Peripheral neuropathic pain: a mechanism-related organizing principle based on sensory profiles.

Patients with neuropathic pain are heterogeneous in etiology, pathophysiology, and clinical appearance. They exhibit a variety of pain-related sensory symptoms and signs (sensory profile). Different sensory profiles might indicate different classes of neurobiological mechanisms, and hence subgroups with different sensory profiles might respond differently to treatment.

Infectious encephalitis: utility of a rational approach to aetiological diagnosis in daily clinical practice.

In this study we attempt to assess the utility of a simplified step-wise diagnostic algorithm to determinate the aetiology of encephalitis in daily clinical practice and to describe the main causes in our setting. This was a prospective cohort study of all consecutive cases of encephalitis in adult patients diagnosed between January 2010 and March 2015 at the University Hospital Vall d'Hebron in Barcelona, Spain. The aetiological study was carried out following the proposed step-wise algorithm.

Prospective validation of right ventricular role in primary graft dysfunction after lung transplantation.

Primary graft dysfunction is a significant cause of lung transplant morbidity and mortality, but its underlying mechanisms are not completely understood. The aims of the present study were: 1) to confirm that right ventricular function is a risk factor for severe primary graft dysfunction; and 2) to propose a clinical model for predicting the development of severe primary graft dysfunction.A prospective cohort study was performed over 14 months.

Hydrogen separation through tailored dual phase membranes with nominal composition BaCeEuO:CeYO at intermediate temperatures.

Hydrogen permeation membranes are a key element in improving the energy conversion efficiency and decreasing the greenhouse gas emissions from energy generation. The scientific community faces the challenge of identifying and optimizing stable and effective ceramic materials for H separation membranes at elevated temperature (400-800 °C) for industrial separations and intensified catalytic reactors. As such, composite materials with nominal composition BaCeEuO:CeYO revealed unprecedented H permeation levels of 0.

Large fracture of the anteromedial tibial plateau with isolated posterolateral knee corner injury: case series of an often missed unusual injury pattern.

Tibial plateau fractures are a heterogeneous group of lesions with multiple fracture patterns. They are often associated with soft tissue injuries, the lateral meniscus and the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) being the most common structures affected. The purpose of this article is to present a case series of an often missed unusual injury pattern that consists on the association of a large anteromedial tibial plateau fracture with a posterolateral (PL) knee corner injury without involvement of the cruciate ligaments.

Dexloxiglumide for the treatment of constipation predominant irritable bowel syndrome.

Introduction: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a multifactorial functional gut disorder, where sensory/motor disturbances seem to play a major role, with no satisfactory treatment for a majority of patients. Cholecystokinin (CCK) is a hormone with several effects on gastrointestinal function, and IBS patients have been shown to produce altered sensory/motor responses to CCK.

Areas Covered: Dexloxiglumide is a selective antagonist of the type 1 receptor of CCK, which has demonstrated to revert the CCK mediated effects on gastrointestinal motility and sensitivity.

Cytomegalic hepatitis in a patient receiving omalizumab.

Cytomegalovirus is a double stranded DNA virus that can be present in nearly all organs and body fluids. The primary infection is usually asymptomatic in the immunocompetent host and it is common among adolescents and young adults. The symptomatic form appears, in the majority of cases, as a mononucleosis syndrome with full recovery without specific treatment.

The erosion on the east coast of Spain: Wear of particles, mineral composition, carbonates and Posidonia oceanica.

Erosion on sand beaches is a problem worldwide, which together with the shortage of sand justifies the great importance of understanding the processes involved in the regression of the shoreline in order to know and adopt solutions. This study analysed the influence of sediment wear on beaches regression. For this, nine morphological units on Castellón-Valencia and nine on Alicante were analysed.

Oesophageal motility disorders in infected immigrants with Chagas disease in a non-endemic European area.

Background: Immigration-related new diseases pose a growing challenge for healthcare services in receptor countries. Following Latin American migration, Chagas disease has inevitably appeared in Europe.

Aim: To determine the prevalence and characteristics of oesophageal motility disorders in immigrants infected with Trypanosoma cruzi, using high resolution oesophageal manometry (HREM).

Direct conversion of methane to aromatics in a catalytic co-ionic membrane reactor.

Nonoxidative methane dehydroaromatization (MDA: 6CH4 ↔ C6H6 + 9H2) using shape-selective Mo/zeolite catalysts is a key technology for exploitation of stranded natural gas reserves by direct conversion into transportable liquids. However, this reaction faces two major issues: The one-pass conversion is limited by thermodynamics, and the catalyst deactivates quickly through kinetically favored formation of coke. We show that integration of an electrochemical BaZrO3-based membrane exhibiting both proton and oxide ion conductivity into an MDA reactor gives rise to high aromatic yields and improved catalyst stability.

In vivo evaluation of shark teeth-derived bioapatites.

Objective: The present work proposes the shark teeth as a new source of bioapatites for bone filler applications in maxillary sinus elevation, periodontal regeneration or implants placement. This abundant fishing by-product provides an improved hydroxyapatite (HA) with fluorine contributions. The in vivo evaluation of osteointegration and bone mineral density levels promoted by these marine bioapatites was the main objective.

Effects of scFOS on the composition of fecal microbiota and anxiety in patients with irritable bowel syndrome: a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study.

Background: Short-chain fructooligosaccharides (scFOS) have beneficial effects in subjects with minor digestive complaints, but the potential mechanisms involved have not been elucidated. The aim of the study was to evaluate changes in rectal sensitivity related to the clinical effects of scFOS in a selected group of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and rectal hypersensitivity.

Methods: In 79 IBS patients (defined by Rome III criteria) with rectal hypersensitivity (defined as discomfort threshold ≤44 g) a parallel, placebo-controlled, randomized, and double-blind study was performed to assess the effects of dietary supplementation (5 g d ) with scFOS vs placebo for 4 weeks on rectal sensitivity (primary outcome: tolerance to increasing wall tension applied by a tensostat), clinical outcomes (IBS, anxiety/depression and quality of life scores) and composition of fecal microbiota.

New portable instrument for the measurement of thermal conductivity in gas process conditions.

The development of high temperature gas sensors for the monitoring and determination of thermophysical properties of complex process mixtures at high temperatures faces several problems, related with the materials compatibility, active sensing parts sensitivity, and lifetime. Ceramic/thin metal films based sensors, previously developed for the determination of thermal conductivity of molten materials up to 1200 °C, were redesigned, constructed, and applied for thermal conductivity measuring sensors. Platinum resistance thermometers were also developed using the same technology, to be used in the temperature measurement, which were also constructed and tested.

The improved biological response of shark tooth bioapatites in a comparative in vitro study with synthetic and bovine bone grafts.

Autologous bone is considered to be the gold standard for bone tissue regeneration, providing more highly efficient functional responses compared to synthetic materials, and avoiding the rejection risks of allogenic grafts. However, it presents limitations for certain types of surgery due to its high resorption levels and donor site morbidity. Different biphasic synthetic composites, based onnon-apatitic calcium phosphates enriched with apatitic phases-such as hydroxyapatite, and bioderived bone grafts of bovine and porcine origin-are proposed as lower resorption materials due to their higher crystalline structure.

Neuropathic pain: an updated grading system for research and clinical practice.

The redefinition of neuropathic pain as "pain arising as a direct consequence of a lesion or disease affecting the somatosensory system," which was suggested by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) Special Interest Group on Neuropathic Pain (NeuPSIG) in 2008, has been widely accepted. In contrast, the proposed grading system of possible, probable, and definite neuropathic pain from 2008 has been used to a lesser extent. Here, we report a citation analysis of the original NeuPSIG grading paper of 2008, followed by an analysis of its use by an expert panel and recommendations for an improved grading system.

Symptom profiles in the painDETECT Questionnaire in patients with peripheral neuropathic pain stratified according to sensory loss in quantitative sensory testing.

The painDETECT Questionnaire (PDQ) is commonly used as a screening tool to discriminate between neuropathic pain (NP) and nociceptive pain, based on the self-report of symptoms, including pain qualities, numbness, and pain to touch, cold, or heat. However, there are minimal data about whether the PDQ is differentially sensitive to different sensory phenotypes in NP. The aim of the study was to analyze whether the overall PDQ score or its items reflect phenotypes of sensory loss in NP as determined by quantitative sensory testing.

Clinical practice guidelines for the management of constipation in adults. Part 1: Definition, aetiology and clinical manifestations.

Clinical practice guidelines for the management of constipation in adults aim to generate recommendations on the optimal approach to chronic constipation in the primary care and specialized outpatient setting. Their main objective is to provide healthcare professionals who care for patients with chronic constipation with a tool that allows them to make the best decisions about the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of this condition. They are intended for family physicians, primary care and specialist nurses, gastroenterologists and other health professionals involved in the treatment of these patients, as well as patients themselves.

Clinical practice guidelines for the management of constipation in adults. Part 2: Diagnosis and treatment.

Constipation is a very common disorder that adversely affects well-being and quality of life. Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines are an essential element for proper patient management and safe, effective treatment. The aim of these guidelines is to provide health care professionals who care for patients with chronic constipation with a tool that allows them to make the best decisions about the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of constipation.

Acute Stroke: Current Evidence-based Recommendations for Prehospital Care.

Introduction: In the United States, emergency medical services (EMS) protocols vary widely across jurisdictions. We sought to develop evidence-based recommendations for the prehospital evaluation and treatment of a patient with a suspected stroke and to compare these recommendations against the current protocols used by the 33 EMS agencies in the state of California.

Methods: We performed a literature review of the current evidence in the prehospital treatment of a patient with a suspected stroke and augmented this review with guidelines from various national and international societies to create our evidence-based recommendations.

Validation of sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer women N1-N2 with complete axillary response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Multicentre study in Tarragona.

Introduction: The aim of our study was to evaluate sentinel lymph node biopsy as a diagnostic test for assessing the presence of residual metastatic axillary lymph nodes after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, replacing the need for a lymphadenectomy in negative selective lymph node biopsy patients.

Material And Methods: A multicentre, diagnostic validation study was conducted in the province of Tarragona, on women with T1-T3, N1-N2 breast cancer, who presented with a complete axillary response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Study procedures consisted of performing an selective lymph node biopsy followed by lymphadenectomy.

Patterns of esophageal pressure responses to a rapid drink challenge test in patients with esophageal motility disorders.

Background: Multiple rapid swallow has been proposed as a challenge test that can help diagnosis and management of patients with esophageal motility disorders. Our aim was to characterize specific pressure patterns in response to a rapid drink challenge test in patients with esophageal motility disorders, and to determine the potential of these patterns in the diagnosis of patients with esophageal symptoms but normal single swallow manometry.

Methods: Pressure responses to a rapid drink challenge test (rapid swallow of 200 mL water) were prospectively analyzed in 30 healthy controls and 285 patients with esophageal symptoms: 33 achalasia, 68 hypocontractile motility, 27 hypercontractile motility and 160 patients with normal manometry.

Quantitative sensory testing using DFNS protocol in Europe: an evaluation of heterogeneity across multiple centers in patients with peripheral neuropathic pain and healthy subjects.

Quantitative sensory testing (QST) in accordance with the DFNS (German Research Network on Neuropathic Pain) protocol assesses the function of afferent nerve fibers on the basis of 13 parameters. Within the consortia IMI (Innovative Medicines Initiative) Europain and Neuropain, QST results from pain research units experienced in QST across Europe can be compared for the first time. Aim of this analysis was to identify possible biases in the QST assessment between 10 centers from 8 different European countries.