Socioeconomic Patterns in the Frequency of Doctor Visits in Germany and Spain in Subjects With and Without Chronic Diseases.

The objective of universal health care systems is to achieve equality in the use of health services at the same level of care need. This study evaluates the relationship of socioeconomic position with the frequency of doctor visits in subjects with and without chronic diseases in Germany and Spain. The dependent variables included number of consultations and if a medical consultation occurred.

Clinical Presentation Differences Among Four Subtypes of Femoroacetabular Impingement: A Case-Control Study.

Objective: The aims of this study were to assess the psychological, functional, and physical differences between patients with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) syndrome and individuals who were asymptomatic (controls) to analyze clinical differences among 4 subtypes of FAI (cam type, cam type with labral tear, pincer type, and pincer type with labral tear), to calculate the correlations among the variables described, and to identify risk factors contributing to the hip function variance.

Methods: A case-control study was conducted at a hospital rehabilitation unit with a cohort of individuals who were asymptomatic (controls) and a cohort of patients with FAI. Sociodemographic characteristics, pain intensity, psychological health status, hip range of motion (RoM), hip isometric strength, and hip function were assessed.

Preserflo TM MicroShunt implantation combined with Ologen TM in primary and secondary glaucoma patients in a clinical setting.

Purpose: This study aims to assess the effectiveness and safety of combining the Preserflo™ MicroShunt implant (MicroShunt) with a simultaneous Ologen™ implant in patients with glaucoma.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study on consecutive patients with medically uncontrolled glaucoma who underwent MicroShunt + Ologen implantation as a standalone procedure or in combination with phacoemulsification (combined procedure). Success was defined as achieving an intraocular pressure (IOP) of 6-15 mmHg at 18 months post surgery, with a preoperative IOP reduction of at least 20%, and without (complete success) or with (qualified success) the need for antiglaucoma medications.

Immediate effects of percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in patients with lateral elbow pain.

Introduction: Ultrasound guided-percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation appears to be effective in the treatment of chronic musculoskeletal pain.

Objective: To investigate the immediate effects of one session of percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on the radial nerve in patients with lateral elbow pain.

Methods: A randomized clinical trial was conducted.

MCGPU-PET: An Open-Source Real-Time Monte Carlo PET Simulator.

Monte Carlo (MC) simulations are commonly used to model the emission, transmission, and/or detection of radiation in Positron Emission Tomography (PET). In this work, we introduce a new open-source MC software for PET simulation, MCGPU-PET, which has been designed to fully exploit the computing capabilities of modern GPUs to simulate the acquisition of more than 100 million coincidences per second from voxelized sources and material distributions. The new simulator is an extension of the PENELOPE-based MCGPU code previously used in cone-beam CT and mammography applications.

New and Old Key Players in Liver Cancer.

Liver cancer represents a major health problem worldwide with growing incidence and high mortality, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) being the most frequent. Hepatocytes are likely the cellular origin of most HCCs through the accumulation of genetic alterations, although hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs) might also be candidates in specific cases, as discussed here. HCC usually develops in a context of chronic inflammation, fibrosis, and cirrhosis, although the role of fibrosis is controversial.

Aerobic Exercise and Neuropathic Pain: Insights from Animal Models and Implications for Human Therapy.

This narrative review explores the complex relationship between aerobic exercise (AE) and neuropathic pain (NP), particularly focusing on peripheral neuropathies of mechanical origin. Pain, a multifaceted phenomenon, significantly impacts functionality and distress. The International Association for the Study of Pain's definition highlights pain's biopsychosocial nature, emphasizing the importance of patient articulation.

Statistical Study of Low-Intensity Single-Molecule Recognition Events Using DeepTip Probes: Application to the Pru p 3-Phytosphingosine System.

The interaction between the plant lipid transfer protein Pru p 3 and phytosphingosine was assessed using an atomic force microscope. Phytosphingosine was covalently immobilized on DeepTip probes and Pru p 3 on MicroDeck functionalized substrates. Single-molecular interaction events between both molecules were retrieved and classified and the distribution for each one of the identified types was calculated.

Impact of environmental factors on spider silk properties.

Spider orb webs have evolved to stop flying prey, fast and slow alike. One of the main web elements dissipating impact energy is the radial fibers, or major ampullate silks, which possess a toughness surpassing most man-made materials. Orb webs are extended phenotypes, and as such their architectural elements, including major ampullate silks, have been selected to optimize prey capture under the respective environmental conditions.

Phase II trial of afatinib in patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma with genetic alterations in ERBB1-3 (LUX-Bladder 1).

Background: Preclinical and early clinical data suggest that the irreversible ErbB family blocker afatinib may be effective in urothelial cancers harbouring ERBB mutations.

Methods: This open-label, phase II, single-arm trial (LUX-Bladder 1, NCT02780687) assessed the efficacy and safety of second-line afatinib 40 mg/d in patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma with ERBB1-3 alterations. The primary endpoint was 6-month progression-free survival rate (PFS6) (cohort A); other endpoints included ORR, PFS, OS, DCR and safety (cohorts A and B).

Atezolizumab monotherapy versus chemotherapy in untreated locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (IMvigor130): final overall survival analysis from a randomised, controlled, phase 3 study.

Background: The primary analysis of IMvigor130 showed a significant progression-free survival benefit with first-line atezolizumab plus platinum-based chemotherapy (group A) versus placebo plus platinum-based chemotherapy (group C) in patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer. However, this finding did not translate into significant overall survival benefit for group A versus group C at the final analysis, precluding formal statistical testing of outcomes with atezolizumab monotherapy (group B) versus group C. Here we report the final overall survival results for group B versus group C; this report is descriptive and should be considered exploratory due to the study's statistical design.

Harnessing ChatGPT and GPT-4 for evaluating the rheumatology questions of the Spanish access exam to specialized medical training.

The emergence of large language models (LLM) with remarkable performance such as ChatGPT and GPT-4, has led to an unprecedented uptake in the population. One of their most promising and studied applications concerns education due to their ability to understand and generate human-like text, creating a multitude of opportunities for enhancing educational practices and outcomes. The objective of this study is twofold: to assess the accuracy of ChatGPT/GPT-4 in answering rheumatology questions from the access exam to specialized medical training in Spain (MIR), and to evaluate the medical reasoning followed by these LLM to answer those questions.

Upregulation in Inflammation and Collagen Expression in Perirenal but Not in Mesenteric Adipose Tissue from Diabetic Munich Wistar Frömter Rats.

Perirenal adipose tissue (PRAT) surrounding the kidney is emerging as a player and novel independent risk factor in diabetic kidney disease (DKD); DKD is a complication of diabetes and is a major cause of increased cardiovascular (CV) risk and CV mortality in affected patients. We determined the effect of diabetes induction on (i) kidney and CV damage and (ii) on the expression of proinflammatory and profibrotic factors in both the PRAT and the mesenteric adipose tissue (MAT) of Munich Wistar Frömter (MWF) rats. The 16-week-old male MWF rats (n = 10 rats/group) were fed standard chow (MWF-C) or a high-fat/high-sucrose diet for 6 weeks together with low-dose streptozotocin (15 mg/kg i.

Modifiable Risk Factors and Trends in Changes in Glucose Regulation during the First Three Years Postdelivery: The St Carlos Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Prevention Cohort.

Objective: Evaluation of the influence of potential risk factors (RFs) on glycemic changes at 3 years postpartum.

Methods: The glycemic status of 1400 women, in absence of a new pregnancy, was evaluated at 3 months (3 m) and 3 years (3 y) postpartum, after participation in the St. Carlos Gestational Study (2228 normoglycemic pregnant women followed from before gestational week 12 to delivery, from 2015-2017).

The Incidence, Impact, and Techniques of Commissural Alignment in Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation: A Review.

In current clinical practice, commissural alignment of the transcatheter heart valve (THV) during transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is seldom achieved. Orientation of the THV within the aortic root and the subsequent influence upon leaflet haemodynamic function, coronary blood flow, and ease of access to the coronary ostia are gaining significant interest. Herein, we review the incidence and clinical implications of commissural misalignment in TAVI and offer thorough descriptions of how optimal alignment can be achieved with several different contemporary THV devices.

Health-related quality of life among Spanish patients with diabetic foot ulcer according to Diabetic Foot Ulcer Scale - Short Form.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the health-related quality of life of Spanish outpatients with diabetic foot ulcer using the Diabetic Foot Scale-Short Form (DFS-SF).

Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional observational study included 141 outpatients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFU). The DFS-SF was applied in personal interviews conducted by a trained investigator to assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Emerging trends in nurse-led programs of care for management of patients with established rheumatoid arthritis: Systematic literature review.

Introduction: In patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), nurses are considered as essential, not only to ensure pharmacological safety, but also in the promotion in self-care and decision-making, favouring the empowerment of patients. This systematic review aimed to summarize the available literature on the health education by the nurse in patients with RA.

Material And Methods: Following Cochrane Collaboration procedures, the PRISMA statement and PRISMA checklist, relevant quantitative studies published were retrieved from the CINAHL, Scopus, PubMed and Medic databases and then systematically reviewed.

Effects of Respiratory Muscle Training on Exercise Capacity, Quality of Life, and Respiratory and Pulmonary Function in People With Ischemic Heart Disease: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of respiratory muscle training (RMT) on functional exercise capacity, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), respiratory muscle function, and pulmonary function in individuals with ischemic heart disease (IHD).

Methods: The MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, PEDro, CINAHL, Science Direct, and CENTRAL electronic databases were searched in January 2023. Randomized controlled trials published in English, Spanish, or Portuguese that were conducted to determine the effect of RMT versus passive control and/or sham RMT on the target variables in individuals with IHD, irrespective of age or sex were included.

A novel mobile phone and tablet application for automatized calculation of pain extent.

Background: Pain drawings (PDs) are used for assessing pain extent as a complementary outcome to other pain measurements, consisting of shading a body chart template to report the location and extent of pain. However, the accuracy and reliability of digital PDs remain controversial due to the heterogeneity of methods used. This study aimed to develop an easy-to-use application for assessing its diagnostic accuracy in comparison with the classic paper-and-pencil method.

Reproducibility of Anterior Scalene Stiffness Measurement with Shear Wave Elastography: An Inter-Examiner Reliability Study.

Purpose: Although previous studies have highlighted the clinical relevance of the anterior scalene muscle (AS) in patients with neck pain or nerve compressive syndromes, evidence reporting the diagnostic accuracy of shear wave elastography (SWE) for assessing the AS stiffness properties is lacking. This study aimed to analyze the SWE inter-examiner reliability for calculating the Young's modulus and shear wave speed of the AS muscle in asymptomatic subjects.

Materials And Methods: Using a linear transducer, ultrasound images of the antero-lateral neck region at the C7 level were acquired in 35 healthy volunteers by one experienced examiner and one novice examiner.