cancer, painful homolateral axillary adenopathies were observed and biopsied. In both cases, histological examination led to a diagnosis of "silicone-induced granulomatous adenitis" requiring removal of implants.