Interpretation of OCT and OCTA images from a histological approach: Clinical and experimental implications.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) have been a technological breakthrough in the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of many retinal diseases, thanks to its resolution and its ability to inform of the retinal state in seconds, which gives relevant information about retinal degeneration. In this review, we present an immunohistochemical description of the human and mice retina and we correlate it with the OCT bands in health and pathological conditions. Here, we propose an interpretation of the four outer hyperreflective OCT bands with a correspondence to retinal histology: the first and innermost band as the external limiting membrane (ELM), the second band as the cone ellipsoid zone (EZ), the third band as the outer segment tips phagocytosed by the pigment epithelium (PhaZ), and the fourth band as the mitochondria in the basal portion of the RPE (RPEmitZ).

Single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with susceptibility for development of colorectal cancer: Case-control study in a Basque population.

Given the significant population diversity in genetic variation, we aimed to investigate whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) previously identified in studies of colorectal cancer (CRC) susceptibility were also relevant to the population of the Basque Country (North of Spain). We genotyped 230 CRC cases and 230 healthy controls for 48 previously reported CRC-susceptibility SNPs. Only the rs6687758 in DUPS10 exhibited a statistically significant association with CRC risk based on the crude analysis.

Impact of age on the use of adjuvant treatments in patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer: patients with stage III colon or stage II/III rectal cancer.

Background: Many older patients don't receive appropriate oncological treatment. Our aim was to analyse whether there are age differences in the use of adjuvant chemotherapy and preoperative radiotherapy in patients with colorectal cancer.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted in 22 hospitals including 1157 patients with stage III colon or stage II/III rectal cancer who underwent surgery.

Multicentre evaluation of Erytra Eflexis®, a benchtop fully automated analyser with a compact design for routine use in blood transfusion laboratory.

Objectives: Evaluation of the compact benchtop Erytra Eflexis® automated analyser was performed at three health centres representing a range of routine transfusion workload.

Background: Automation instruments with the simplicity and flexibility adequate for small- to mid-sized blood transfusion services are an unmet need.

Methods: Performance in pre-transfusion testing (2109 ABO/D, 382 Rh/K phenotype, 2001 antibody screening, 113 antibody identification, 151 DAT, 88 extended phenotype; 655 cross matching) in comparison to Erytra® as reference device was assessed.

Wnt-11 as a Potential Prognostic Biomarker and Therapeutic Target in Colorectal Cancer.

The expression of the secreted factor Wnt-11 is elevated in several types of cancer, including colorectal cancer, where it promotes cancer cell migration and invasion. Analysis of colorectal cancer gene expression databases associated WNT11 mRNA expression with increased likelihood of metastasis in a subset of patients. WNT11 expression was correlated with the expression of the Wnt receptors FZD6, RYK, and PTK7, and the combined expression of WNT11, FZD6 and RYK or PTK7 was associated with an increased risk of 5-year mortality rates.

Biological and prognostic differences between symptomatic colorectal carcinomas and those detected by screening.

Introduction: Few studies have been conducted to establish the relationship between colorectal cancer screening programmes and survival adjusting by stage and, to determine whether there are differences, at a biological level, between the tumours of asymptomatic and symptomatic patients. Accordingly, the aim of this study is to evaluate clinical, biological and survival differences between symptomatic colorectal tumours and those detected by screening.

Study Method: A prospective cohort study was performed of patients subjected to surgical intervention during the period 2010-2012, at different hospitals in Spain.

Evolution of serotypes in bacteremic pneumococcal adult pneumonia in the period 2001-2014, after introduction of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in bizkaia (spain).

The introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV7 and PCV13) in children has led to a change in the pattern of pneumococcal serotypes causing pneumococcal disease in adults. The aim of this study is to analyze the distribution of pneumococcal serotypes in adults with bacteremic pneumococcal community-acquired pneumonia (BPP) after the introduction of PCVs in childhood, and the impact of age and comorbidity on this distribution. We conducted an observational study of all adults hospitalized with BPP between 2001 and 2014, in two tertiary hospitals.

Anxiety and depressive symptoms are related to core symptoms, general health outcome, and medical comorbidities in eating disorders.

Objective: The goal of this study is to identify potential factors that have a significant effect on anxiety and depression of patients with eating disorders (ED) using the beta-binomial regression (BBR) approach on a broad sample of patients.

Method: This cross-sectional study involved 520 ED patients. The effect of sociodemographics, core symptoms, general health outcomes, and medical comorbidities in anxiety and depression were analysed jointly using the beta-binomial mixed-effects model.

COPD classification models and mortality prediction capacity.

Objective: Our aim was to assess the impact of comorbidities on existing COPD prognosis scores.

Patients And Methods: A total of 543 patients with COPD (FEV <80% and FEV/FVC <70%) were included between January 2003 and January 2004. Patients were stable for at least 6 weeks before inclusion and were followed for 5 years without any intervention by the research team.

Short-term Outcomes of Transanal Hemorrhoidal Dearterialization With Mucopexy Versus Vessel-Sealing Device Hemorrhoidectomy for Grade III to IV Hemorrhoids: A Prospective Randomized Multicenter Trial.

Background: Transanal hemorrhoidal dearterialization with mucopexy and vessel-sealing device hemorrhoidectomy seem to reduce postoperative pain compared with classic excisional hemorrhoidectomy, but whether one of them is superior remains unclear.

Objective: We compared transanal hemorrhoidal dearterialization with mucopexy and vessel-sealing device hemorrhoidectomy.

Design: This was a multicenter, randomized controlled trial.

Risk factors affecting hospital stay among patients undergoing colon cancer surgery: a prospective cohort study.

Purpose: To identify and validate risk factors that contribute to prolonged length of hospital stay (LOS) in patients undergoing resection for colorectal cancer.

Methods: This prospective cohort study included 1955 patients admitted to 22 hospitals for primary resection of colorectal cancer. Multivariate analyses were used to identify and validate risk factors, randomizing patients into a derivation and a validation cohort.

Second-hand smoke exposure in adulthood and lower respiratory health during 20 year follow up in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey.

Background: Early life exposure to tobacco smoke has been extensively studied but the role of second-hand smoke (SHS) for new-onset respiratory symptoms and lung function decline in adulthood has not been widely investigated in longitudinal studies. Our aim is to investigate the associations of exposure to SHS in adults with respiratory symptoms, respiratory conditions and lung function over 20 years.

Methods: We used information from 3011 adults from 26 centres in 12 countries who participated in the European Community Respiratory Health Surveys I-III and were never or former smokers at all three surveys.

A Sox2-Sox9 signalling axis maintains human breast luminal progenitor and breast cancer stem cells.

Increased cancer stem cell content during development of resistance to tamoxifen in breast cancer is driven by multiple signals, including Sox2-dependent activation of Wnt signalling. Here, we show that Sox2 increases and estrogen reduces the expression of the transcription factor Sox9. Gain and loss of function assays indicate that Sox9 is implicated in the maintenance of human breast luminal progenitor cells.

Derivation and validation of a clinical prediction rule for sleep apnoea syndrome for use in primary care.

Background: Several clinical prediction rules (CPRs) are available for sleep apnoea-hypopnoea syndrome (OSAH), but they are difficult to apply in primary care (PC).

Aim: Derivation and validation of a CPR using simple measurements available in PC.

Design & Setting: A prospective study conducted in health centres from the area of influence of three Spanish hospitals.

In Silico Approach for Immunohistochemical Evaluation of a Cytoplasmic Marker in Breast Cancer.

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women and the second most common cancer overall, with nearly 1.7 million new cases worldwide every year. Breast cancer patients need accurate tools for early diagnosis and to improve treatment.

Antipsychotics and pituitary tumors: an analysis of the European pharmacovigilance database (EudraVigilance).

One of the possible long-term consequences of antipsychotic-induced hyperprolactinemia is the development of pituitary tumors - prolactinomas. So far, two pharmacovigilance studies of spontaneous adverse event report databases have suggested an increased risk, whereas a longitudinal study carried out with risperidone showed no evidence of increased risk of tumors with mass effect. Besides, information on amisulpride and paliperidone is lacking.

Only full adherence to proton pump inhibitors protects against drug-induced upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Purpose: The use of gastroprotective agents has allowed significant progress in the prevention of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) associated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antiplatelet agents. Nevertheless, some concerns remain regarding the gastroprotective dosage and treatment duration. Our aim was to study the effect of gastroprotective agents in UGIB induced by NSAIDs and single- or dual-antiplatelet therapy.

Psychometric properties of the EQ-5D-5L in patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis: reliability, validity and responsiveness.

Purpose: To study the psychometric properties, including reliability, validity and responsiveness, of the Spanish EQ-5D-5L questionnaire for patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: We included 758 patients with hip or knee OA who completed the EQ-5D-5L and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) at baseline, of whom 644 also did 6 months later. The EQ-5D-5L contains five questions from which a utility index is derived.

Protective effect of stromal Dickkopf-3 in prostate cancer: opposing roles for TGFBI and ECM-1.

Aberrant transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling is a hallmark of the stromal microenvironment in cancer. Dickkopf-3 (Dkk-3), shown to inhibit TGF-β signaling, is downregulated in prostate cancer and upregulated in the stroma in benign prostatic hyperplasia, but the function of stromal Dkk-3 is unclear. Here we show that DKK3 silencing in WPMY-1 prostate stromal cells increases TGF-β signaling activity and that stromal cell-conditioned media inhibit prostate cancer cell invasion in a Dkk-3-dependent manner.

Predictors of mortality during hospitalization and 3 months after discharge in elderly people with and without dementia.

The aims of this study were to assess mortality during hospitalization and 3 months after discharge in elderly people with and without dementia, and to identify variables that might predict mortality. A prospective matched cohort study was conducted involving 195 inpatients with dementia and 204 inpatients without dementia. Information on sociodemographic, and clinical data were gathered.

Mutational profiling can identify laryngeal dysplasia at risk of progression to invasive carcinoma.

Early diagnosis of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) at the stage of dysplasia could greatly improve the outcome of affected patients. For the first time we compared the mutational landscape of non-progressing dysplasia (NPD; n = 42) with progressing dysplasia (PD; n = 24), along with patient-matched LSCC biopsies; a total of 90 samples. Using targeted next-generation sequencing identified non-synonymous mutations in six genes (PIK3CA, FGFR3, TP53, JAK3, MET, FBXW7), and mutations were validated by Sanger sequencing and/or qPCR.

Body silhouettes as a tool to reflect obesity in the past.

Life course data on obesity may enrich the quality of epidemiologic studies analysing health consequences of obesity. However, achieving such data may require substantial resources. We investigated the use of body silhouettes in adults as a tool to reflect obesity in the past.

Combining statistical techniques to predict postsurgical risk of 1-year mortality for patients with colon cancer.

Introduction: Colorectal cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed malignancies and a common cause of cancer-related mortality. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a clinical predictive model for 1-year mortality among patients with colon cancer who survive for at least 30 days after surgery.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with colon cancer who had surgery for the first time and who survived 30 days after the surgery were selected prospectively.