Assessment of the Effective Sensitivity of SARS-CoV-2 Sample Pooling Based on a Large-Scale Screening Experience: Retrospective Analysis.

Background: The development of new large-scale saliva pooling detection strategies can significantly enhance testing capacity and frequency for asymptomatic individuals, which is crucial for containing SARS-CoV-2.

Objective: This study aims to implement and scale-up a SARS-CoV-2 screening method using pooled saliva samples to control the virus in critical areas and assess its effectiveness in detecting asymptomatic infections.

Methods: Between August 2020 and February 2022, our laboratory received a total of 928,357 samples.

Damage in a large systemic lupus erythematosus cohort from the Spanish Society of Rheumatology Lupus Registry (RELESSER) with emphasis on the cardiovascular system: a longitudinal analysis.

Objective: To assess organ damage, with emphasis on the cardiovascular system, over the different stages of the disease in a large SLE cohort.

Methods: Multicentre, longitudinal study of a cohort of 4219 patients with SLE enrolled in the Spanish Society of Rheumatology Lupus Registry. Organ damage was ascertained using the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index (SDI).

Comparative analysis of eleven SARS-CoV-2 immunoassays and neutralisation data: time to enhance standardisation and correlation of protection.

Background: To infer a reliable SARS-CoV-2 antibody protection level from a serological test, an appropriate quantitative threshold and solid equivalence across serological tests are needed. Additionally, tests should show a solid correlation with neutralising assays and with the protection observed in large population cohorts even against emerging variants.

Objectives: We studied convalescent and vaccinated populations using 11 commercial antibody assays.

Proof of concept of the potential of a machine learning algorithm to extract new information from conventional SARS-CoV-2 rRT-PCR results.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been and remains one of the major challenges modern society has faced thus far. Over the past few months, large amounts of information have been collected that are only now beginning to be assimilated. In the present work, the existence of residual information in the massive numbers of rRT-PCRs that tested positive out of the almost half a million tests that were performed during the pandemic is investigated.

Central nervous system involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus: Data from the Spanish Society of Rheumatology Lupus Register (RELESSER).

Objectives: To analyze the prevalence, incidence, survival and contribution on mortality of major central nervous system (CNS) involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: Patients fulfilling the SLE 1997 ACR classification criteria from the multicentre, retrospective RELESSER-TRANS (Spanish Society of Rheumatology Lupus Register) were included. Prevalence, incidence and survival rates of major CNS neuropsychiatric (NP)-SLE as a group and the individual NP manifestations cerebrovascular disease (CVD), seizure, psychosis, organic brain syndrome and transverse myelitis were calculated.

Case report: BA.1 subvariant showing a BA.2-like pattern using a variant-specific PCR assay due to a single point mutation downstream the spike 69/70 deletion.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 variant tracking is key to the genomic surveillance of the COVID-19 pandemic. While next-generation sequencing (NGS) is commonly used for variant determination, it is expensive and time-consuming. Variant-specific PCR (vsPCR) is a faster, cheaper method that detects specific mutations that are considered variant-defining.

Multicenter lupus register from Argentina, the RELESSAR database: Influence of ethnicity on disease phenotype.

Objective: The objective is to describe the main characteristics of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Argentina and to examine the influence of ethnicity on the expression of the disease.

Patients And Methods: RELESSAR is a multicentre register carried out by 106 researchers from 67 rheumatologic Argentine centres. It is a cross-sectional study of SLE (1982/1997 ACR) patients.

Relevance of gastrointestinal manifestations in a large Spanish cohort of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: what do we know?

Objective: SLE can affect any part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. GI symptoms are reported to occur in >50% of SLE patients. To describe the GI manifestations of SLE in the RELESSER (Registry of SLE Patients of the Spanish Society of Rheumatology) cohort and to determine whether these are associated with a more severe disease, damage accrual and a worse prognosis.

Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Array-Based Comparative Genomic Hybridization: Sensitivity and Specificity using a Criteria Checklist for Genetic Test Performance.

Background: Array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) is a molecular analysis method for identifying chromosomal anomalies or copy number variants (CNVs) correlating with clinical phenotypes. The aim of our study was to identify the most significant clinical variables associated with a positive outcome of aCGH analyses to develop a simple predictive clinical score.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in a tertiary center comparing the genotype and phenotype of the cases.

HLA-DQ B1*0201 and A1*0102 Alleles Are Not Responsible for Antituberculosis Drug-Induced Hepatotoxicity Risk in Spanish Population.

Aims: To evaluate the role of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II DQB1*0201 and DQA1*0102 in the risk of antituberculosis drug (ATD)-induced hepatotoxicity (ATDH) in a cohort of tuberculosis patients of Caucasian origin from Spain.

Methods: Matched case-control study including active tuberculosis (TB) patients from Spain (Caucasian) treated with first-line ATD (Isoniazid, Rifampin, and Pyrazinamide). Presence or absence of HLA class II DQB1*0201 and DQA1*0102 alleles were compared between cases and controls.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of transbronchial needle aspiration of pulmonary lesions without endobronchial affectation.

Unlabelled: Transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) of pulmonary lesions without endobronchial affectation in combination with transbronchial biopsy (TBB) has been shown to increase diagnostic performance. The objective of this present study was to analyze whether the combination of TBNA with conventional TBB is a cost-effective approach.

Methodology: Ours is a prospective study that included patients with lung nodules or masses with no evidence of endobronchial lesions after flexible bronchoscopy in whom both TBNA and TBB were performed.

Prognostic value of aberrant hypermethylation in pleural effusion of lung adenocarcinoma.

Lung adenocarcinoma is one of the most frequent causes of malignant pleural effusions (MPE). The presence of MPE bears a poor prognosis. Although epigenetic changes are commonly related to human neoplasia, scarce date is available on patients with MPE.

[Cost-effectiveness study of the diagnosis of pleural effusion in chest diseases outpatient clinic].

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of pleural procedures, safety, delay and cost of the diagnosis of pleural effusion (PE) by analysing the parameters that are dependent on the area of patient management (outpatient or inpatient).

Patients And Methods: Prospective non-randomized study. Two groups were established depending on whether they were managed in a specific outpatient unit or as a conventional hospital inpatient, with the rest of the criteria being the same for the study of the PE.

[Assessment of the portable COPD-6 device for detecting obstructive airway diseases].

Objectives: To evaluate the agreement and the association with FEV(1), FEV(6) and FEV(1)/FEV(6) measured with the Vitalograph-COPD-6 portable device and the FEV(1), FVC and FEV(1)/FVC by conventional spirometry, and to analyse the validity of this device to detect obstruction.

Methodology: A cross-sectional, descriptive, prospective study, that included 180 subjects. A conventional spirometry and one with the Vitalograph-COPD-6 were sequentially performed on them.

Long-term improvement of lipid profile in patients with refractory systemic lupus erythematosus treated with B-cell depletion therapy: a retrospective observational study.

Objective: Lipid abnormalities contribute to the increased risk of premature atherosclerosis in patients with SLE. This study was undertaken to investigate changes in lipid profile after B-cell depletion therapy (BCDT) in patients with active SLE who had failed standard immunosuppressive therapy.

Methods: Twelve patients with refractory SLE treated with BCDT based on rituximab (two biweekly infusions of 1 g) were examined.

[Morbidity and mortality after a Hartmann operation due to peritonitis originating from a sigmoid diverticulum disease (Hinchey grade III-IV)].

Introduction: Hartmann's operation has occasionally been criticised for its high morbidity-mortality and permanent stomas. To compare risk factors is difficult due to different severity scores for diverticulitis with no standardisation. We attempted to define the morbidity-mortality of Hartmann's operation for sigmoid diverticulitis with peritonitis Hinchey III-IV and to identify some factors associated with morbidity-mortality and non-restoration of intestinal continuity.

[Air-borne disease].

Respiratory protection is a factor which worries nursing professionals who take care of patients susceptible of transmitting microorganisms through the air more as every day passes. This type of protection covers the use of surgical or hygienic masks against the transmission of infection by airborne drops to the use of highly effective masks or respirators against the transmission of airborne diseases such as tuberculosis or SARS, a recently discovered disease. The adequate choice of this protective device and its correct use are fundamental in order to have an effective protection for exposed personnel.