Long-term brain structural and cognitive outcomes in a low-risk preterm-born sample.

Prematurity has been related to altered brain structure and cognition, and so our aim was to describe them in the absence of major structural brain injury following low-risk preterm birth during adolescence and young adulthood. The sample consisted of 250 participants, 132 of whom were low-risk preterm (30-36 weeks' gestational age) and 118 were full-term individuals (37-42 weeks' gestational age), aged between 16 and 38 years old. All participants underwent an extensive neuropsychological assessment.

Potential protective role of let-7d-5p in atherosclerosis progression reducing the inflammatory pathway regulated by NF-κB and vascular smooth muscle cells proliferation.

The prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is increasing in the last decades, even is the main cause of death in first world countries being atherosclerosis one of the principal triggers. Therefore, there is an urgent need to decipher the underlying mechanisms involved in atherosclerosis progression. In this respect, microRNAs dysregulation is frequently involved in the progression of multiple diseases including CVDs.

No gender differences in the 24-month course of non-invasive liver fibrosis markers after DAA therapy in HCV-mono and HCV/HIV-coinfected patients.

Untreated HCV mono and HCV/HIV coinfected women have lower degrees of liver fibrosis (LF) compared to men. Direct acting antiviral (DAA) therapy attains viral eradication in > 90% of patients with progressive LF decline in parallel. Gender-related differences in LF regression in the long term assessed by non-invasive liver fibrosis markers (NILFM) in HCV mono and HCV/HIV coinfected after DAA treatment have not been explored so far.

Role of miR-15a-5p and miR-199a-3p in the inflammatory pathway regulated by NF-κB in experimental and human atherosclerosis.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) prevalence has significantly increased in the last decade and atherosclerosis development is the main trigger. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNAs that negatively regulate gene expression of their target and their levels are frequently altered in CVDs.

Methods: By RT-qPCR, we analysed miR-9-5p, miR-15a-5p, miR-16-5p and miR-199a-3p levels in aorta from apolipoprotein knockout (ApoE ) mice, an experimental model of hyperlipidemia-induced atherosclerosis, and in human aortic and carotid atherosclerotic samples.

Determinants and impact of splanchnic vein thrombosis in acute pancreatitis.

Background: Splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT) is a well-recognised though little-studied complication in acute pancreatitis (AP). SVT risk factors, its clinical consequences and the role of anticoagulation (AC) therapy is scarce.

Aims: To evaluate the incidence and natural history of SVT in AP.

Sex differences in cardiovascular and disease-related features in axial spondyloarthritis. A multicenter study of 912 patients.

Objectives: To determine the potential impact of sex-specific disease-related characteristics on cardiovascular (CV) disease in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).

Methods: Cross-sectional study of the Spanish AtheSpAin cohort to study CV disease in axSpA. Data on carotid ultrasound and CV disease and disease-related features were collected.

Analyzing structural and functional brain changes related to an integrative cognitive remediation program for schizophrenia: A randomized controlled trial.

Cognitive remediation has been shown to improve cognition in schizophrenia, but little is known about the specific functional and structural brain changes related to the implementation of an integrative cognitive remediation program. This study analyzed the functional and structural brain changes identified after implementing an integrative cognitive remediation program, REHACOP, in schizophrenia. The program combined cognitive remediation, social cognitive training, and functional and social skills training.

Bacterial Patterns and Empiric Antibiotic Use in COPD Patients With Community-Acquired Pneumonia.

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is strongly associated with the development of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Limited data are available on risk factors for difficult to manage bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa in COPD patients with CAP. Our objective was to assess the microbiological patterns associated with risk factors that determine empiric antibiotic therapy in hospitalized COPD patients with CAP.

Utility of Differential White Cell Count and Cell Population Data for Ruling Out COVID-19 Infection in Patients With Community-Acquired Pneumonia.

Introduction: The main aim of this study was to assess the utility of differential white cell count and cell population data (CPD) for the detection of COVID-19 in patients admitted for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) of different etiologies.

Methods: This was a multicenter, observational, prospective study of adults aged ≥18 years admitted to three teaching hospitals in Spain from November 2019 to November 2021 with a diagnosis of CAP. At baseline, a Sysmex XN-20 analyzer was used to obtain detailed information related to the activation status and functional activity of white cells.

Predictors of health-related quality of life in Parkinson's disease: the impact of overlap between health-related quality of life and clinical measures.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine predictors of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in Parkinson's disease (PD) and to explore their predictive value before and after controlling overlapping items between HRQoL and clinical variables.

Methods: One hundred and eight PD patients underwent motor, anxiety, depression, apathy, fatigue, and neurocognition assessment. HRQoL was assessed by the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39 (PDQ-39).

Transscleral Cyclophotocoagulation for the Treatment of Uncontrolled Glaucoma in a Boston Keratoprosthesis Type II Patient.

Postoperative endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation (CPC) for the treatment of glaucoma in patients with Boston keratoprosthesis type II (BKPro II) was first described in 2017 by Poon et al. (). As we do not have this device, we present a case of transscleral CPC (TSCPC), in a BKPro II patient who had graft versus host disease and developed uncontrolled glaucoma.

Synergism interaction between genetic polymorphisms in drug metabolizing enzymes and NSAIDs on upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage: a multicenter case-control study.

Background: Interindividual genetic variations contribute to differences in patients' response to drugs as well as to the development of certain disorders. Patients who use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may develop serious gastrointestinal disorders, mainly upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage (UGIH). Studies about the interaction between NSAIDs and genetic variations on the risk of UGIH are scarce.

Contributions of sex, depression, and cognition on brain connectivity dynamics in Parkinson's disease.

Alterations in time-varying functional connectivity (FC) have been found in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. To date, very little is known about the influence of sex on brain FC in PD patients and how this could be related to disease severity. The first objective was to evaluate the influence of sex on dynamic FC characteristics in PD patients and healthy controls (HC), while the second aim was to investigate the temporal patterns of dynamic connectivity related to PD motor and non-motor symptoms.

A multicenter case-control study of the effect of e-nos VNTR polymorphism on upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage in NSAID users.

Bleeding in non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) users limited their prescription. This first multicenter full case-control study (325 cases and 744 controls), explored the association of e-NOS intron 4 variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism with upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage (UGIH) in NSAID exposed and unexposed populations and assessed any interaction between this polymorphism and NSAIDs. NSAID users carrying e-NOS intron 4 wild type genotype or VNTR polymorphism have higher odds of UGIH than those unexposed to NSAIDs [Odds Ratio (OR): 6.

Advanced MRI assessment of non-enhancing peritumoral signal abnormality in brain lesions.

Evaluation of Central Nervous System (CNS) focal lesions has been classically made focusing on the assessment solid or enhancing component. However, the assessment of solitary peripherally enhancing lesions where the differential diagnosis includes High-Grade Gliomas (HGG) and metastasis, is usually challenging. Several studies have tried to address the characteristics of peritumoral non-enhancing areas, for better characterization of these lesions.

Local adaptation of recommendation-based materials for shared decision-making and management of comorbidity in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: To describe local adaptations of materials derived from evidence-based recommendations in a training programme in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: The eRA (evolving the management of rheumatoid arthritis) programme generated shared decision-making practises and a checklist for managing comorbidity in RA, among others, at the international level. Unmet needs in RA management were first identified and prioritised.

Conventional and advanced MRI evaluation of brain vascular malformations.

Vascular malformations (VMs) of the central nervous system (CNS) include a wide range of pathological conditions related to intra and extracranial vessel abnormalities. Although some VMs show typical neuroimaging features, other VMs share and overlap pathological and neuroimaging features that hinder an accurate differentiation between them. Hence, it is not uncommon to misclassify different types of VMs under the general heading of arteriovenous malformations.

Impact of reducing the duration of antibiotic treatment on the long-term prognosis of community acquired pneumonia.

Background: The optimal duration of antibiotic treatment for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is not well established. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of reducing the duration of antibiotic treatment on long-term prognosis in patients hospitalized with CAP.

Methods: This was a multicenter study assessing complications developed during 1 year of patients previously hospitalized with CAP who had been included in a randomized clinical trial concerning the duration of antibiotic treatment.

Self-medication with oral corticosteroids reported by patients with ulcerative colitis: characteristics, reasons and patients' behaviors.

Background: Few studies have examined self-medication with corticosteroids among patients with ulcerative colitis (UC).

Aims: To assess the frequency of self-medication with oral corticosteroids in UC patients, and associated factors and reasons.

Methods: An anonymous, voluntary, web-based survey was administered to adults with UC recruited via a Spanish patient association (ACCU) and hospital gastroenterology departments.