Mortality in patients with giant cell arteritis in Spain: results from the ARTESER registry.

Objectives: To compare mortality rates between GCA patients and the general population in Spain, and to identify associated factors influencing mortality.

Methods: ARTESER, a multicenter registry by the Spanish Society of Rheumatology, includes GCA patients from June 2013 to March 2019. Demographic, clinical, imaging, histological and mortality data were collected retrospectively.

Epidemiology of Latent Tuberculosis in Rheumatic Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases-Study of 1117 Patients and Descriptive Literature Review.

Patients with rheumatic immune-mediated diseases (rheumatic-IMID) and latent tuberculosis (LTBI) are at an increased risk of developing active tuberculosis (TB); therefore, screening is recommended before starting biological treatment. The aims of this study were as follows: (i) to assess the prevalence of LTBI, (ii) to determine the importance of using a booster test in TST-negative patients, (iii) to compare the tuberculin skin test (TST) with the interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA), (iv) to perform a review of the prevalence of LTBI. A cross-sectional hospital study was performed, including patients diagnosed with rheumatic-IMID who underwent a TST and/or IGRA during the period 2016-2020.

Destination Therapy Strategies of Advanced Heart Failure in Elderly Non-Heart Transplant Candidates: A Propensity Matching Analysis from the LEVO-D and REGALAD Registries.

Heart transplantation (HT) is the gold standard therapy for advanced heart failure (ADHF), and LVADs as destination therapy are an option in non-HT candidates. Most patients with ADHF never receive HT or an LVAD, so alternative strategies are needed. Intermittent levosimendan can reduce HF hospitalizations in ADHF patients in the short term.

Association Between Oxidative Potential of Particulate Matter Collected by Personal Samplers and Systemic Inflammation Among Asthmatic and Non-Asthmatic Adults.

With the rationale that the oxidative potential of particulate matter (PM-OP) may induce oxidative stress and inflammation, we conducted the ASTHMA-FENOP study in which 44 asthmatic patients and 37 matched controls wore a personal sampler for 24 h, allowing the collection of fine and coarse PM fractions separately, to determine PM-OP by the dithiothreitol (DTT) and ascorbic acid (AA) methods. The levels of Interleukin 6 (IL-6) and the IL-6/IL-10 ratio, as indicators of pro- and anti-inflammatory statuses, were determined by calculating the mean differences (MDs), odds ratios (ORs) and p-trends adjusted for sex, age, study level and body mass index. Positive associations for IL-6 levels in the form of adjusted MDs and ORs were obtained for all PM-OP metrics, reaching statistical significance for both OP-DTT and OP-AA in the fine fraction, with adjusted OR = 5.

Portal hypertension: recommendations for diagnosis and treatment. Consensus document sponsored by the Spanish Association for the Study of the Liver (AEEH) and the Biomedical Research Network Centre for Liver and Digestive Diseases (CIBERehd).

Portal hypertension is a hemodynamic abnormality that complicates the course of cirrhosis, as well as other diseases that affect the portal venous circulation. The development of portal hypertension compromises prognosis, especially when it rises above a certain threshold known as clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH). In the consensus conference on Portal Hypertension promoted by the Spanish Association for the Study of the Liver and the Hepatic and Digestive diseases area of the Biomedical Research Networking Center (CIBERehd), different aspects of the diagnosis and treatment of portal hypertension caused by cirrhosis or other diseases were discussed.

Treatment patterns and outcomes in secondary acute myeloid leukemia arising after hypomethylating agents: PETHEMA registry study.

Background: Patients with secondary acute myeloid leukemia who previously received hypomethylating agents for prior myeloid neoplasms (HMA-sAML) face a dismal prognosis.

Methods: The authors analyze the characteristics, therapeutic approaches, and outcomes of patients with HMA-sAML from the Programa Español para el Tratamiento de Hemopatías Malignas (PETHEMA) registry.

Results: A total of 479 patients were included, mostly from prior myelodysplastic syndrome (84%).

Ileal Predominance in Crohn's Disease Is Associated With Increased Intestinal Surgery and Biological Therapy Use, With Lower Treatment Persistence.

Introduction: Crohn's disease (CD) varies by location, potentially affecting therapy efficacy and surgery risk, although research on this topic is conflicting. This study aims to investigate the independent association between CD location and therapeutic patterns.

Methods: We analyzed patients with CD diagnosed from January 2005 to May 2023 registered in the nationwide ENEIDA registry.

Rationale and design of the beta-blockers in tako-tsubo syndrome study: a randomized clinical trial (β-Tako).

Unlabelled: Introduction y objectives: Tako-tsubo syndrome (TTS) is a cardiac condition that mimics acute coronary syndrome, characterized by transient left ventricular dysfunction in the absence of culprit coronary artery stenosis. Although its etiology remains unknown, reversible microvascular dysfunction secondary to an adrenergic surge is thought to play a role. Treatment is empirical, although most patients receive beta-blockers (BB) in clinical practice.

Validation of a hand-held ultrasound device in the evaluation of aortic stenosis.

Hand-held ultrasound devices (HHUD) are increasingly used in routine clinical practice, though they lacked continuous (CW) Doppler capability until recent times. There is limited evidence on the utility of HHUD in assessing aortic stenosis (AS) in real-world settings. Our goal was to validate a new HHUD with CW Doppler assessing AS hemodynamic severity.

The role of rapid multiplex molecular syndromic panels in the clinical management of infections in critically ill patients: an experts-opinion document.

Rapid multiplex molecular syndromic panels (RMMSP) (3 or more pathogens and time-to-results < 6 h) allow simultaneous detection of multiple pathogens and genotypic resistance markers. Their implementation has revolutionized the clinical landscape by significantly enhancing diagnostic accuracy and reducing time-to-results in different critical conditions. The current revision is a comprehensive but not systematic review of the literature.

Mortality predictors and definition proposal for complicated coagulase-negative Staphylococcus bacteremia. A multicenter prospective cohort study.

Objective: To explore a definition for complicated coagulase-negative staphylococci bloodstream infections (CoNS BSI), and to identify predictors for mortality.

Methods: Prospective cohort study conducted from October 2016 to March 2017 in 26 Spanish hospitals. Complicated CoNS BSI criteria included lack of early catheter removal in catheter-related cases, foreign indwelling implant, persistent bacteremia, fever ≥72 hours on active therapy, metastatic infection or deep-seated focus and infective endocarditis.

Early safety after TAVR according to VARC-3 criteria: incidence, predictors, and clinical impact.

Introduction And Objectives: The Valve Academic Research Consortium (VARC)-3 definition of the early safety (ES) composite endpoint after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) lacks clinical validation. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence, predictors, and clinical impact of ES after TAVR as defined by VARC-3 criteria.

Methods: We performed a multicenter study including 10 078 patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing transarterial TAVR.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement in aortic stenosis patients with New York Heart Association functional class III or IV.

Background: Patients with symptomatic aortic stenosis are a vulnerable population with associated cardiac damage and a significant comorbidity burden. This study aimed to determine the rate, factors associated with, and prognostic value of poor functional status (NYHA class III-IV) in patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Methods: This multicenter study included 6,363 transarterial TAVR patients, classified according to baseline functional status (NYHA class I-II vs.

History of urethral surgery: Lessons learnt from the past.

Introduction: Although failures are undesirable, they offer valuable learning opportunities that drive progress through necessary changes. This concept holds particularly true in the history of urethral reconstruction.

Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted using PubMed, focusing on the history of the urethral stricture and current trends based on national and international guidelines for urethral stricture management.

Post-transplant relapse in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia in the era of CAR-T cell therapy. A multicenter analysis of Grupo Español de Trasplante Hematopoyetico y Terapia Celular (GETH-TC) Pediatric Committee.

Background: The management of relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has evolved significantly. Initially, treatment options were limited to palliative care, salvage chemotherapy, and second HSCT. Currently, the focus has shifted to innovative immunotherapies, particularly CAR T-cell therapy.

Longitudinal trajectory of plasma p-tau217 in cognitively unimpaired subjects.

Background: The advent of Alzheimer's disease-modifying drugs requires accurate biological diagnosis to identify candidates for these therapies. So far, the most promising single plasma biomarker is phosphorylated tau at threonine 217 (p-tau217). To understand its biological features, it is essential to know its longitudinal trajectory and factors influencing it in cognitively unimpaired subjects with no brain pathology.

Recommendations for the management of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: a systematic multidisciplinary Delphi consensus approach.

Background: There are gaps and unanswered questions in clinical guidelines regarding several aspects of the management of patients with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC).

Methods: A scientific committee of ten cSCC specialists in Spain (dermatology, medical oncology, oral and maxillofacial surgery, plastic surgery, and radiotherapy) used ADAPTE methodology to develop recommendations by: (i) identifying clinical questions not fully answered by clinical practice guidelines; (ii) systematically reviewing the literature (published between November 2017 and July 2023 in PubMed and the Cochrane database) and grading the evidence (using Oxford levels); (iii) developing recommendations and assessing those with no consensus among the scientific committee or with evidence level 3-5 or strength of recommendation under C or D in a two-round Delphi method; and (iv) developing the final recommendations in the form of answers to key clinical questions, grading the strength of recommendation. An external group of 32 experts plus the members of the committee participated in both Delphi rounds, evaluating the appropriateness and need of the recommendations.

Prospective validation of a prespecified algorithm for the management of conduction disturbances after transcatheter aortic valve replacement: The PROMOTE study.

Background: There is a large variability in the management of conduction disturbances (CDs) after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Objective: This study aimed to validate a prespecified algorithm for managing CDs in patients undergoing TAVR.

Methods: This was a prospective multicenter study including consecutive patients without prior pacemaker undergoing TAVR.

Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty plus lifestyle intervention in patients with MASH: a multicentre, sham-controlled, randomized trial.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis(MASH) is commonly seen in biopsy proven steatotic liver disease(SLD). Life-style intervention reaching a weight loss higher than 10% promotes MASH resolution, but this goal is only achieved by a small number of patients. Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty(ESG) has recently emerged as a safe and effective option to promote weight loss in obese population.

Comparative Study of Adalimumab, Infliximab and Certolizumab Pegol in the Treatment of Cystoid Macular Edema Due to Behçet's Disease.

The leading cause of blindness due to non-infectious uveitis is cystoid macular edema (CME). Behçet's disease (BD) is one of the most commonly conditions related to CME. To compare the effectiveness and safety of adalimumab (ADA), infliximab (IFX) and certolizumab (CZP) in refractory CME due to BD.

Resuscitation and Initial Management After Moderate-to-Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: Questions for the On-Call Shift.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of disability and mortality globally, stemming from both primary mechanical injuries and subsequent secondary responses. Effective early management of moderate-to-severe TBI is essential to prevent secondary damage and improve patient outcomes. This review provides a comprehensive guide for the resuscitation and stabilization of TBI patients, combining clinical experience with current evidence-based guidelines.

Controversies in the Management of the Airway in Panfacial Fractures: A Literature Review and Algorithm Proposal.

Panfacial fractures are complex fractures involving multiple regions of the facial skeleton and may require multiple surgeries over a relatively short period. They are often associated with polytrauma and other injuries including neurotrauma, which require either immediate (ATLS) airway management, prolonged intubation, or repeated intubations for staged surgeries. The choice of airway for the surgical management of these fractures is difficult, as an assessment of the occlusion is required, and the central nasal complex and/or skull base may be involved, making classical orotracheal or nasotracheal intubation problematic.