Reform of economic evaluation of medicines in Spain: proposals from the Advisory Committee for Pharmaceutical Financing.

This paper describes the reforms recommended by the Advisory Committee on the Financing of Pharmaceuticals (CAPF) for the National Health System (NHS) of Spain from 2019 to 2024 for the drug pricing and reimbursement process, to integrate economic evaluations and improve efficiency and sustainability. The CAPF has proposed a three-phase reform of the economic evaluation (EE) and budget impact analysis (BIA) processes. The first phase involves the mandatory submission of EE and BIA by applicants for new drugs.

Interfacial Dripping Faucet: Generating Monodisperse Liquid Lenses.

We present a surface analog to a dripping faucet, where a viscous liquid slides down an immiscible meniscus. Periodic pinch-off of the dripping filament is observed, generating a succession of monodisperse floating lenses. We show that this interfacial dripping faucet can be described analogously to its single-phase counterpart, replacing surface tension by the spreading coefficient, and even undergoes a transition to a jetting regime.

Clinical characterisation and outcomes of human clade IIb mpox virus disease - a European multicentre observational cohort study (MOSAIC).

Background: The global mpox outbreak which started in May 2022 was caused by a novel clade IIb variant of the mpox virus (MPXV). It differed from the traditional Western and Central Africa disease in transmission patterns and clinical presentation.

Methods: To address the need for detailed clinical and virologic data, we conducted an observational cohort study (MOSAIC) during May 2022-July 2023 in individuals with confirmed MPXV infection enrolled in six European Countries.

Second harmonic generation in monolithic gallium phosphide metasurfaces.

Gallium phosphide (GaP) offers unique opportunities for nonlinear and quantum nanophotonics due to its wide optical transparency range, high second-order nonlinear susceptibility, and the possibility to tailor the nonlinear response by a suitable choice of crystal orientation. However, the availability of single crystalline thin films of GaP on low index substrates, as typically required for nonlinear dielectric metasurfaces, is limited. Here we designed and experimentally realized monolithic GaP metasurfaces for enhanced and tailored second harmonic generation (SHG).

Gender differences in representation, citations, and h-index: An empirical examination of the field of communication across the ten most productive countries.

Women researchers have been shown to be underrepresented in science, especially among the most productive scholars. This is especially relevant in the social sciences and humanities fields, where gender parity is closer, but disparities among top scholars are still pronounced. The gender gap in the field of communication has been explored from several approaches, but studies focusing on gender differences in representation, citations, and h-index are rather scarce.

Non-recyclable municipal solid waste characterization and pyrolysis for energy recovery.

European regulations require that by 2030 waste suitable for recycling, material recovery, or energy recovery will no longer be allowed to end up in landfills. Material composition in non-recyclable MSW bins dictates which valorization measures could be implemented. This study examines 32 non-recyclable MSW bins in the Getafe municipality (Spain).

Emergence of cooperation in the one-shot Prisoner's dilemma through Discriminatory and Samaritan AIs.

As artificial intelligence (AI) systems are increasingly embedded in our lives, their presence leads to interactions that shape our behaviour, decision-making and social interactions. Existing theoretical research on the emergence and stability of cooperation, particularly in the context of social dilemmas, has primarily focused on human-to-human interactions, overlooking the unique dynamics triggered by the presence of AI. Resorting to methods from evolutionary game theory, we study how different forms of AI can influence cooperation in a population of human-like agents playing the one-shot Prisoner's dilemma game.

Identification of predictive models including polymorphisms in cytokines genes and clinical variables associated with post-transplant complications after identical HLA-allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

Backgrounds: Although allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is a potentially curative therapy for hematological malignancies, it can be associated with relevant post-transplant complications. Several reports have shown that polymorphisms in immune system genes are correlated with the development of post-transplant complications. Within this context, this work focuses on identifying novel polymorphisms in cytokine genes and developing predictive models to anticipate the risk of developing graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), transplantation-related mortality (TRM), relapse and overall survival (OS).

Impact of twelve immunization-preventable infectious diseases on population health using disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in Spain.

Background: The objective of this study is to estimate the burden of selected immunization-preventable infectious diseases in Spain using the Burden of Communicable Diseases in Europe (BCoDE) methodology, as well as focusing on the national immunization programme and potential new inclusions.

Methods: The BCoDE methodology relies on an incidence and pathogen-based approach to calculate disease burden via disability-adjusted life year (DALY) estimates. It considers short and long-term sequelae associated to an infection via outcome trees.

Evaluation of PLA-Based Composite Films Filled with Cu(OH)NO Nanoparticles as an Active Material for the Food Industry: Biocidal Properties and Environmental Sustainability.

The globalization of markets has diversified the food supply, but it has also made the distribution chain more difficult, increasing the risk of microbial contamination. One strategy to obtain safer food and extend its shelf life is to develop active packaging with antimicrobial properties that prevent the growth of pathogenic microorganisms or spoilage in food products. In this context, and in line with the growing social awareness about the environmental impact generated by plastic waste, this work evaluated the effectiveness of polylactic acid (PLA) films loaded with different concentrations of copper (II) hydroxynitrate nanoparticles (CuHS) against the microbiota of fresh foods (chicken, fish and cheese).

Nonviral CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis for streamlined generation of mouse lung cancer models.

Functional analysis in mouse models is necessary to establish the involvement of a set of genetic variations in tumor development. A modeling platform to facilitate and cost-effectively analyze the role of multiple genes in carcinogenesis would be valuable. Here, we present an innovative strategy for lung mutagenesis using CRISPR/Cas9 ribonucleoproteins delivered via cationic polymers.

Detection of minimal residual disease in acute myeloid leukemia: evaluating utility and challenges.

This study discusses the importance of minimal residual disease (MRD) detection in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients using liquid biopsy and next-generation sequencing (NGS). AML prognosis is based on various factors, including genetic alterations. NGS has revealed the molecular complexity of AML and helped refine risk stratification and personalized therapies.

Migration costs and rewarding schemes in spatial public goods games.

This study explores the influence of migration costs and rewarding schemes on cooperation through the implementation of computational behavioral models in spatial public goods games. The former involves a cost for agents to migrate to a neighboring group, while the latter rewards them for remaining in the same group for multiple rounds. By analyzing these mechanisms separately and in combination, we unveil their effects on cooperative behavior.

Clinical profile and management of a Spanish single-center retrospective cohort of patients with post-chikungunya associated complications.

Background: This study aims to describe post-chikungunya complications chronically developed cases in returning travelers from some epidemic/endemic regions, and the variables that are associated with the progression of acute or subacute cases to the chronic phase.

Methods: This single-center retrospective cohort study included chikungunya fever cases treated at La Paz-Carlos III University Hospital in Madrid, Spain, April 2014 to September 2016, when the chikungunya outbreak in Latin America started through the time of its greatest impact.

Results: The analysis included 119 cases.

The influence of undetected hemolysis on POCT potassium results in the emergency department.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate discrepancies in potassium measurements between point-of-care testing (POCT) and central laboratory (CL) methods, focusing on the impact of hemolysis on these measurements and its impact in the clinical practice in the emergency department (ED).

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using data from three European university hospitals: Technische Universitat München (Germany), Hospital Universitario La Paz (Spain), and Erasmus University Medical Center (The Netherlands). The study compared POCT potassium measurements in EDs with CL measurements.

Quality of life, craniomandibular function, and psychosocial factors related to pain and movement in patients with head and neck cancer.

Purpose: To describe the characteristics of and the associations between health-related quality of life, pain, craniomandibular function, and psychosocial factors related to pain and fear of movement in patients with head and neck cancer.

Methods: Seventy-eight patients diagnosed with HNC were recruited. Measurements of the maximum mouth opening range and pressure pain thresholds on the masseter muscle and the distal phalanx of the thumb were conducted, as well as a battery of self-report questionnaires were administrated, including the QoL Questionnaire (EORT QLQ-H&N35), Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), the Spanish translation of the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia for Temporomandibular Disorders (TSK-TMD), and the short version of the Craniofacial Pain and Disability Inventory (CF-PDI-11).

Total lockdown and fairness towards the sufferer: an egalitarian response to Savulescu and Cameron.

Savulescu and Cameron supported selectively locking down the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic on two grounds: first, that preserving total lockdown would entail levelling down and, second, that levelling down is wrong. Their first assumption has been thoroughly addressed, but more can be said about their wider antiegalitarian point that levelling down is simply wrong. Egalitarians are not defenceless against the levelling-down objection.

Development of a recommendation system and data analysis in personalized medicine: an approach towards healthy vascular ageing.

Purpose: Understanding early vascular ageing has become crucial for preventing adverse cardiovascular events. To this respect, recent AI-based risk clustering models offer early detection strategies focused on healthy populations, yet their complexity limits clinical use. This work introduces a novel recommendation system embedded in a web app to assess and mitigate early vascular ageing risk, leading patients towards improved cardiovascular health.

Humanoid Head Camera Stabilization Using a Soft Robotic Neck and a Robust Fractional Order Controller.

In this paper, a new approach for head camera stabilization of a humanoid robot head is proposed, based on a bio-inspired soft neck. During walking, the sensors located on the humanoid's head (cameras or inertial measurement units) show disturbances caused by the torso inclination changes inherent to this process. This is currently solved by a software correction of the measurement, or by a mechanical correction by motion cancellation.

Quantifying holistic capacity response and healthcare resilience in tackling COVID-19: Assessment of country capacity by MCDM.

The resilience of a country during the COVID-19 pandemic was determined based in whether it was holistically prepared and responsive. This resilience can only be identified through systematic data collection and analysis. Historical evidence-based response indicators have been proven to mitigate pandemics like COVID-19.

Pressurized pyrolysis of mattress residue: An alternative to landfill management.

Mattresses are a difficult waste to manage in landfills due to their large volume and low density. Pyrolysis treatment could reduce its volume while producing fuel or products valuable for the chemical industry. Pressurized pyrolysis at 400, 450, and 500 °C is carried out in a lab-scale autoclave at initial pressures 4.