Cord Blood Advanced Lipoprotein Testing Reveals an Interaction between Gestational Diabetes and Birth-Weight and Suggests a New Early Biomarker of Infant Obesity.

Abnormal lipid metabolism is associated with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and is observed in neonates with abnormal fetal growth. However, the underlying specific changes in the lipoprotein profile remain poorly understood. Thus, in the present study we used a novel nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based approach to profile the umbilical cord serum lipoproteins.

Decreased mortality among patients with catheter-related bloodstream infections at Catalan hospitals (2010-2019).

Background: The incidence of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) has fallen over the last decade, especially in intensive care units (ICUs).

Aim: To assess the existence of concomitant trends in outcomes and to analyse the current risk factors for mortality.

Methods: A multicentre retrospective cohort study was conducted at 24 Catalan hospitals participating in the Surveillance of healthcare-associated infections in Catalonia (VINCat).

The Gut Microbiota Metabolite Succinate Promotes Adipose Tissue Browning in Crohn's Disease.

Background And Aims: Crohn's disease [CD] is associated with complex microbe-host interactions, involving changes in microbial communities, and gut barrier defects, leading to the translocation of microorganisms to surrounding adipose tissue [AT]. We evaluated the presence of beige AT depots in CD and questioned whether succinate and/or bacterial translocation promotes white-to-beige transition in adipocytes.

Methods: Visceral [VAT] and subcutaneous [SAT] AT biopsies, serum and plasma were obtained from patients with active [n = 21] or inactive [n = 12] CD, and from healthy controls [n = 15].

Elevated α-Ketoglutaric Acid Concentrations and a Lipid-Balanced Signature Are the Key Factors in Long-Term HIV Control.

Long-term elite controllers (LTECs) are a fascinating small subset of HIV individuals with viral and immunological HIV control in the long term that have been designated as models of an HIV functional cure. However, data on the LTEC phenotype are still scarce, and hence, the metabolomics and lipidomics signatures in the LTEC-extreme phenotype, LTECs with more than 10 years of viral and immunological HIV control, could be pivotal to finding the keys for functional HIV remission. Metabolomics and lipidomics analyses were performed using high-resolution mass spectrometry (ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-quadrupole time of flight [UHPLC-(ESI) qTOF] in plasma samples of 13 patients defined as LTEC-extreme, a group of 20 LTECs that lost viral and/or immunological control during the follow-up study (LTEC-losing) and 9 EC patients with short-term viral and immunological control (less than 5 years; no-LTEC patients).

Shared risk factors for COVID-19 and preeclampsia in the first trimester: An observational study.

Introduction: The association between preeclampsia and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is under study. Previous publications have hypothesized the existence of shared risk factors for both conditions or a deficient trophoblastic invasion as possible explanations for this association. The primary aim of this study was to examine baseline risk factors measured in the first-trimester combined screening for preeclampsia in pregnant women with COVID-19 compared with the general population.

Implementation of routine first-trimester combined screening for preeclampsia based on the Gaussian algorithm: A clinical effectiveness study.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of the routine first-trimester screening for preeclampsia (PE) after being implemented in six Catalan maternities.

Methods: Participants in the reference group were recruited prospectively between October 2015 and September 2017. Participants in the study group were recruited retrospectively between November 2018 and May 2019, after implementing the screening program.

Resistin and IL-15 as Predictors of Invasive Mechanical Ventilation in COVID-19 Pneumonia Irrespective of the Presence of Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome.

The cytokine signature present in COVID-19 could provide information on the pathogenic mechanisms of the disease and could identify possible prognostic biomarkers and possible therapeutic targets. In this longitudinal work, we studied the clinical and biochemical parameters and circulating cytokine levels of 146 patients at the time of admission for COVID-19 and 4-6 weeks later. The main objective of this study was to determine whether basal cytokines could be early prognostic biomarkers of COVID-19, and also to analyze the impact of comorbidities, such as obesity or metabolic syndrome (MS), in the cytokine profile.

Predictors of low-level HIV viraemia and virological failure in the era of integrase inhibitors: A Spanish nationwide cohort.

Objectives: To pinpoint factors associated with low-level viraemia (LLV) and virological failure (VF) in people living with HIV in the era of high-efficacy antiretroviral treatment (ART) and widespread use of integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTIs)-based ART.

Methods: We included adults aged > 18 years starting their first ART between 2015 and 2018 in the Spanish HIV/AIDS Research Network National Cohort (CoRIS). Low-level viraemia was defined as plasma viral load (pVL) of 50-199 copies/mL at weeks 48 and 72 and VF was defined as pVL ≥ 50 copies/mL at week 48 and pVL ≥ 200 copies/mL at week 72.

Adipokines as New Biomarkers of Immune Recovery: Apelin Receptor, RBP4 and ZAG Are Related to CD4 T-Cell Reconstitution in PLHIV on Suppressive Antiretroviral Therapy.

A significant proportion of people living with HIV (PLHIV) who successfully achieve virological suppression fail to recover CD4 T-cell counts. Since adipose tissue has been discovered as a key immune organ, this study aimed to assess the role of adipokines in the HIV immunodiscordant response. This is a multicenter prospective study including 221 PLHIV starting the first antiretroviral therapy (ART) and classified according to baseline CD4 T-cell counts/µL (controls > 200 cells/µL and cases ≤ 200 cells/µL).

Non-invasive oxygenation support in acutely hypoxemic COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU: a multicenter observational retrospective study.

Background: Non-invasive oxygenation strategies have a prominent role in the treatment of acute hypoxemic respiratory failure during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). While the efficacy of these therapies has been studied in hospitalized patients with COVID-19, the clinical outcomes associated with oxygen masks, high-flow oxygen therapy by nasal cannula and non-invasive mechanical ventilation in critically ill intensive care unit (ICU) patients remain unclear.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we used the best of nine covariate balancing algorithms on all baseline covariates in critically ill COVID-19 patients supported with > 10 L of supplemental oxygen at one of the 26 participating ICUs in Catalonia, Spain, between March 14 and April 15, 2020.

Multi-institutional expert update on the use of laparoscopic bile duct exploration in the management of choledocholithiasis: Lesson learned from 3950 procedures.

Background: Recently there has been a growing interest in the laparoscopic management of common bile duct stones with gallbladder in situ (LBDE), which is favoring the expansion of this technique. Our study identified the standardization factors of LBDE and its implementation in the single-stage management of choledocholithiasis.

Methods: A retrospective multi-institutional study among 17 centers with proven experience in LBDE was performed.

rs7041 and rs3829251 are Linked to CD4 Recovery in HIV Patients on Antiretroviral Therapy.

The lack of the recovery of CD4 T-cells (CD4 recovery) among immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) is not well known. We aimed to analyze the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) underlying vitamin D metabolism and the CD4 recovery in naïve HIV-infected patients who started ART with low baseline CD4. We conducted a retrospective study in 411 naïve individuals with plasma HIV load >200 copies/mL and CD4 <200 cells/mm.

Dexamethasone to prevent kidney scarring in acute pyelonephritis: a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common bacterial infections in childhood and is associated with long-term complications. We aimed to assess the effect of adjuvant dexamethasone treatment on reducing kidney scarring after acute pyelonephritis (APN) in children.

Methods: Multicenter, prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial (RCT) where children from 1 month to 14 years of age with proven APN were randomly assigned to receive a 3-day course of either an intravenous corticosteroid (dexamethasone 0.

Evolving mortality and clinical outcomes of hospitalized subjects during successive COVID-19 waves in Catalonia, Spain.

Background: The changes in shield strategies, treatments, emergence variants, and healthcare pathways might shift the profile and outcome of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in successive waves of the outbreak.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed the characteristics and in-hospital outcomes of all patients admitted with COVID-19 in eight university hospitals of Catalonia (North-East Spain) between Feb 28, 2020 and Feb 28, 2021. Using a 7-joinpoint regression analysis, we split admissions into four waves.

Aptamer Sandwich Assay for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Antigen.

The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) emerged at the end of 2019, resulting in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The high transmissibility of the virus and the substantial number of asymptomatic individuals have led to an exponential rise in infections worldwide, urgently requiring global containment strategies. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction is the gold standard for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 infections.

Revascularized ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Temporal trends in contemporary therapies and impact on outcomes.

Introduction And Objectives: To assess, in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who underwent primary percutaneous intervention, the pace of introduction in clinical practice (2010-2017) of drug-eluting stents (DES), ticagrelor, prasugrel, and prolonged dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) duration, and their potential impact on the risk of 2-year outcomes.

Methods: Prospective and exhaustive community-wide cohort of 14 841 STEMI patients undergoing primary percutaneous intervention between 2010 and 2017. Index episodes were obtained from the Catalan Codi IAM Registry, events during follow-up from the Minimum Data Set and DAPT were defined by pharmacy dispensation.

Effect of milk protein content in Toddler formula on later BMI and obesity risk: protocol of the multicentre randomised controlled Toddler Milk Intervention (ToMI) trial.

Introduction: Reduction of milk protein content in infant formula provided during the first year of life has been shown to reduce early weight gain and obesity later in life. While rapid weight gain during the first 2 years of life is one of the strongest early predictors of obesity, the role of animal protein intake beyond the first year of life is unclear. The aim of this study is to examine the role of milk protein during the second year of life in healthy children on weight gain and obesity risk in preschool age.

Acute Ischemia of Lower Extremities Caused by Ergotamine Toxicity due to Pharmacologic Interaction With Cobicistat in an HIV-Positive Patient.

Ergotism is an uncommon condition that affects patients with exposure to ergot alkaloids causing ischemia of extremities. We report the case of lower extremities ischemia caused by ergot toxicity in a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive individual due to the interaction between ergot alkaloid and Cobicistat. In addition, we present a brief review of medical, and pharmacological aspects of this condition.

Textbook outcome and survival after gastric cancer resection with curative intent: A population-based analysis.

Background: The concept of textbook outcome (TO) has been proposed for analyzing quality of surgical care. This study assessed the incidence of TO among patients undergoing curative gastric cancer resection, predictors for TO achievement, and the association of TO with survival.

Method: All patients with gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancers undergoing curative gastrectomy between January 2014-December 2017 were identified from a population-based database (Spanish EURECCA Registry).

Recovery of parathyroid function in patients with thyroid cancer treated by total thyroidectomy: An analysis of 685 patients with hypoparathyroidism at discharge of surgery.

Objective: We aimed to study the predictive factors for recovery of parathyroid function in hypoparathyroid patients after total thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer.

Methods: We designed a retrospective, multicentre and nation-wide analysis of patients with total thyroidectomy who were seen in twenty endocrinology departments from January to March 2018. We selected patients with histologically proven thyroid cancer and retrieved information related to surgical procedure and thyroid cancer features.