Improved Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Diagnosis in Jaundiced and Non-Jaundiced Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Patients through the Combination of Routine Clinical Markers Associated to Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Pathophysiology.

Background: There is still no reliable biomarker for the diagnosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) is a tumor marker only recommended for pancreatic adenocarcinoma follow-up. One of the clinical problems lies in distinguishing between this cancer and other benign pancreatic diseases such as chronic pancreatitis.

Onset-adjusted incidence of multiple sclerosis in the Girona province (Spain): Evidence of increasing risk in the south of Europe.

Background: Recent studies show an increasing incidence of multiple sclerosis (MS) in southern Europe. Although by its geographical location and genetic characteristics Spain is expected to be similar to other southern European regions, data on incidence are scarce. The aim of this study was to determine the onset-adjusted incidence of MS in the Girona province in Catalonia (Spain).

Changes in the Abundance of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii Phylogroups I and II in the Intestinal Mucosa of Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Patients with Colorectal Cancer.

Background: Faecalibacterium prausnitzii comprises 2 phylogroups, whose abundance in healthy and diseased gut and in conjunction with Escherichia coli has not yet been studied. This work aims to determine the contribution of F. prausnitzii phylogroups I and II in intestinal disease and to assess their potential diagnostic usefulness as biomarkers for gut diseases.

[Teaching Bioethics to Students of Medicine with Problem-Based Learning (PBL)].

We present the experience of the introduction of the subject of bioethics in a medical school in order to give to the 73 students of 5th degree skills to handle ethical conflicts in their practice. The main teaching method used was problem-based learning (PBL). Skills objectives are described.

Mucosa-associated Faecalibacterium prausnitzii phylotype richness is reduced in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Faecalibacterium prausnitzii depletion in intestinal diseases has been extensively reported, but little is known about intraspecies variability. This work aims to determine if subjects with gastrointestinal disease host mucosa-associated F. prausnitzii populations different from those hosted by healthy individuals.

Anti-tumour Necrosis Factor Treatment with Adalimumab Induces Changes in the Microbiota of Crohn's Disease.

Background: The composition of the intestinal microbiota is altered in Crohn's disease [CD] patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the qualitative and quantitative changes in the microbiota of CD patients in 3 months of treatment with adalimumab [ADA], and determine whether or not these changes are produced towards the recovery of the normal, healthy-like microbiota.

Methods: The microbiota composition, and the Faecalibacterium prausnitzii / Escherichia coli quantitative relationship as dysbiosis indicator, were studied at baseline [T0], one month [T1], and 3 months [T3] after starting treatment using a polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis [PCR-DGGE] of 16S rRNA gene fragments and quantitative PCR, respectively, in rectal mucosal biopsies from 15 CD patients and four healthy subjects.

Mucosa-associated Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Escherichia coli co-abundance can distinguish Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Inflammatory Bowel Disease phenotypes.

Background: Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) diagnosis requires comprehensive examination of the patient. Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Escherichia coli have been reported as representatives of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) dysbiosis. The aim was to determine whether or not quantification of these species can be used as a complementary tool either for diagnostic or prognostic purposes.

Abridged scale for the screening anosognosia in patients with dementia.

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to validate an abridged version of the Anosognosia Questionnaire--Dementia (AQ-D) for screening anosognosia in daily practice. The authors reduce the AQ-D from 30 items to 9, with a large sample (n = 352) of patients with Alzheimer disease (AD). The Cronbach α was .

Psychotropic drugs in patients with Alzheimer's Disease: a longitudinal study by the Registry of Dementias of Girona (ReDeGi) in Catalonia, Spain.

Objectives: Psychotropic drugs are usually prescribed to deal with behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, especially when nonpharmacologic approaches are not available or have limited efficacy. Poor outcomes and serious adverse events of the drugs used must be addressed, and risk-benefit ratios need to be considered. The aim of this longitudinal study was to describe the evolution of dispensation of psychotropic drugs in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and to identify the associated demographic and clinical variables.

[Prevalence of anosognosia in Alzheimer's disease].

Background And Objective: Anosognosia is a disorder that affects the clinical presentation of Alzheimer's disease (AD), increasing in frequency with the evolution of AD. The objective was to determine the prevalence of anosognosia and analyze the associated factors and predictors.

Patients And Method: Multicenter transversal and observational study of 345 AD patients.

[Economic containment and satisfaction of nursing staff after the change of infusion sets at Hospital Santa Caterina of Salt (Girona)].

Introduction: In situations such as the current economic crisis it is very important to consider the quality-price of healthcare materials. One of the most commonly used by nurses are the intravenous infusion sets. It is described the features of a new intravenous infusion set, that increases patient safety and improves the nursing care workload.

Dopaminergic dysregulation, artistic expressiveness, and Parkinson's disease.

Background: The most frequent behavioral manifestations in Parkinson's disease (PD) are attributed to the dopaminergic dysregulation syndrome (DDS), which is considered to be secondary to the iatrogenic effects of the drugs that replace dopamine. Over the past few years some cases of patients improving their creative abilities after starting treatment with dopaminergic pharmaceuticals have been reported. These effects have not been clearly associated to DDS, but a relationship has been pointed out.

[Applications of diffusion techniques in magnetic resonance imaging of musculoskeletal tumors].

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the technique of choice in the diagnosis, staging, and follow-up of musculoskeletal tumors. Diffusion imaging is a new functional MRI technique that provides information that is complementary to that obtained in conventional MRI sequences. Diffusion imaging has proven useful in different clinical situations like the characterization of disease involving the bone marrow (bone metastases, benign fractures, or hematological disease), the evaluation of tumors of the bones and soft tissues, and the monitoring of the response to treatment in patients with tumors.

[Subtypes of patients with fibromyalgia, psychopathological characteristics and quality of life].

INTRODUCTION. The main goal of this work was to identify subgroups of patients with fibromyalgia (FM) by means of a frequently used clinical tool, the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ). METHODOLOGY.

Quality of life of patients with Alzheimer's disease: differential perceptions between spouse and adult child caregivers.

Background/aims: Little research has been conducted into differences in the perceived quality of life of patients (QoL-p) when comparing spouse and adult child caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The aim of this study was to identify the differential variables in perceived QoL-p between patients and carers, distinguishing between spouse and adult child caregivers.

Method: Cross-sectional analytic study of 251 patients and their carers (spouses: 112; adult children: 139) using the QoL-AD scale and sociodemographic and clinical data.

[Relationship between expiratory muscle dysfunction and dynamic hyperinflation in advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

Background And Objectives: Dynamic hyperinflation (DH) and expiratory flow limitation (EFL) are physiologically linked and seem to be involved in the genesis of dyspnea and the quality of life (QL) impairment in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Advanced COPD patients often show expiratory muscles dysfunction that could be involved in DH development.

Aim: Study the relationships between expiratory muscle dysfunction and DH, and their association with dyspnea and QL, in advanced COPD.

Biopsychosocial differences between drivers and non-drivers over the age of 74.

The growing aging population will lead to an increased number of elderly drivers. There are few epidemiological studies that have approached this issue. Our aim was to compare the biopsychosocial characteristics of elderly drivers vs.

[Differences among dementias according to onset age: study based on dementia registry data].

Introduction: To know cognitive, functional and sociodemographical features as risk factors in order to differentiate dementias based on onset age of illness.

Methods: Cross-sectional and analytical study based on 670 cases of a pilot program for dementia from the Gerona Hospital Registry for dementias. The cases were standardized and registered consecutively during the 2004-2005 biennium.

[Metabolic syndrome in Alzheimer's disease: clinical and developmental influences].

Introduction: Metabolic syndrome (MS) results in an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD), but its implications when the disease is already well established remain unknown. AIM. To assess the influence of MS in the clinical manifestations and its effect on mortality among AD patients treated with anti-Alzheimer drugs.

[Characterisation and prevalence of the psychological and behavioural symptoms in patients with dementia].

Aim: To assess the prevalence of behavioural and psychological symptoms (BPS's) in patients with dementia in Spain and their dementia-specific characteristics.

Patients And Methods: A cross-sectional and retrospective study of 1025 patients from 52 specialized dementia care units using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). Patients with a probable diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Parkinson's disease and dementia (PDD) were selected for BPS's characterisation.

Trazodone for Alzheimer's disease: a naturalistic follow-up study.

This study intended to provide a patient profile for trazodone (a triazolopyridine-derivative of phenylpiperazine) prescription in everyday clinical practice in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), and to describe clinical evaluation and the impact on caregiver burden at a 6-month follow-up. A naturalistic, prospective and observational study was performed, with a 6-month follow-up in 396 patients with probable AD, according to the NINCDS-ARDRA criteria. At the baseline and at the 6-month visit, patients were administered the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) to determine their Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD), and the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) to assess the impact on caregiver burden.

Differential efficacy of treatment with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors in patients with mild and moderate Alzheimer's disease over a 6-month period.

There are various anticholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) for the symptomatic treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD). All AChEIs have shown greater efficacy than placebo in randomized, double-blind, parallel-group clinical trials. No differential studies have yet been made of the efficacy between all AChEIs.

Incidence of dementia in a rural community in Spain: the Girona cohort study.

Background: Information on dementia incidence in Spanish populations is still scarce, and there is a dearth of prospective studies.

Objective: To estimate the incidence rates of dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD) in a population cohort aged 75 and over in a rural area in Spain.

Methods: A prospective population cohort study over a 5-year period in 8 rural villages in the province of Girona.