The RICA-2 registry: design and baseline characteristics of the first 1,000 patients.

Background And Objective: Heart failure (HF) is a syndrome of epidemic proportions and one of the main reasons for hospital admission. Patient registries provide real-world clinical practice information which is complementary to clinical trials. RICA-2 is a registry of the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine.

Screening based on risk factors for abdominal aortic aneurysm in the cardiology clinic.

Background: The risk factors for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) are present in many of the patients that attend our cardiology service. The aim of this study was the evaluation of the prospects of examining the abdominal aorta during our consultations and the relationship of AAA with risk factors and ischemic cardiopathy.

Methods: A descriptive transversal observational study was designed including 274 male patients aged ≥60 years, attended consecutively in the cardiology service, in which we studied the abdominal aorta and adjusted a logistic regression model to determine the risk factors associated with AAA.

Getting to know internal medicine mentors: new training requirements.

Introduction And Objectives: Mentors are responsible for planning the residents' learning. The aim of this study was to determine the situation of internal medicine mentors in Spain and detect areas of improvement that can facilitate their work.

Material And Methods: Online surveys were sent to internal medicine mentors from May to July 2017, the results of which were subsequently analysed.

Z-Elongation of the transverse carpal ligament vs. complete resection for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome is treated successfully by surgical release of the transverse carpal ligament (TCL). However, persistent weakness of grip and pain over the thenar and hypothenar ends of this ligament, and "pillar pain", are reported to be common complications. In order to reduce these complications, different ligament reconstruction or lengthening techniques have been proposed.

Efficacy of 2 grammes of intravenous transexamic acid in the reduction of post-surgical bleeding after total hip and knee replacement.

Background: There is currently sufficient clinical evidence to recommend tranexamic acid (TXA) for reducing post-operative blood loss in total knee and hip arthroplasty, however, its optimal dose and administration regimes are unknown.

Objective: Analyse effectiveness and safety of TXA in total hip and knee arthroplasty using 2 grammes (g) intravenously in two different regimes.

Material And Methods: A prospective randomised intervention study was conducted on a total of 240 patients.

High Prevalence of Neuropathic Pain Features in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective: The present epidemiological research evaluated the prevalence of neuropathic pain characteristics in patients with painful knee osteoarthritis (OA) and the plausibility that such neuropathic features were specific of OA.

Methods: Outpatients with chronic pain associated with knee OA who attended orthopedic surgery or rehabilitation clinics were systematically screened for neuropathic pain with the Douleur Neuropathique in 4 questions (DN4) questionnaire. Data from medical files and those obtained during a single structured clinical interview were correlated with the DN4 scores.

Aspergillus pacemaker endocarditis presenting as pulmonary embolism.

Pacemaker endocarditis (PME) is a rare but severe complication of endocardial pacemaker implantation. Fungal PME is extremely uncommon. The case of a 66-year-old female patient who was diagnosed as having a pulmonary embolus based upon the patient's clinical presentation and computed tomography angiography findings is presented.

[Hyperthyroidism as a cause of chronic anemia].

Hyperthyroidism like cause of anemia is rare, normally in this pathology there is a increase of the erythropoiesis secondary to the cellular hypoxia causes by the increase of the basal metabolism. We have revised the histories of diagnostical hyperthyroidism in our center, which presented anemia, we found four cases which presented anemia. All of them were women with associated heart disease.