A comparative analysis of risk stratification tools in systemic sclerosis-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension: a EUSTAR analysis.

Objectives: The 2022 European Society of Cardiology and European Respiratory Society (ESC/ERS) Guidelines for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) recommend risk stratification to optimize management. However, the performance of generic PAH risk stratification tools in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc)-associated PAH remains unclear. Our objective was to identify the most accurate approach for risk stratification at SSc-PAH diagnosis.

Identification of strengths and weaknesses of the healthcare system for persons living with rare diseases in Catalonia (Spain), and recommendations to improve its comprehensive attention: the "acERca las enfermedades raras" project.

Background: Rare diseases (RDs) are a heterogeneous group of complex and low-prevalence conditions in which the time to establish a definitive diagnosis is often too long. In addition, for most RDs, few to no treatments are available and it is often difficult to find a specialized care team.

Objectives: The project "acERca las enfermedades raras" (in English: "bringing RDs closer") is an initiative primary designed to generate a consensus by a multidisciplinary group of experts to detect the strengths and weaknesses in the public healthcare system concerning the comprehensive care of persons living with a RD (PLWRD) in the region of Catalonia, Spain, where a Network of Clinical Expert Units (Xarxa d'Unitats de Expertesa Clínica or XUEC) was created and is being implemented since 2015.

EULAR recommendations for the treatment of systemic sclerosis: 2023 update.

Objectives: To update the 2017 European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) recommendations for treatment of systemic sclerosis (SSc), incorporating new evidence and therapies.

Methods: An international task force was convened in line with EULAR standard operating procedures. A nominal group technique exercise was performed in two rounds to define questions underpinning a subsequent systematic literature review.

Preventing the progression of cirrhosis to decompensation and death.

Two main stages are differentiated in patients with advanced chronic liver disease (ACLD), one compensated (cACLD) with an excellent prognosis, and the other decompensated (dACLD), defined by the appearance of complications (ascites, variceal bleeding and hepatic encephalopathy) and associated with high mortality. Preventing the progression to dACLD might dramatically improve prognosis and reduce the burden of care associated with ACLD. Portal hypertension is a major driver of the transition from cACLD to dACLD, and a portal pressure of ≥10 mmHg defines clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) as the threshold from which decompensating events may occur.

Therapeutic alliance in a stepped digital psychosocial intervention for breast cancer patients: findings from a multicentre randomised controlled trial.

Background: Action mechanisms of therapeutic alliance in stepped and digital interventions remain unclear.

Aims: (a) To compare the development of therapeutic alliance between psychosocial treatment as usual (PTAU) and a stepped digital intervention designed to prevent distress in cancer patients; (b) to analyse the level of agreement between patients' and therapists' therapeutic alliance ratings; and (c) to explore variables associated with therapeutic alliance in the digital intervention.

Method: A multicentre randomised controlled trial with 184 newly diagnosed breast cancer women was conducted.

Primary Visceral Ewing Sarcoma (Gastric and Bladder) with KIT Expression: A Report of Two Patients and a Differential Diagnostic Approach.

Extra-skeletal Ewing sarcoma is a rare tumor, most commonly occurring in the paravertebral region, extremities, retroperitoneum, and very rarely in visceral locations. We present two primary visceral Ewing sarcomas confirmed at the molecular level: one located in the stomach and the other in the bladder. Both tumors demonstrated strong and diffuse membranous CD99 expression, accompanied by variable KIT immunoreactivity.

Monitoring of adverse effects and quality of life during chemotherapy treatment through the EMMA Salud mobile App in patients with colorectal cancer.

Background And Aim: One third of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) undergoing chemotherapy develop serious adverse effects. The aim was to monitor toxicities, evaluate quality of life and the usefulness of the EMMA Salud mobile App in these patients.

Patients And Methods: Prospective single-center study including patients with CRC who started fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy treatment between 02/2022 and 02/2023.

[Translated article] Activities of clinical pharmacists in intensive care units.

The main objective of the activity carried out in an intensive care unit (ICU) and in general, in all hospitalization units, is to provide all the human and material resources to offer the best therapeutic care to admitted patients. Work in multidisciplinary teams, made up of specialists in intensive care medicine as those responsible for the patients, doctors from other specialties, specialized nursing, physiotherapists, nutritionists, and clinical pharmacists is an optimal approach to achieve the proposed objective. The activities of the clinical pharmacist can be developed at different levels (basic, intermediate, and excellent) depending on the degree of involvement, the time dedicated, the training, and the available resources.

Cardiac Implications in Dravet Syndrome: Can Electrocardiogram and Echocardiography Detect Hidden Risks?

Background: Dravet syndrome (DS) is a severe developmental and epileptic encephalopathy associated with loss-of-function variants in the SCN1A gene. Although predominantly expressed in the central nervous system, SCN1A is also expressed in the heart, suggesting a potential link between neuronal and cardiac channelopathies. Additionally, DS carries a high risk of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP).

Exploring the Therapeutic Landscape: A Narrative Review on Topical and Oral Phosphodiesterase-4 Inhibitors in Dermatology.

Phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) is involved in the synthesis of inflammatory cytokines that mediate several chronic inflammatory disorders, including psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. In recent years, the therapeutic armamentarium in dermatology has expanded with the introduction of PDE4 inhibitors, both in oral and topical formulations. PDE4 inhibitors have gained increasing interest due to their remarkable safety record and ease of prescription, as evidenced by the recent influx of literature detailing its off-label uses.

Vitamin D Supplementation Is Associated with Inflammation Amelioration and Cognitive Improvement in Decompensated Patients with Cirrhosis.

Decompensated cirrhosis is characterized by systemic inflammation and innate and adaptive immune dysfunction. Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a prevalent and debilitating condition characterized by cognitive disturbances in which ammonia and inflammation play a synergistic pathogenic role. Extraskeletal functions of vitamin D include immunomodulation, and its deficiency has been implicated in immune dysfunction and different forms of cognitive impairment.

Secukinumab for Treatment of Plaque Psoriasis in Real-World Clinical Practice in Spain: A Literature Review.

: Secukinumab was shown to be effective in treating moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adults and pediatric patients ≥6 years. : A literature review was conducted to identify studies published in the preceding 5 years assessing the effectiveness and/or survival (safety in the second instance) associated with secukinumab treatment for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis with/without psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in real-world clinical practice in Spain. : 11 references were included, corresponding to seven studies (six retrospective and one prospective) (n = 1050).

Correction: Kirkegaard-Biosca et al. Cefiderocol for the Treatment of Infections by VIM-Type-Producing Gram-Negative Bacteria. 2024, , 874.

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Effectiveness of Virtual Reality in Reducing Pain and Stress During Office Hysteroscopy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Office hysteroscopy (OH) offers a "see and treat" strategy, enabling most gynecological conditions to be addressed outside the operating room without anesthesia. Despite its convenience, the associated pain and stress remain significant barriers to its widespread success among women. Both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions have been explored to mitigate these challenges, albeit with mixed outcomes.

Single-cell RNA sequencing highlights the role of distinct natural killer subsets in sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Background: Neuroinflammation plays a major role in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and cumulative evidence suggests that systemic inflammation and the infiltration of immune cells into the brain contribute to this process. However, no study has investigated the role of peripheral blood immune cells in ALS pathophysiology using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq).

Methods: We aimed to characterize immune cells from blood and identify ALS-related immune alterations at single-cell resolution.

Real-life outcome after failure to venetoclax and hypomethylating-based therapy for acute myeloid leukemia.

Not available.

Global Delphi consensus on treatment goals for generalised pustular psoriasis.

Background: Generalised pustular psoriasis (GPP) is a chronic, systemic, neutrophilic inflammatory disease. A previous Delphi panel established areas of consensus on GPP, although patient perspectives were not included, and aspects of treatment goals remain unclear.

Objectives: To identify and achieve consensus on refined, specific treatment goals for GPP treatment via a Delphi panel with patient participation.

Cerebral Microbleeds and Amyloid Pathology Estimates From the Amyloid Biomarker Study.

Importance: Baseline cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) and APOE ε4 allele copy number are important risk factors for amyloid-related imaging abnormalities in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) receiving therapies to lower amyloid-β plaque levels.

Objective: To provide prevalence estimates of any, no more than 4, or fewer than 2 CMBs in association with amyloid status, APOE ε4 copy number, and age.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This cross-sectional study used data included in the Amyloid Biomarker Study data pooling initiative (January 1, 2012, to the present [data collection is ongoing]).

HSP-CAR30 WITH A HIGH PROPORTION OF LESS-DIFFERENTIATED T CELLS PROMOTES DURABLE RESPONSES IN REFRACTORY CD30+ LYMPHOMA.

CD30-directed CART cell therapy (CART30) has limited efficacy in relapsed or refractory patients with CD30+ lymphoma, with a low proportion of durable responses. We have developed an academic CART30 cell product (HSP-CAR30) by combining strategies to improve performance. HSP-CAR30 targets a proximal epitope within the non-soluble part of CD30, and the manufacturing process includes a modulation of ex vivo T cell activation, as well as the addition of interleukin-21 to IL-7 and IL-15 to promote stemness of T cells.

Depressive Symptoms and Amyloid Pathology.

Importance: Depressive symptoms are associated with cognitive decline in older individuals. Uncertainty about underlying mechanisms hampers diagnostic and therapeutic efforts. This large-scale study aimed to elucidate the association between depressive symptoms and amyloid pathology.

Frailty assessment in adults undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation: insights from a multicenter GETH-TC study to optimize outcomes and care.

Introduction: This multicenter prospective study sponsored by the (GETH-TC) explores the use of frailty assessments in allo-HCT candidates.

Methods: Frailty was measured using the HCT Frailty Scale at first consultation and HCT admission in 404 adults from 15 HCT programs in Spain. Based on the results, patients were classified into fit, pre-frail and frail categories.

Clinician's perceptions and experiences with tobacco treatment in people who use cannabis: a qualitative study.

Introduction: Global demand for the treatment of cannabis use disorder has increased significantly, prompting a need to understand effective strategies for addressing concurrent cannabis and tobacco use. This study focuses on clinicians' experiences and perceptions in delivering tobacco cessation services to people who use cannabis.

Methods: Fifteen participants (12 females, 3 males) participated in three homogenous focus groups, including two groups with extensive experience in providing tobacco cessation among the substance use population in Catalonia, Spain, and one group of clinicians without such experience.