Evaluation of the Integrated Tuberculosis Research Program Sponsored by the Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery: 11 Years on.

Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the trend of variables related to tuberculosis (TB) from the Integrated Tuberculosis Research Program (PII-TB) registry of the Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR), and to evaluate the PII-TB according to indicators related to its scientific objectives.

Method: Cross-sectional, population-based, multicenter study of new TB cases prospectively registered in the PII-TB between 2006 and 2016. The time trend of quantitative variables was calculated using a lineal regression model, and qualitative variables using the χy test for lineal trend.

Genetic variation at the glycosaminoglycan metabolism pathway contributes to the risk of psoriatic arthritis but not psoriasis.

Objective: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory arthritis affecting up to 30% of patients with psoriasis (Ps). To date, most of the known risk loci for PsA are shared with Ps, and identifying disease-specific variation has proven very challenging. The objective of the present study was to identify genetic variation specific for PsA.

Prognostic role for the derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in early breast cancer: a GEICAM/9906 substudy.

Purpose: Elevated markers of host inflammation, a hallmark of cancer, have been associated with worse outcomes in several solid tumors. Here, we explore the prognostic role of the derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (dNLR), across different tumor subtypes, in patients with early breast cancer.

Patients And Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of 1246 patients with lymph node-positive, operable early breast cancer enrolled in the GEICAM/9906 trial, a multicenter randomized phase 3 study evaluating adjuvant chemotherapy.

Urine metabolome profiling of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases.

Background: Immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) are a group of complex and prevalent diseases where disease diagnostic and activity monitoring is highly challenging. The determination of the metabolite profiles of biological samples is becoming a powerful approach to identify new biomarkers of clinical utility. In order to identify new metabolite biomarkers of diagnosis and disease activity, we have performed the first large-scale profiling of the urine metabolome of the six most prevalent IMIDs: rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, psoriasis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis.

A deletion at ADAMTS9-MAGI1 locus is associated with psoriatic arthritis risk.

Objective: Copy number variants (CNVs) have been associated with the risk to develop multiple autoimmune diseases. Our objective was to identify CNVs associated with the risk to develop psoriatic arthritis (PsA) using a genome-wide analysis approach.

Methods: A total of 835 patients with PsA and 1498 healthy controls were genotyped for CNVs using the Illumina HumanHap610 BeadChip genotyping platform.

Rationale and study design for an individualized perioperative open lung ventilatory strategy (iPROVE): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Postoperative pulmonary and non-pulmonary complications are common problems that increase morbidity and mortality in surgical patients, even though the incidence has decreased with the increased use of protective lung ventilation strategies. Previous trials have focused on standard strategies in the intraoperative or postoperative period, but without personalizing these strategies to suit the needs of each individual patient and without considering both these periods as a global perioperative lung-protective approach. The trial presented here aims at comparing postoperative complications when using an individualized ventilatory management strategy in the intraoperative and immediate postoperative periods with those when using a standard protective ventilation strategy in patients scheduled for major abdominal surgery.

[Sinding-Larsen-Johansson disease: analysis of the associated factors].

Aim: To analyse the clinical symptoms, aetiology and biomechanical aspects related to Sinding-Larsen-Johansson (SLJ) disease.

Material And Method: A case control study was conducted, analysing the following variables: age, gender, clinical follow up, side of body with the symptoms, sporting activity, radiological stage, presence of patella alta, presence of short hamstring tendons, and increased posterior tibial slope.

Results: A total of 15 knees in 14 patients were studied; one case with bilateral disease.

Matuzumab plus epirubicin, cisplatin and capecitabine (ECX) compared with epirubicin, cisplatin and capecitabine alone as first-line treatment in patients with advanced oesophago-gastric cancer: a randomised, multicentre open-label phase II study.

Background: Clinical data showed promising antitumour activity with feasible tolerability for matuzumab plus epirubicin, cisplatin and capecitabine (ECX) chemotherapy in untreated advanced oesophago-gastric (OG) cancer. The aim was to evaluate the efficacy of matuzumab plus ECX versus ECX alone.

Patients And Methods: In this multicentre, randomised open-label phase II study, 72 patients with metastatic OG cancer were randomly assigned to either 800 mg matuzumab weekly plus epirubicin 50 mg/m², cisplatin 60 mg/m² on day 1 and capecitabine 1250 mg/m² daily in a 21-day cycle (ECX) or the same ECX regimen alone.

[Predictive value of ureteral dilation rate in the success of endoscopic correction of vesicoureteral reflux in pediatric patients].

Objectives: 30-50% of pediatric patients with the diagnosis of lower urinary tract infection (UTI) have vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). The endoscopic treatment of VUR has become one of the main therapeutic tools and its success has been traditionally related to the grade of VUR. Nevertheless, in each of the VUR grades different grades of ureteral dilation may be observed.

[Antifungal activity of posaconazole and caspofungin in yeast causing invasive fungal infection (2002-2003). E-test system evaluation].

Posaconazole (POS) and caspofungin (CAS) are new therapeutic options for treating fungal infection. This study establishes the activity of POS and CAS against yeast causing invasive fungal infections. In addition, the utility of the E-test system for estimating the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) related to these antifungal drugs has been assessed.

[Auditory threshold in professional divers not exposed to noise].

Objectives: Otologic and audiometric evaluation of professional divers without noise exposure has been carried out to analyze the repercussions of this activity on their hearing.

Material And Method: A total of 233 professional divers, working in a no noise environment, with an average experience of 9.6 years and 2074 lifetime dives, in a working depth between 10 m and 27 m, average 4.

Apoptosis in fresh and cryopreserved cardiac valves of pig samples.

To analyse the influence of cold ischemic time (CIT) (2-24 h) and of cryopreservation (liquid phase) on the viability of the valvular fibroblasts and in the presence of apoptosis. Cardiac valves from 10 pigs were evaluated by anatomo-pathological study of the wall, muscle and leaflet. At the same time, the presence of cellular death due to apoptosis was investigated in two ways; directly on tissue by Apodetec system and by two-colour flow cytometry assay analyzing a suspension of fibroblast from valve leaflets using Anexina V and propidium iodure (PI).

Effect of risperidone on serum lipids and cerebrovascular mortality among elderly dementia patients with associated behavioral disturbances.

Background. Concern exists about safety of risperidone in glucose and lipid metabolism as well as cerebrovascular mortality. Our aim is to evaluate the safety of low-dose risperidone in elderly dementia patients with associated behavioral disturbances on glucose, serum lipids and cerebrovascular mortality.

Late noncardiac surgery in heart transplant patients.

Objective: Because of improved long-term survival of heart transplants (HT), patients often need noncardiac surgery (NCS). Immunosuppression may increase the infection rate. Inadequate management may increase the risk of dysfunction or acute rejection episodes (ARE).

Late steroid withdrawal after heart transplantation and incidence of acute rejection.

Background: Steroid withdrawal (SW) after heart transplantation (HT) reduces steroid-associated side effects, although it can increase acute rejection episodes (ARE). Patient selection criteria for SW and the time elapsed after HT for this maneuver are controversial issues. The objective of this study was to assess the safety of late SW after HT with regard to the occurrence of ARE and to analyze risk factors resulting in a poor evolution.

[External beam radiotherapy on locally advanced prostate carcinoma following iliac staging lymphadenectomy].

Introduction And Objectives: Locally advanced prostate cancer supposes a high risk condition of post-treatment progression due to the limit situation that represents. Our purpose was to analyze prognoses factors in function of progression probability after using a treatment with external source radiotherapy on patients with this kind of tumors.

Material And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed a set of 128 patients submitted to pelvic staging limphadenectomy prior to accomplish an external radiotherapeutic treatment.

[Recombinant activated factor VII in the postanesthetic recovery unit: review of 16 cases].

We describe a series of 16 cases in which recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) was used in our postanesthetic recovery unit. The mean age of the patients was 53.5 years (range, 30-84 years).

Value of the sperm chromatin dispersion test in predicting pregnancy outcome in intrauterine insemination: a blind prospective study.

Background: Sperm DNA integrity has been used as a new marker of sperm quality in the prediction of pregnancy. Nevertheless, no previous study has been performed by analysing the same samples that were employed in assisted reproduction. The main objective of this work was to correlate sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD), measured by the SCD test, with semen parameters and pregnancy outcome in intrauterine insemination (IUI).

Self-expandable stents in malignant colonic obstruction: insertion assisted with a sphincterotome in technically difficult cases.

Background: Stent placement is effective in relieving malignant colonic obstruction. Nevertheless, the technique may offer difficulties in sharply angulated lesions.

Methods: Guidewire insertion assisted with a sphincterotome was performed in 4 patients with intestinal obstruction caused by malignant colonic strictures.